FIFTY YEARS AGO

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19767, 15 February 1927, Page 4

FIFTY YEARS AGO

A CRICKET CLASSIC CONWAY’S ELEVEN IN NEW ZEALAND. (By John Wellington Wells.) Cricket in Canterbury has always been a major sport? Ever since the ;baby fifties when the Brittan brothers —very early settlers—inaugurated the | grand old game, it has never up to date ■ languished. • Away back in the seventies Canterjury could—and did —parade doughty i players. When Conway’s first team of Australian cricketers toured the Dominion they played and defeated Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin, but were defeated on Hagley Park by the Canterbury fifteen. The Aussies batted against a double 'eleven in the above-named centres, and ;were not at all pleased with Canteribury’s determination to limit their batI tiers to fifteen. Strenuous objections iwere made, but Canterbury would not give way and ultimately the Aussies acicepted that number. I After the defeat of Lillywhite’s team I the fact that Charlie Bannerman was to 'be seen batting on Hagley Park attractled a record crowd. The arrangements for the match and all minor details were quite satisfactory and the match was opened under splendid Excitement ran high, no lack of enthusiasm, and when Alex Charles Bannerman opened the game we expected to see a big score against Canterbury A superb wicket, climatic conditions genial, a record muster and all things connected with the game joyous, the two brothers Bannerman opened. I will not attempt to picture what followed the departure of the sturdy little batsman, Alec Bannerman, the score mentioned later will be eloquent thereof! Ashby, a young colt from England, and the Maorilanders, William and Charlie Frith, bowled with deadly effect, and the slender score as given is prootf of the effective bowling of the trio named. Remarks, congratulations and surprises at the result will always remain a vivid memory of what passed after the first innings.

Canterbury’s start was dismal. When that stalwart and punishing bat, Mr. C. C. Corfe, headmaster of Christ College, and the genial T. Moore began to score, Canterbury’s hopes rose and with Leach’s vigorous batting the total of 135 was heartening.

The Aussies in their second effort were fully extended. Horan’s 58 was a magnificent one and he was quite unbeaten, even by Fuller. The Bannerman brace and Murdoch made matters lively, but the total fell wickets short of what was expected, Fuller’s bowling and the fine fielding being the main factors of the small score.

Canterbury opened their second innings full of confidence. But with Spofforth bowling .it cost the Canterburians nine wickets to win. Naturally the Canterbury fifteen were joyful over their win, but there came a day of reckoning. A return visit of the redoubtable Aussies considerably lowered the standard of 1875. The Canterbury fifteen. consisted, of English players who left the Old Land for New Zealand. C. C. Corfe had a Cambridge University record, both in athletics and cricket. Godby and Fowler got their training in England. The Frith brothers were, I think, colonials, and to sum up on the team it was a real clinker. That game is one to be remembered and years after to meet the genial Charles Bannerman, that peer of batsmen, and chat over it was a joy. That was when he was over in Christchurch as coach to the boys of Christ’s College. It is a long time ago —49 years this month; but Hagley will never see a more delighted crowd than those of us who witnessed Conway’s team and Canterbury’s team in days gone by. Following were the scores:— ! Australia.—First innings: A. Bannerman, c Fowler, b Ashby, 14; L. Banner|man, c C. Frith, 5; Horan, c C. Frith, 2; . Spofforth, thrown out, W. Frith, 3; Murdoch, b Ashby, 1; Gregory, run out, 9; | Blackham, c T. Fowler, b W. Frith, 3; i Garrett, c Leach, b W. Frith, 1 ; Boyle, not out, 1; Bailey, c E. Fowler, b C. ! Frith, 4;; Kendall, c E. Fowler, b W. I Frith, 0; byes 1; wides 2; total, 46. Second innings: A. Bannerman, b Fuller, 'll; C. Bannerman, b Fuller, 25; not out, 58; Spofforth, b Lee, 10; Mur'doch, b Fuller, 21; Gregory, c Moore, b C. Frith, 4; Blackham, b Fuller, 2; Garrett, c Frith, b Fuller, 0; Boyle, c Ashby, b Fuller, 0; Bailey, c Moore, b Fuller, 7; Kendal], b Fuller, 0; byes 1wides 4; total, 143.

Canterbury Fifteen. —First innings: Olli ver, b Spofforth, 36; Godby, b Spofforth, 0; Corfe, b Spofforth, 3; Ashby, b Spofforth, 1; Leach, b Spofforth, 3; Moore, c Gregory, b Boyle, 13; Fowler, J., b Spofforth, 1; Neilson, c Blackham, b Kendall, 26; D. Emden, c Blackham, b Boyle, 3; Baker, b Spofforth, 15; Fowler, E., c Blackham, b Kendall, 8,-/Frith, W., b Kendall 2; Lee, not out, 12- Fuller, b Spofforth, 6; Frith, C., b’spof forth 1; byes, 2; wides, 3; total, 135. [Second innings: Olliver, hit wkt., b :Gregorv, 1; Godby, c and b Spofforth, 0; Corfe, b Spofforth, 15; Ashby, c Banner’man, b Spofforth, 0; Leach, run out, 11Moore, b Garrett, 13; Neilson, b Bailey’ 1; Baker, not out, 7; E. Fowler, not 4Lee, b Spofforth, 2; byes, 1; wides’ 2total for 8 wickets, 57. ’ ’