CRICKET SEASON

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 264, 8 November 1945, Page 7

CRICKET SEASON

SUCCESSFUL START MADE IN WANGANUI IMPROVED STANDARD SEEN Favoured with the first fine Saturday for two \\ eeks, matches under the control of the Wanganui Cricket Association began last Saturday. In the senior competition twoday matches are being played, and Saturday’s games proved enjoyable both to players and spectators.

The standard of cricket and the different atmosphere in general, gave the impression that it would not be long before the game will recapture Us pre-war status. Recent returned servicemen back with their former clubs include H. B. Cave (Wanganui), who performed so well in the Soutn Island last reason, R. Brown and J. Mete Kingi (Technical Old Boys), B. Dow, E. Madden. H. Cuming, and T. Saunders (Marist). INTERESTING BATTING

The Wanganui-United Old Boys game provided interesting baiting, and next Saturday should see bright .cricket when United Old Boys try to overhaul their opponents’ score. Provided the United team handle Cave's bowling they should collect several runs. Last Saturday W. A. Priest batted well in compiling a sound 6b’, which was the highest individual score of the afternoon. He had two “lives” off Robertson, one in the slips, and one at mid-on. He was well supported by Cave, who made a very lively fifty. Halligan, 23 not out, and lizard (20) were the only other batsmen who looked like getting runs against the United attack. The new club will have to improve in fielding if they expect to win games. Condlifi was very impressive behind the stumps, and many of the other wicketkeepers should take a lesson from him.

It should not be long before G. A. McDougall is in form, and he will make his presence felt with his fast medium deliveries. With Robertson, Low, Felts, and Sewell, United Old Boys have a strong bowling side which should prove formidable as the season advances. Marut did not look impressive in their innings against Technical Colledge, but it is hard to judge a side at tne beginning of the season. Bell800 ih, a piomoted junior, certainly earned his promotion to senior status with a sound 58. Of the other batsmen, Cummings (19), Madden (21), and two youngsters, Wallace and Williams, showed promise for a successful season. The school attack lacked sting but their medium-pace bowling will get better results as the wickets harden.

Cr»far, for Marist, started off the season well by capturing the inree Tech, wickets which fell, but Marist might find it hard to dislodge the school team on their home ground next Saturday. It should be a very interesting finish, but it is doubtful if the game will go to two innings. The school wicket will not assist the bowlers, as it appears on the dead side. On the Collegiate School ground, the school collapsed against a very ordinary attack and one can only put it down to one or two unusual happenings at the beginning of the innings. The College captain was run out with the score at three, while Salmond played inside of one from Brown and was bowled. There followed two more runouts, and the disheartened tail-enders could not cope with the bowling of Deere and McPhail. Deere, bowling into the wind, had a very deceptive flight and finished up with a remarkable average of four wickets for five runs. The Old Boys’ team turned on a first-class exhibition in the field. Deere, Brown, and McPhail bowled well, but Thomas was out of practice. The Tech. Old Boys’ batting was good to begin with but slumped badly in the last half hour, losing four wickets for the addition of 15 runs. Keats and R. Mete Kingi gave the side a good start, adding 66 runs before Beattie got one past the former, who made a very enterprising 49 in quick time. R. Mete Kingi played a solid innings for 26 before falling to a l.b.w. decision. R. Brown made merry for a lively 23 whilst John Mete Kingi showed style and finish in compiling a neat 14. The College fielding was keen but the bowling lacked any spark at the commencement of the Old Boys’ innings, However, the bowling settled down as the game progressed and Adams finished the day by taking four good wickets. Tech. Old Boys with a lead of just over 100 on the first innings, are in a very strong position when the game is continued. TRIBUTE TO MAURICE TURNBULL

The 1945 Wisdcn contains a remarkabll tribute from the pen of tr? u well-known English player, J. C. Clay, of Glamorgan, to the late Maurice

Turnbull, who was killed in action in August of last year, and whose loss to the game was a severe blow. Turnbull was one of the most remarkable all-round athletes Great Britain has produced, and was a forceful personality. He played cricket lor England and Rugby football and hockey for Wales. He held the South Waies squash rackets . championship. He captained Downside School, and Cambridge University at cricket, and was a member of the te t ma’-ch selection committee, as well as captain and secretary of the Glamorgan Club: Turnbull toured New Zealand in the 1929-3 U season. The list of senior cricket captains in Christcnurch reads very much like a Canterbury representative eleven. Here they are:—West Christchurch, J. L. Kerr; East Christchurch, V. James; Lancaster Park. I. B. Cromb; St. Albans, F. P. O’Brien; Old Collegians, C. V. Walter; High School Old Boys W. McD. Anderson; Sydenham, L. A. Butterfield; Technical Old Boys, E. Sibley; West Old Boys, R. H. Scott; Riccarton, G. A. Bull.