CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1384, 9 March 1912, Page 12

CRICKET.

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i; WEDNESDAY BATTING. *•' The following averages for mid-week jrickofc do not include the series which .•>" Was commenced on Wednesday last:—

' Ths Financ# Committee Hav« Had Enough. During the past ten days quite an uncomfortable rumour has been winged about. The substance of the rumour is no less than that the Association Finance Committee have "had enough," and have skied the towel. ; No . one ..who wishes cricket well cares to say much about the matter, but it js such an ugly thing that it has liow.to be faced. The long and the short of it is that the Finance Committee have had so much cold water thrown over their great effort to adjust, once and for ever,, the association's wretched finance, that no other course was possible. If that committee, after rendering ETeat service, could have, been given just a little administrative -power, the agony of the lovy would have been finished once and for, ever in the'year of grace 1912. But it was not to be.. The gallant little committee happened to-be doing too splendidly to suit one or two on tf)o association, and, though not one crickoter in 500 knows it, every quiet obstaclo has been r purposely placed in their way. One would navo thought (hat an association, which had brought Wellington's cricket finance into such a discreditable state, would have been content to watch abler hands lift tho • poor cricket pilgrim out of the Slough of (financial) Despond. Not so, however. A certain deplorable jealousy has intervened. The Finance Committee, as it happened, were doing too well, and, somehow of other, they had to be stopped. It has been stated that no suggestion from tho l'mance Committee Tins over been iLiidWED lo reach the committee of tho issociation. The matter will be further discussed, and the burden of finance, which Is depleting the association's ranks, and • tfhich is swelling the membership of outlide bodies, will be clearly outlined. ■ First-class Championship. Tho following are the positions; of tie Cjty senior elevens to date:— ■ 3-poilit 2-point wins. wins. Losses. Points.

(East A meet Central to-day, and if the ' latter team scores a win the other club's : lead will bo wiped out. If East A ivin?, however, nothing but an accident can provent their taking the championship. Tfio Gisborno Batsman With the Average of 652. ' Leonard M'Mahon, cricketer, whom Gis- ' borno bowlers cannot get out this season,- is only 23 years of age, having been born at North Sydney, oil October SI, 1889. liiko the.average Australian youth, ho took to cricket as a duckling to water, and first learned to swing a bat at St. Mary's. School. At fifteen years of age he was promoted to the junior ranks, and captained the St. Leonard's team and North Sydney juniors, averaging 76 for tho former, and 72 for the hitter. In 1904 he was moved up into the North Sydney third grade team, and averaged 93 for the season. In the same year he was given a trial in tho club's second team, and camo fourth in the batting uverages with 58, totalling 178 runs 'with a highest score of 103 not out. Tho nanles above hiui that season on the batting list were G. G. Macartney, A. B. S.' White, and Gordon Black. Roy Minnitt and H. V. Hordcrn were also members of the eleven. The same time M'llalion also did a little with the ball, securing two 1 wickets for 49. The year 1905-G saw hira given a trial with the North Sydnoy first grade team. With them ho played four innings, scoring 71—0—8—and 101 not out, thus averaging GO. On the return of B. A. Duff and A. J. Hopkins from England with, the Australian Eleven, tho colt onoo more dropped back to the second team. That year he captained a combined Sydney : junior team against the Petersham senior team, and easily won, the youthful captain scoring I an even 100. In 1908..M'Mahon migrated to New Zealand, throwing in his lot with the North Shore (Auckland) eleven. He secured a place in the Auckland representative elevon that season, and scored 14 and 1, and took two wickets for 40 runs in tho • Plunkot Shield match against Canterbury. In 1909 he visited Gisborne with a touring North Shore team, and was induced by W. Gibson—ft Gisborne enthusi- > ast-to take up his resideuco in Gisbonw^

