CRICKET

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1301, 1 April 1915, Page 20

CRICKET

(By

“Mid-On.”)

The curtain was rung down on the chief premiership competition under the auspices of the Auckland Cricket Association last Saturday afternoon, when Ponsonby, after battling hard for two successive seasons without much good fortune, managed at last to attain the coveted championship honours. If I remember rightly, Eden, winners of the senior championship last season, did not overcome Fonsonby, the latter’s chance for the position at the head of affairs being spoilt by an unexpected defeat at the hands of Waitemata, and Eden further improved by a three-point victory over their B team. This year Ponsonby enjoyed a point advantage when the final match commenced, and by winn.ng the toss had the advantage of batting on a good wicket. After being so near the championship this good fortune was really due to them, tut they failed to make, much use of it and were all out for 159.

Eden, after dismissing Ponsonby under such circumstances, really deserved a better fate than have to face the music on a bowler’s paradise, and Ponsonby gave them little quarter under such try mg circumstances. The heavy rain during the week completely saturated the ground, and even on Friday afternoon the outlook was far from premising, but the unexpected happened, and when play commenced the ground was in a drying state, and at Eden Park was in such a condition that run-getting was well nigh hopeless against a break bowler, although towards the close of the afternoon it improved somewhat. As mentioned previously, Ponsonby made 159 in their first venture, to which Eden replied with 93, and Ponsonby going in again knocked up 102 for the loss of four wkekets, but then the cares and worries of championship hunting was a thing of the past.

On the same ground the conclusion of the match between' Parnell and Eden B was a tame sort of an affair, and when the former dismissed the remainder of the Eden batsmen the match was abandoned to enable the contestants to witness the finish of the Ponsonby and Eden A match on the adjoining wicket. Parnell’s first innings score was 156, to which Eden could only respond with 125, giv.ng the former another win to their lean list of victories for the season.

Much more happened at North Shoie, where the wicket was much better than on this side of the harbour. Grafton closed with their first day’s effort of 306 for six wickets, to which North Shore replied with 203 for eight wickets, thereby making a drawn game. The highest score of the day was a century to L. Caere (North Shore), who reached 117. Richards (North Shore), 82, was the only other batsman in the grade to score over fifty. A couple of excellent bowling performances were accomplished, Snedden, of Ponsonby, capturing six wickets for 37 and Bevins (Parnell) winding up w.ch seven for 48. EDEN A V. PONSONBY. PONSONBY THE SEASON’S CHAMPIONS. Sa'.urday fortnight saw Eden A and Ponsonby commence the fixture that was to decide which of these two team 3 was to occupy the premier position as. winners of this season’s senior championship. On a batsman’s wicket the first day’s play witnessed Ponsonby’s dismissal for the moderate total of 159 and Eden’s loss of one wicket for 22. Unfavourable weather cond tions caused the Auckland Cricket Association to postpone play on the following Saturday, but a phenomenal rainfall during the past week gave every indication of a further postponement. However, though the wicket was very sodden on Friday evening no further rain fell, and a drying wind helped somewhat, though the inclement weather had given Caretaker Mills no chance to attend to the outfield. This was very dead, and the over-long turf adjoining the wicket took all the sting out of carpet drives, so that scoring was extremely slow, and only by lifting the ball could batsmen be certain of the runs.

On the opening day Eden certainly had any luck that was going, but any advantage in that d rection was more than compensated for on Saturday last, when Ponsonby had their opponents on a dead and drying wicket, and with an outfield that was a big handicap.

Ponsonby were minus the services of Wilson and Brinsden, but keen fielding was conspicuous among all members of the winning team, no chances be.ng missed, Kavanagh bringing off some brilliant left-handed ground fielding, three fine catches being taken by Taylor, Wright and Kavanagh.

The outstanding feature of the second day’s play was N. Snedden’s trundling, the New Zealand representative having each batsman in difficulties and finishing with six victims for 37 runs. Snedden kept a splendid length, three shortpitched deliveries forming the total of his erratic ones, and though Umpire Harvie pulled him up on more than one occasion during the opening stages for “no-ball,” such had no ill-effect on Snedden’s after performance. Contrary to the opinion of many, Snedden appeared to get a great deal of assistance from the pitch, and had Mills, Cummings, Sale, Bia r, Heighway, Brooke Smith and Gilmour in difficulties; in fact, on many occasions his deliveries proved non-playable. The only players to shape at all confidently against him — and this for a brief period only—were Cummings, He ghway and Rountree, the last-named jumping out and hitting hard, being decidedly very lucky in his efforts.

