CRICKET.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 31 December 1927, Page 5

CRICKET.

SHEFFIELD MATCH. DOUBLE CENTURY TO RON-3FORI). MELBOURNE, Friday. The Sheffield Shield cricket match Victoria v. South Australia commenced to-day. Victoria had four wickets down fox--473 (Woodfull 106, Ponsford not out 255, Hendry 35, 1 Ryder 52) when stumps were drawn. . The weather was cool and the wicket good. The destiny of the shield probably depends upon this match, as if the Victorians win they will have an almost unassailable lead. Ponsford and Woodfull opened slowly until, they had taken the measure of the bowling; then runs mounted rapidly, Ponsford being the faster scorer. Quick shanges were made in the bowling in the hope of separating the pair, but without avail. Ponsford opened out, and runs came rapidly when the wickets, which was wet overnight, commenced drying and became fast. At lunch time the score was none fox--115. Runs mounted quickly. Ponsford gave a good chance to the wicketkeeper, but the ball bounced off the latter’s hands. Second slip made a dive for it, but missed. The batsmen continued in great form, and at 153

made a new first-wicket record for Victoria against South Australia in Sheffield cricket. After Woodfull was dismissed, caught by Richardson, Ponsford was joined by Ryder, who played a sound innings, and the pair scored fast, never being troubled by the bowling, which was of a good standard. PLUNKET SHIELD. CANTERBURY v. WELLINGTON. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Blanket Shield match, Wellington v. Canterbury, commenced this morning in fine weather. The visitors won the toss and batted first, the scoring being slow. At noon 20 was up for the loss of no wickets (Gregory 11, Hamilton 7). From then on till 1 o’clock the scoring was still slow against the bowling of Massey, AleGirr, Eeriiau and Badcock who came on in quick changes. Gregory had a narrow escape from being run out. In the first hour 4.9 runs were up (Gregory 26, Hamilton 20, extras 3). Much interest has been aroused by the position that has arisen in connection with W. M Woodfull, the Victorian and Australian eleven batsman, regarding his status in the game. Woodfull, who is a teacher in the Education Department, was recently given permission by the department to conduct a coaching class at cricket : ‘and to receive remuneration therefor.” Woodfull has been engaged by a Melbourne sports outfitting firm to give lectures and to coach. The view is held by some people that this makes Woodfull a professional under the Victorian Cricket Association pennant rules. The matter has been diicussed by thes pennant committee of the association, which decided to take no action, but to allow the question to stand over until some club having been defeated by Carlton (Woodfull’s club) should lodge a protest on the ground that Carlton had played a professional without permission.