an appointment being secured for him at Mr. D. J. Barry's Gisborno Brewery. Since is arrival on the East Coast, M'Mahon has Captained the Wanderers' Club—a team composed almost exclusively of employees from the Gisborne Brewery. The club has had a wonderfully successful career under his generalship, having only lost one senior competition match during tho past three seasons. The success of the club is largely duo to M'Mahon's prowess, as, in addition to being a brilliant batsman, he is a clever slow legbreak bowler, and has taken a lot of wickets (luring the past three seasons. While performing consistently with both bat and ball since his arrival in Gisborno, his success this season has been astounding. His scores to date are as follow:—30 not out, 2 (bowled), 85 not out, 108 not out, 131 not out, 135 not out, 161 not out; aggregate and averago, 652. There is no question (says our Gisborne correspondent) but that he is one of the finest batsmen in the Dominion at the present time. ' • > Wsdnesday Affairs, The Rivals team showed some of their old form on Wednesday, and put up a good performance in getting rid of Union —tho leading team in tho competition—for so small a score. They were, howevor, fortunate in getting M'Gill out, that misfortune being Warne's fault. It was M'Gill's call, and Warne allowed M'Gill to get right up to him, but then 6ent ■him back. There was plenty of time for a run, and there was no excuse for Warne. Rivals made a bad Btart, losing, three wickets for 23. Dr. M'Evedy should have been given the benefit of the doubt, while Dr. Tolhurst ran himself out. Vivian eleven shaped capitally against Oriental. Dumbleton, a new man, gave a pretty display all round the wicket, while Coming's hard clean hitting was worth watching. Tho fielding of the Oriental team was not of the best. Several chances were allowed to pass without a try being made to take any of them, Ryan being tho bowler who sufferod_ most. It is to be hoped that the association, before next season, will endeavour to arrange an Umpires' Association. In the Union-Rivals match at ono end very often seven balls were given. In fact, Taylor was caught and bowled off the seventh ball. It seems also desirable to draw the association's attentionto tho behaviour of some of tho players in the scoring box. They should not be allowed inside, and, on Wednesday last, several were there calling and whistling to persons in front of the stand. That should not be allowed. Probably the finest feature of last Wednesday's cricket was the courage of the veteran Truscott (Oriental) in going on with "under arras" when a partnership was fairly established, and somothing had to be done by way of a change. Truscott, of course, had to face the. crowd, and, though no hostile attitude was shown, still it might have been. Anyhow, Truscott bowled, and with success. He got rid of Cording, who is undoubtedly a fine hitter with a fine eye. Note -from Correspondent. A correspondent, writing from Palmerston North, forwards an interesting clipping from tho "Gloucester Standard." He adds: "This confirms the report that Jeseop was retiring from Gloucestershire cricket. Is he coming out to Australia? Report says so. The extract forwarded ie as follows: — It will be learnt with very considerable satisfaction throughout the county that Mr. C. O. H. Sewell was appointed on Tuesday night to the secretaryship of the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club. When,', it was announced eomo little while ago that Mr. G. L. Jessop had decided to resign ofiico in Marph, and that, .he intended to retire altogether from first-lass cricket at the end\of the ensuing summer, something like consternation was. caused among those who take a, close and keon interest -in. county cricket, but confidence will bo restored to Borne extent at least by the fact that Gloucestershire will be able to command the services of so distinguished a cricketer as Mr. Sowoll in the field, as well as in connection with the duties of the secretaryship. Mr. Sewell will take up his duties in March, and will, we are informed, leave Cironcester and reside in Bristol. He will be a great loss to Cironcester cricket, where he has for sceral years captained the local club, but that loss will ne tho county's gain. Mr. Jossop Will retain the captainship until the end of the year, and, in view of the fact that Gloucestershire have fixtures with both tho Australians' (at Cheltenham) and tho South Africans (at Bristol), this is a matter of satisfaction. The acceptance 'of the position by Mr. Sewell has relieved the committee from a very awkward dilemma, and if he can only infuse into the business side of tho club affairs a little of the skill and judgment he has so often ehown on the field of play there need be no fear for the success of the county club. There is no need to eniargo upon the ability of Mr. Sewell as a cricketer. This is known to everyone who has followed the form of tho Gloucestershire Club during the past dozen years. Again and again he has rendered invaluablo service to the Gloucestershire team, and in his gracefulness nnd style, as well as in the ability to senre on a difficult pitch, has E roved himself to be a cricketer of the ighest ability. Mr. Sowell, whose father played for Gloucestershire in the early days of tho club, camo over with the first South African team in 1895, and joined Gloucestershire the following year. In 1906 ho announced his retirement from first-class cricket, and bus only played in ono first-class match sinco. Tho committeo have decided to allocate the professionals to various clubs. Mills will go to Cheltenham, Parker to Tewkesbury, Tirains to Gloucester, and Huegins to Stroud. Langdon, Dennett, and Nott, of course, remain in Bristol. Positions in the Third Grade. The following positions of the third grade teams have been supplied by Mr. Bay. He states that the figures are only complete to January 22, aa many of the teams have, so far, failed to send in returns:—

