CRICKET

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1303, 15 April 1915, Page 3

CRICKET

AUCKLAND V; SOUTH AUCKLAND. CRICKET IN FOOTBALL WEATHER The cricket fixture arranged by the Auckland Cricket Association during the Easter holidays saw but a meagre gathering of enthusiasts to witness the opening day’s play on the Saturday. Neither the general public nor even some of the selected players appeared to take much interest in the fixture, several of Auckland’s players failing to put in an appearance, their places being filled on the ground, while South Auckland were minus one of their eleven and fielded an Auckland substitute during the afternoon. Weather conditions were certainly against anything like a« crowd turning out, a cold sou’-wester bringing with it driving showers, which spoilt play for spectators and players alike, and altogether climatic conditions were such as would warrant a gob'd bout of football or hockey. Good Friday’s deluge left the wicket and outfield very dead, but the wicket was good considering the previous day’s ra.nfall of two inches, and over two hundred runs were obtained off it during about three hours’ play. Two heavy showers during the afternoon caused adjournments, and the team in the field —South Auckland—suffered in consequence. Play, in the main, was of an uninteresting nature, A. Shepherd’s compilation of 86 runs being the feature of the afternoon’s play, the Auckland skipper batting confidently and aggressively, and gave but one difficult chance at point before reaching his half-century. Batsmen received no assistance from the outfield, and hard smiting was necessary if runs were to be obtained. This was recognised by E. Horspool, Shepherd, Taylor and F. Horspool, each of whom adopted suitable tactics. South Auckland’s bowlers, after the first shower, were hampered by the slippery ball, but throughout the afternoon the attack was marked by much steadiness ,and until after the rain little loose trundling was in evidence. J. Pomeroy, with 5 wickets for 60, came out with the best bowling average for the afternoon’s play, but Hamill bowled very consistently and accounted for two good wickets, those of E. Horspool and L. Taylor. Seven bowlers in all were tried, but with indifferent success. South Auckland’s fielding was on the loose side, the ground fielding being far from clean and returns slow and erratic, though the weather conditions would to some extent account for some slackness in this department. Principally through the combined efforts of Shepherd and Temperton, Auckland amassed 206 runs for the loss of eight wmkets, the foregoing partnership resulting in 109 runs being put on. . ' Auckland’s opening pair, E, Horspool and Baker, adopted entirely different methods in dealing with South Auckland’s attack, the Graftonite smiting hard and often and making full use of his pull stroke, while Baker played very quietly, some pretty leg glances- being a feature of his play. With 43 on the board, Baker was beaten by J. Pomeroy, the retiring batsman having compiled 13, thus indicating Horspool’s share in the proceedings. Blair partnered Horspool, and remained some but was disappointing and unconvincing, the slow pitch evidently not being to his liking. He formed ,J. Pomeroy’s second victim, followed immediately by Horspool, who had gathered in 37, chiefly per medium of seven chalk-line hits. Three wickets were then down for 61, The two Edenites, A. Shepherd and L. Taylor, became associated, and proceeded to punish the bowling, both adopting aggressive tactics. Taylor was showing good form, his fine footwork being in evidence, but when 15 he was beaten by Hamill with the total at 86. Temperton joined Shepherd, to see the latter do the bulk of the scoring, runs coming from shots all round the wicket, Auckland’s captain bringing off some good strokes behind the wicket, besides making profitable use of his pull and half-pull strokes, many of which resulted in boundaries. Altogether, Shepherd gave a very pleasing display and had hard luck in missing his century by fourteen runs', mistiming a' straight

one from J. Pomeroy bringing about his end, the total showing 195. Temperton, who batted very cautiously after once retiring owing to what he considered a run out, was too late for the rebound from the wicketkeeper’s hands and followed Shepherd .'without further addition to the score, six wickets being down for 195. The remainder of the afternoon’s play was decidedly slow and uninteresting, F. Horspool and Bevins both falling victims to J. Pomeroy, while veteran W. Robinson and Punch played out time. SECOND DAY’S PLAY. A HOLLOW WIN FOR AUCKLAND. The second day’s play of the fixture produced cricket even more uninteresting than that of Saturday, and the handful of spectators had nothing to enthuse over. Auckland’s trundlers, L. Taylcr and McMath in particular, proved too dangerous for the South Aucklanders to- take liberties with, and the latter’s first innings closed for 104,

a follow on resulting in 60 odd runs as the result of their second innings. Auckland, whose first innings produced 216 runs, therefore, won by an innings. South Auckland’s first innings was marked by one determined stand, Tunbath and J. Pomeroy, 29 and 42 respectively, though the display of neither was first-class, Taylor troubling both batsmen considerably, this bowler getting a big break to work. The remainder of the team collapsed, tbe fall of wickets being as follows: 1 for 6, 2 for 63, 3 for 71, 4 for 73, 5 for 74, 6 for 86, 7 for 86, 8 for 92, 9 for 96, 10 for 104. South Auckland’s second innings proved more disastrous than their first, and the match concluded shortly after four o’clock.