McMath, who concluded with 4 for 31, again proved himself to he a most consistent trundler and ably supported Snedden’s attack. As usual, he bowled very steadily, keeping a perfect length, and on the slow wicket no liberties could be taken with him. Patiently pegging away, he accounted for Hemus, Taylor, Rowntree and BrookeSmith. He was relieved for a few overs by Kavanagh, and the spell was obviously beneficial to McMath. Snedden, McMath and Kavanagh were the only Ponsonby bowlers tried. With Hemus disposed of on the opening day, Mills and Taylor resumed on Saturday last and both were plainly uncomfortable, Mills being again and again beaten by Snedden and Taylor mis-timed McMath’s deliveries repeatedly. With four runs added Taylor put up a hard, low catch to F. S. Taylor at point off McMath’s bowling, and two wickets were down for 26. Cummings partnered Mills, only to see Snedden dispose of the latter without further addition to the score. Sale and Cummings then became associated, and though the former opened uncertainly both settled down to defensive tactics, hard driving proving unavailable and the loose ones to hit being few and far between. Throughout the afternoon the fair muster of spectators was treated to thrills, not from the hard-hitting tactics of the batsmen —not half a dozen boundaries being registered during Eden’s innings—but from the bowlers, who on numerous occasions had the batsmen beaten and almost disposed of, McMath’s deliveries proving most deceptive in their flight. With the score at 34, Sale, after smacking a loose one from Snedden away to the on for three,- poked the next up to Wright, who fielded in Wilson’s old position. Blair joining Cummings saw the lefthander endeavour to bring his hitting powers into effect, but to very little purpose, the bat usually failing to come into contact with the ball. Blair got Snedden away nicely to the on per medium of a leg glance, but in attempting the repeat was clean bowled, after the partnership had realised sixteen runs and the score stood at 50.

With five wickets down for 50 Eden A required 110 to win, and their most keen supporters were beginning to doubt that possibility. Heighway opened confidently, and with Cummings proved Eden’s only doublefigure scorers. The newcomer hit out in good style, but fifteen runs had been added when Snedden beat Cummings with a beauty after that batsman had compiled a cautious 19. Brooke-Smith and Heighway sent the score along at a little quicker pace, the last-named batsman doing most of the run-getting, but with bis own quota at 17 and the score at 84 Snedden again got home with a good one.

Gilmour followed Heighway pavilionwards immediately, Snedden beating him first, ball', and with eight wickets down Rowntree and Brooke-Smith became associated. Eden’s wicketkeeper adopted forcing tactics when facing Snedden, and by hard smiting drove that bowler for a few singles.

To McMath, Rowntree was decidedly quiet and could do little, and an uppish stroke saw Kavanagh secure for McMath his third victim. Brooke-Smith, ■n making a mighty effort to lift McMath out of the ground, was clean bowled, and Eden were all disposed of for 93.

The fall of the wickets was as follows:—]. for 22, 2 for 26, 3 for 26, 4 for 34, 5 for 50, 6 for 65, 7 for 84, 8 for 84, 9 for 93, 10 for 93. Ponsonby, after being runners-up last season, thus came out victors this season, Eden A and Ponsonby’s positions being reversed.

The victors are to be congratulated on the result of their consistent efforts, and the result —a popular one —should be very pleasing to Ponsonby’s worthy captain, F. R. Wilson, now with the reinforcements at Trentham. Wilson has had the honour of lead ng the ’Varsity senior fifteen and Ponsonby senior eleven to victory in the one year. Eden’s innings closed shortly before 4 p.m. About an hour and a half remained for play, and during that period Ponsonby ran up 102 for the loss of four wickets. Skipper Hemus again rang on the bowling changes, no fewer than n’ne- of the eleven taking a hand with the trundling, but their efforts were in marked contrast to Ponsonby’s two trundlers, Snedden and McMath. Worker <36), Osborne (23) and Kavanagh (24 not out) kept go ng profitably, the first-named displaying good form.