The Figures. What Think Ye 7 So far, the board hoe selected and invited 14 men to make tho trip to England, and another, the last, will be chosen. Tho men chosen on their averages 'are mostly better than the gentlemen who havo been dropped. Consider this little list: - Aottbaliah Eleven.

Recalcitrant Six. Battiug Bowling

Thus, in the batting eonse, three beat Armstrong's record; four are ahead of Trumper and Ransford; fivo ahead of Hill) and oight show, their koals to CarUz_ and Cotigti

rf' tQ . o O ™ "2 Q 5? ■ EH ' H >5 £i' <! Bowles (P. and T.) ... 79 79 1 0 79.0 V M'Gill (Union) 312 106* 8 3 62.4 Warns (Union) 4GG 112 9 1 58.2 Bniith (Artillery) ... 431 122 10 2 53.3 :• M'Eldowney (Oriental) 93 '14" 3 1 46.5 Blaraires (Artillery) 92 48' 3 1 46.0 1 Harris (Union) 238 80* 8 2 39.3 Wilkinson (Oriental) 153 95 i 0 38.2 liailoy (Artillery) ... 215 55* » 1 28.1 <- Cooper (Artillery) ... 27 13 3 2 27.0 Dempsoy (Vivian) ... 181 92 8 1 23.8 ; Ciourlay (Oriental) ... 253 58 11 1 25.3 . Taylor (linion) 151 37 0 0 25.1 , _ Ward (Oriental) 75 58 3 0 25.0 Sullivan (Vivian) 95 74 4 0 23.7 f. Knapp (P. and T.)... 189- 55 8 0 23.6 Caterer (Vivian) 254 123 12 1 23.0 ? Cherry (Rivals) 89 36 4 0 22.2 Carson (Vivian) 156 81 8 1 22.2 ... Driver (Union) 152 49* 8 1 21.7 George (Rivals) 213 42 11 1 21.3 - Bramley (Vivian) ... 170 75 8 0 21.2 'J'dms (P. and T.) ... 144 44 8 1 20.5 Grieg (P. and T.) ... 179 90 10 1 19.8 Tones (P. and T.) ... 70 22 G 2 19.0 C Thompson (Oriental) 87 57 5 0 17.0 Alpo (Oriental) 138 44* 10 2 17.2 ','i Capt.. Robinson (Ar.) 101 00 6 0 10.8 ' 'SDavis (Rivals') 105 -45 12 2 10.5 Cording (Vivian) ...... 145 04 11 2 10.1 M'Kfiliiie (Rivals) .... 141 34 10 1 15.0 " 1 O'Sullivan (Union) .... 107 21 9 2 15.2 Pickering (Rivals) 137 52 s 10 1 15.2 ' Plimmer (P. and T.) 108 35 7 0 15.1 W. Little (Oriental) .. 104 45 9 2 14.8 M'Evedy (Rivals) 147 10' 12 2 14.7 ; Sauverin (Union) 73 30 5 0 14.6 , s ; Mills (Vivian) .......... 143 • 43 10 0 14.3 ■' Ellison (Oriental) 14 14* 1 1 14.0 Wyutt (P. and T.) ... 97 44 7 0 13.8 Ryan ' (Oriental) G7 34 5 0 13.4 Stainton (Rivals) 40 23 4 1 13.3 Bale (P. mid T.) 131 58 11 1 13.1 ■: l'yrell (P. and T.) ..'... 131 04 10 0 13.1 .. Anderson (Rivals) .... 150 46* 13 1 12.5 Carrad (P.-and T.) .... 02 25 6 1 12.4 Paton (Artillery) 99 35 9 1 12.3 . Major Hughes (Artillery) 98 28 8 0 12.2 Hatfield (P. und T.) ...12 9* 2 1 12.0 l'ay' or (Artillery) ... 83 26 8 1 11.8 fruscott (Oriental) ...101 38 10 1 11.'2 ... MSlater (P. and T.) ... Ill 40 10 0 11.1 Little, C. (Oriental) .. 106 SO 10 0 10.6 : Haydon (Vivian) ....... 126 30 12 0 10.5 li Castles (Vivian) ........ 125 45 12 0. 10.4 > ... WEDNESDAY BOWLING.' ' AVktS. Runs. Ar'g. Harris (Union) 40 332 ' 8.3 • C'doptf (Artillery) 10' 87 8.7 Dotiglas (Artillery) 13 140 10.7 Vaf'e (Rivals) 14 150 11.2 V Bailey (Artillery) ...... 32 356 11.1 • M'Intyre (Artillery) ... 13 149 11.6 ','p Ciourlay (Oriental) ...... 30 395 13.1 t Hull /RiViils) 12 . 16-1 13.8 •- Capt. 'Robvnson (Axt'lry.)-. 11" 157 14.3 :■ BaUVerin (Unidn)' ' .'"10 , 150 15.0 Knapp (P. and T.) . -15 '238 15.8 Ryan (Oriental)- 14 ■ 223 15.9 O'Sullivan (Union) 18. 295 16.3 ■Mills (Vivian) , 23' 395 .17.1 ; M'Kenzie (Rivals) 17 301 ' 17.7 Hill (Vivian) 16 317 19.8 M'Gill (Union) 12 225 18.7 Bonner (Union) 11 255 23.1 ! ; Bale (P: ;and T.) .7;. 12 326 .27.1

