WANGANUI CRICKET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 279, 24 November 1937, Page 4

WANGANUI CRICKET

MATCHES OF THE WEEK COLLEGIATE SCHOOL TO THE FORE MARIST MAKE A STAND. (By "Batsman.”) It is pleasing to see the Wanganui Collegiate School make a good display in the cricket world. On the Saturday before last their batting was definitely on top against Wanganui. Last Saturday the School’s bowling was right up to standard and it was backed by keen fielding, particularly against Wanganui’s second innings. Wanganui had to follow on, a reply of 100 to School’s first innings strike being not sufficient to justify them having another chance against the Collegiate baiting. C. Stewart was the only W’anganui player who looked at all confident. In fact, but for him, the picture painted by Wanganui would indeed have looked dismal. It was dismal enough as it was, but Stewart painted a bright patch or two for which his team mates were duly thankful. His first innings total of 48 not out was made in just over an hour and he hit six boundaries. His second knock (42) included another six boundaries.

The School bowling was deadly, Meuli leading in this respect. Against Wanganui’s first innings he took six wickets for 11 runs, a remarkable performance in itself and more remarkable still in the fact that the last five of those wickets were taken without the expense of a single run. Great as was this feat it but served to show the weakness of the batting strength opposed it. Of the six wickets taken by Meuli in this innings two were caught, one fell to an lbw decision and the other three were clean bowled.

Meuli came to light again in the second innings, proving that the bowling was definitely on top. He took three for 29 and in this case felt the benefit of good fielding. Two of his victims were caught and the other bowled. The catch which dismissed Stewart, made by Qulliam off Meuli, was one of the tit-bits of the afternoon. Likewise a catch made by Reynolds off McNaught, which dismissed Burley, was another brilliant piece of fielding. It certainly pays to have youth and life in the field when the bowlers are on the job.

Wanganui suffered a good deal the Saturday before because the fielding was poor. Notwithstanding that there was a lack of enterprise about the Wanganui bowling, particularly on Spurdie’s part. True, he kept the runs down, but rarely looked like taking a wicket. His form has not been as good as usual so far this season. Maybe he has struck a rough patch, maybe he is experimenting, but let it be hoped that it is just a passing phase and will wear off. Shaw, McNaught and Reynolds also bowled well for School in the match under review, and if the display of batting and bowling given by the side is any indication of ils season’s true strength then the School is in for a good run in cricket this year. It must not be overlooked, however, that Wanganui has had a hard task to get a good side together, and those who have stuck to the old flag are deserving of encouragement. It was indeed a pity to see some of them drifting. There is a possibility of some of the old stalwarts coming back again. A player like F. Warnes, for instance, would prove of value to the team as it stands, and a good fast bowler would come in handy also. Somebody must have sung "Erin go Bragh” in the pavilion on Cook’s Gardens on Saturday, for the spectacle was created of tne Marist team, then in a fairly hopeless position, making a bold stand against redoubtable United. There was a touch of David and Goliath about it, but no matter what it was it did the game good. United had to play all out for an eight point win and there was some satisfaction in the Marist ranks, small it is true, at frustrating that purpose and holding the fort until the end and thus affording United six instead of eight points. On the ladder at the moment United lie two points behind Technical College. At the end of the season those two points may make a huge difference, all that lies between victory and defeat in the championship. It is only a small margin, certainly, but samll margins sometimes take some pulling up. Cuming and Rose headed the Marist first innings, Cuming with 61 and Rose with 32. ( Cuming showed his consistency by making 71 in the second strike, in which he was most ably supported by Dow, the Wanganui and Marist ’keeper, who made a comfortable 60. Anderson, with 34, was next in order of merit.

United, against that crucial second innings of the screen, used its full bowling strength. Wood declared when his side had 175 on the board and then endeavoured to get tne mastery of the green batsmen for an outright win. He bowled particularly well himself, taking five wickets for 56 runs against the Marist first stand and three for 58 against the second. Wood’s bowling average this season so far must be as good as any. Glen Hook, ex-Auckland representative was another good attacker for United against the Marist second strike. He took four for 24. Hooks looks the goods all round cricketer. There is no doubt, however, about the United batting strength, as the performances of Sewell (61). Gee (75 not out) and Hook (29) in the second innings, when it was a case of make runs quickly, showed. It is a fortunate team that can put batsmen into attack the bowling with the confidence displayed by this trio on Saturday.