NORTH SHORE V. GRAFTON. After a spell of heavy, boisterous weather, cricketers were given an opportunitv of showing their ability on wickets varying from sticky to heavy. The batsmen at Eden Park found the Ponsonby attack too steady and succumbed for the modest total of 93. At the marine suburb, the northerners, chiefly owing to the work of Howie and L. Dacre, rattled up the respectable total of 283 for eight wickets, in reply to Grafton’s first innings score ~f 396 for s ! x wickets. Owing to the late arrival of several of the Grafton team the match was almost half an hour late in starting. Farquharson and Howie opened for Shore to the attack of Horspool and Baker. Both batsmen played cautiously and took no risks whatever. Contrary to expectation the wicket improved as it became drier, so that later in the day the scoring improved very considerably With the total at 28 Farquharson played a cover stroke hard and high to Murdoch, who held the catch. Stewart joined Howie, but had a brief reign, Baker bowling him with a ball which swerved in and took the leg pin—2 for 43. C. Dacre filled the vacancy caused by Stewart’s retirement, but the Shore colt was net er comfortable on the sticky wicket. Haresnape tempted him into returning one—3 for 62.

Prime was the next batsman.

Howie meanwhile was slowly augmenting his total by means of singles and two’s principally. After registering a single Prime played a ball on to his leg above the knee. On the bowler’s appeal for l.b.w. the batsman was given out. Prime was certainly unfortunate. 4 for 63. The advent of E. Dacre to the batting crease altered the whole aspect of the game. His opening play showed extreme caution, and he made only 17 in eleven scoring strokes. Immediately after with the same number of strokes he put cn 28. Altogether he showed fine judgment in his play, and gave the spectators a delightful exhibition.

Dacre was ably supported by Howie, who, al.hough more than a trifle lucky, played the game for the day. He punshed the over-pitched or short ones and played on the defensive when occasion demanded. Howie’s end came u ... 219, the batsman just failing to get tne verdict by inches—run out. His test scoring strokes were the off drive and a powerful square cut, which produced tour boundaries, two threes and twelve twos.

Dowden partnered L. Dacre, the latter still continuing to score freely. Before reading his century Dacre skied one to McCormick at third man, but contrary io expectations the catch was dropped. A little later Dacre xeached the coveted century by making a mighty pull stroke to the on for :.ix. With seventeen on towards the second century he mis hie one over tlie head of mid-off, Murdoch running icund and cffect.ng a good catch. 6 for 247. After getting five s.ngles, Ho wden was beaten by an off turn from R. Sloman. Rankin and Tactersall became associated. With the total at 250 the batsmen were tempted into a second run, with the result that Rankin was run out. White filled the breach, and together with Tattersail held the fort till bell time. Tattersail especially reLshed Horspool’s acLver.es, and rat.led up 25 not out, ch ehy from on drives, the field at die time being mainly on the off. Shore made a plucky fight, and thanks to erratic handling of the Grafton bowling attack and good batting on the part of Shore got to within twenty odd runs of victory. The outstanding. feature of the match was undoubtedly the display of L. Dacre, who hit six sixes, ten fours, five twos, and thirty-one singles. Messrs. Frater and Law acted as umpires. OTAGO NOTES. CLOSE OF SEASON. (From Our Duned.n Correspondent.) The senior grade competition closed in Dunedin on Saturday with J. N. Crawford’s Colts in the premier position. The Otago coach had ihe courage to prophesy that the Colts would go through the season without a single defeat. It was a bold statement at the time, but events justified Crawford’s faith in his team, which ran out the season with 1.4 wins and three draws. In a great measure the Colts have to thank their coach and captain for the position which they find themselves at the head of the senior grade teams in Dunedin; but even without the assistance of Crawford they would have closely approached premiership honours. The following table shows the posit ons of the senior teams for the season: —

WINNERS OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP. The following table show's the wini:ei.j of the Sen.or Grade premiership during the past nvelve years: — 1903- —Carisbrook B 1904- —Carisbrook B. I. —Carisbrook B. 10 36-37 —Dunedin. 1907- —Grange. 1908- —Carisbrook A. 1909- Albion. 1910- —Opoho. 1911- —Grange. 1912- —Carisbrook B. 1913- —Grange. 1914- Colts. J. N. Crawford leaves Dunedin for Australia on April 7, and returns with his Adelaide bride almost immediately

Pld. \V. L. D. Pts. Colts 17 14 0 32 Opoho .... 17 9 3 23 Grange . . . 17 Q •i 19 Carisbrook B 17 4 4 9 17 St. Kilda . 17 0 9 3 13 Dunedin . . 1 7 4 9 4 12 Carisbrook A 17 8 12 Albion .... 1 7 1 9 9