PLAY IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 6, 7 February 1912, Page 7

PLAY IN AUCKLAND.

Saturday’s games in Auckland were characterised chiefly by a cen-tury from young Somerville, and a collapse of practically all the other Auckland “reps” in their several games. Somerville’s century was a merry innings. His first forty were made quickly, 'but not sensationally, from leg hooks and pulls and his lusty off punch. At this stage he put up an easy. catch which cover point (Adiery) unaccountably dropped. Then Someville jumped at everything. He sent Taylor for six and followed this up by lifting Graham twice over the boundary in one over. Fours came without effort, and when the last ball of the day was. due he wanted half a dozen to get his hundred. It was Somerville’s only chance, as he would be away the following week in Christchurch, and Jacobsen, though lie had been severely punished, played like a sport in sending his last one down slow and of good hitting length, which enabled the Amtsnian to drive it against the grandstand arid break his century. The last GO runs were hit up in less than 30

minutes. It was reckless/but deliciously refreshing. Rumour states that Thompson will not return to the city this season. If so, there is solace in the fact that his last bowling record of six wickets for 18 runs is up to his English reputation, and gives hopes for a good performance in Christchurch.

The play of the last two Saturdays makes it look as if University will be deposed from first place, and the club championship is now an open question. It looks as though the departure of the Plunketers will give junior players their chance in senior fixtures. Caradus on ■Saturday proved himself a batsman while there are yet other lads to try out this month, as, say, J. Alexander and Heighway (Eden), Stephens (Pa rnell), L. Dacre (North Shore), AA’. Horspool and Haresnape (Grafton), and C'ullamore (Ponson'bv) ; while Arblaster and K. Moller, of AVaitemata, are consistent performers who are well worth a trial higher up.

An interesting feature of Saturday's games was the sudden development of a slow off-break by Kerr, Auckland’s best left-handed trundler. Though frequently badly placed it was sometimes a ‘beauty, and accounted for nis excellent record of five wickets for G 3 runs. This variant of 'his natural fast leg-break was the one thing wanting in Kerr’s bowling, and it’s a pity he didn’t bring it to light a fortnight earlier.