Bast A 2'. 3*" 1 ' .12 Central .... 1! 2 a 10 'Petone 2 13 8 ■\"ic. College 1 2.3 7 : South 1 2 3 7 , North 0 2 4.4 ' ' East B (I 2 4 4 Hutt 0 2 4 4

d • oi '5 « - I i"5 ° g g «j.g ft ri flOSi Templars 11 11 0 — 26 Catholic 11 8 3 — 19 Central ;.... 12 6 6 — 13 S. David's 11 5 6 — 12 Petono A 11 5 5 1 12 College A 7 5 2 — 12 Karori 11 4 7 — 10 St. Mark's 11 4 6 1'8 Potone B 9 3 5 1 7 Victoria College 11 3 7 1 fi College B 6 3 8 — 6 North 10 2 8 - i

Batting Bowling average, average. E. B. Minnott (N.S.W.) G3.15 39.72 C. B. Jennings (Q.) 52.80 — Sy<l. Gregory (N.S.W.) .. 52.50 — W. Bardsloy (N.S.W.) ... 34.87 - E. R. Mayno (S.A.) 30.(50 - C. G. Macartney (N.S.W.) 27.il 29.C0 S. H. Emery (N.S.W.) ... 26.50 26.58 C. Kellewny (N.S.W.) ... 2G.U 27.G0 T. J. Matthews (Vic.) ... 22.84 31.27 AY Carkcek (Vic.) 20.00 - J. W. M'Laren (Q.) 13.00 81.90 H. Wobster (S.A.) 11.80 -• W. J. Whitty (S.A.) .... 6.60 14.50 G. R. Hnzlitt (Vic.) G.1C 20,39

average, average. W. W. Armstrong (V.) .. 51.IB 31.69 V. T. Trumper (N.S.W.) 33.31 - V. S. Ransford (Vic.) ... 3i.dG 20.50 Clow. Hill (S.A.) 30.00 16.00 H. Carter (N.S.W.) 2,1.87 - A. Cotter (N.S.W.) .... 25.35 23.32