CRICKET.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17078, 16 April 1927, Page 20 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

THE HONOURS BOARD. Hastings (Old Boys’ Juniors) 54. Christian (Hamilton) 48. Cassidy (Hamilton East B) 6 for 7. Clougji (Old Boys’ Juniors) G for 15, Hunwick (Frankton) 6 for 32. Owens (Hamilton East B) 5 for 17. Taylor (Hamilton) 5 for 24.

THE SENIOR A TABLE.

Scant Courtesy. Old Boys treated Hamilton East with scant courtesy on Saturday. Hopelessly outclassed on the first day, when their opponents scored 2j92 runs in reply to their 27, they should nevertheless have fought the game out to the bitter end, and made some attempt at least to die fighting. I have seen teams in Hamilton as in other places, although apparently quite out of the hunt on the first day, put their backs to the wall and show what defensive cricket can be made; but they were teams which were imbued with the true spirit of cricket and played the game accordingly. Incidentally, I might say, that one case which occurs to me happened three or four seasons ago, when a team which had not won a match for years, playing against the leading team in the competition, were compelled to follow on on the first day. On the second, they •put their backs to the wall, held possession for the greater part of the afternoon, and ultimately made so many runs that their opponents had to be satisfied with a two point win, and had to play off with Old Boys for the championship, Old Boys winning.

On Saturday last the Hamilton East team turned up in full force with one exception, only to find that their opponents could muster only five men. Senior and Allen started off as if they meant business, but Allen soon left. Horspool was next, and at once set about the bowling, rattling up 21) quickly, including two fours, two sixes, and a single off one of Dufty's overs, but Bob Johnston came on and speedily had him smiting at a ball which required much more discreet treatment, and he was bowled. Senior, whose re-appearance was very welcome, had made a dozen including some of his favourite “wallops” on the leg side, when a new trundler in the person of Jack Loughlin appeared at the bowling crease and signalised his promotion by getting Senior caught off his second ball. Mannering and Hunter, all that remained of the remnant, managed to add eight before Skeet disposed of Hunter with the first ball he sent down. This was the official end of the innings, although the farce was prolonged a little further by the advent of two batsmen in mufti and without pads, who were not members of the team. And so at a quarter past three Hamilton East had romped home winners by an innings and 207 runs, a hollow victory which put the winning of the championship beyond doubt, but which cannot have afforded them a great deal of pleasure. The actual winning or losing of a match is of much less importance than the way it is won or lost, and the way in which this match was lost reflects little credit on Old Boys.

Frankton’s Narrow Squeak.

Frankton were to some extent the victim of circumstances on Saturday. Hawke and Everest were ill, and Connolly and Lentl'er, having been informed during the week on what seemed to be good authority that ail club games were off, spent the afternoon working. They had, therefore, only seven men with which to continue against the full strength of. Hamilton, and the latter made full use of their advantage. They did not start any too well, losing Campbell, Eggleston, and Taylor for 48, of which Campbell claimed 21, but Christian and Pomeroy put on, 71 for the fourth wicket before Pomeroy was stumped. He had made 43 in something like his old form; but lack of practice has manifestly affected the timing which used to bo such a feature of his -play. Christian, who has been improving every week lately, went quietly along to 48 and then, with a declaration in sight, commenced to open out. The more aggressive policy did not pay, however, for he was bowled immediately. lie hit with some force on the leg side, but was very quiet on the off, patting quiLe a few balls gently into the slips which a more vigorous execution of the same shot might have sent to the ditch. The remaining batsmen were ' sent in to hit, but they did not meet with much success, and with 142 on the board for nine wickets Campbell applied the closure, leaving himself 45 minutes in which to get rid of bis seven opponents for less than 108. There was never any hope of Frankton making the runs—their depicted numbers made the taking of risks out of the question, and had it not been l'or a good innings by Stott and the fact that a very surprised Connolly turned up late in the afternoon, Hamilton might easily have won. Slot t made a bright 25, driving particularly well, and his success, coming as it did at a critical time, was very pleasing in view of the lack of success which has attended him throughout the season. Connolly and McGrath were together at the finish, with only ITawke, who, although not fit to bat was prepared to make the attempt, if necessary, to follow, but they managed to hold the fort, and retain the two points for Frankton. Incidentally it was the only two-point win of the season. Hunwick took 0 for 32 in the Hamilton innings, sending down some real good stuff mixed unfortunately with a lot of rubbish. He seems to be much slower than last year, and I do not know that the change is an advantage. Be that as it may, he put up a good all round performance in this game, and no small credit for the win is due to him. q’aylor, the Hamilton all-rounder, did practically similar' service for his side, making most of the runs in the first day, and taking five wickets for 24 on the second. Steel was out to one of Robertson’s masterpieces, a steeple high catch away out on the leg side, which the tall Hamiltonian never looked like missing. McGrath, in whom Frankton seem to have found the wicket-keeper they have been looking for for so long, had a good afternoon, getting two stumps and a catch. Tho Championship. I hope to deal more exhaustively later on with the performances of the teams, and for the present will content myself with saying that tho championship has gone to the only team that

season the Association will have dropped the antiquated system of deducting points for losses and having a margin of 30 points between the first and the last teams. If there had been no deduction this year the points would have been:—Hamilton East 21, Frankton 17, Hamilton 12, Old Boys 6 the same placings, a better indication of the merits of the teams, and no absurd result of a team finishing further back than where it started from. The Juniors. The Old Boys Juniors, following in Y.M.C.A.’s footsteps, have brought off a good double, winning the competition proper and the knock-out as w T ell. I was pleased to see Hastings get a good score on Saturday. His style at the nets impressed me greatly at the start of the season, and I have been disappointed that he has not made more runs. With 84 in a house match on Friday and 54 on Saturday he wound up the season well, and I am hoping for good things from him and others of the younger brigade next season.

N.Z. TEAM’S TOUR.

RACING CLUB’S ASSISTANCE

At a meeting of the Auckland Racing Club Committee it w’as agreed, in order to assist the Auckland Province to provide its quota of the expenses of the New’ Zealand cricketers now en route to England, to subscribe for 200 shares in New’ Zealand Cricket, Ltd. With this subscription the Auckland Cricket Association has almost reached the goal at which it aimed—the raising of £2OOO as its part of the £IO,OOO required to finance the tour. A week ago Dominion subscriptions totalled £9OOO, and it is expected that the remaining £IOOO will be in hand shortly.

Opt 3pt 2pt 2pt Wins. Losses. Wins. Losses. Pts. Hamilton E. 7 •) 0 0 i 5 Frank ton 5 3 t () 8 Hamilton 4 4 0 1 — 2 Old Hoys 2 7 0 0 —ID