CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1629, 21 December 1912, Page 18

CRICKET.

[By the Breaker.],

Lower Average!—' Why? ; "111 theirVqiaiet, irresistible _ way, the averages tell quite a lot of tilings. Ono notices at mce that the batting figures for almost all our batsinen are very much lower .than: they wero last year, and'the year' Before. Why ? : .There is only one conclusion to draw. The: cause, must lie' in'the . fact that the ■usual splendid -"Saunders wickets" vre'rq 'not!)'available, at the" beginning';pf the., season. -- ■ .The whole, a clinching testimonial to tho work of "John V" as groundsman.' •

Mr. C. G.Wilson's Fund's Scheme—£l6o . increase. '' Since thVarrival in Wellington of that (whole-hearted cricketer, ; ,C. G. Wilson, the finances of the local cricket body have ■ iinproved<a,good,deal.•'■On. the, advice of ; Mr. Wilson, a canvass for honorary rnembers was made, and so far the idea, has : been veTy fruitful. . ' ~ The > honorary. member's subscription is i : onO guinea per year, and this entitles him and' two ladies to free entry to 'all matohes played in Wellington nnder the auspices of the association. .-'.So far -161 honorary members have been I . enrolled, which should-mean an increase of something like iilCO in this year's re- . eeipt-s. :1 • The East Club's Trip over the Strait. ; .' Onoe a'yeaT—in the'pleasant Christmas season, too—the East Club makes its invasion of the peaceful provinces of Nelson •; ' and Marlborough. The team which is to •- : carry out thi9 warlike, but pleasant, eni terpriss is filling up, and at latest advice j thero were only vacancies for two 'more ... men. The itinerary which has been'planned for this attractive tour is as follows: Tuesday, December 2-I—leave Welling- ' ton for Kelson by s.s. Te Anau.- . Wednesday, December. 25-rAt Nelson. Thursday, December .'26—Leave Nelson ■: for Motueka; play Motueka ;and-l'etura to. Nelson that day.' >*...• v. '• Friday, December 27—leave-Nelson for! ■ Brightwater; play'Wai-iti C.C. at Brightwater. ■ ■, Saturday, December.'; 28—Play Brighti. ' jrater C.C. at Brightwater. ■.' Sunday, December 29—At Brightwater. Monday, December .'MrrPlay combined , team at Brightwater. . Tuesday, December .81—Leave Bright- ' water for Nelson and'leave Nelson for Blenheim. i Wednesday, January l-rArrive Blenheim and, play Wairau C.C. at Blenheim (two days' match). . Thursday,, January . 2—Leave Blenheim for Wellington. j New Men for North. D; C. Collins; a son'of Dr. Collins, of , Wellington, is on his way to New Zealand. ' . In England,' Collins secured a University 1 "double blue"—cricket and rowing. North ; Cliib members think it''"probable'that he will play for their team when.he arrives. : Hills, the new iaretake'r- at Ivelbume Park, is an enthusiastic, cricketer. Most likely he will play for North. Real Enthusiasts, It is rumoured that on one occasion in one part of the woTld (more particular mention of the particular occasion need nofcbo made) a cricket scorer had hi 9 services recognised by the cricket public: ■As a general rule however, tlio services i ' of tlie scorer are apt to be overlooked or ; . too lightly.assessed. . It would be difficult to find any moro Teal enthusiasts than the. regular scorers at.'the Basin Reserve. These gentlemen ■ tot onlv render splendid service to their clubs and to cricket generally, but are always exceedingly courteous and obliging to tiie press. While the festive'season is on hand, "The Breaker" thanks them, and trusts that they will live for many years to further the interests of cricket— and assist the press. Presentations. ! East Club is now completing its collee- ! ' tion for the Mahony presentation which is contemplated. It is»also likely that similar .honour will bo done to "Fred." Bowles , , —soldier and cricketer—who entered tiio ranks of the Benedicts some little time | ago." The Big Club Match. i - • North's victory over East A was .only by ' ' a margin of 30 runs on the first innings, '• .• but "reallv speaking it was the easiest possible victory, ns ■ the North men passed their opponents' first innings total before the fourth wicket foil. The fact that the remaining wickets • went cheaply was ' doiiWU's line to the fact that the batsmen felt jh.'! 1 ' liio :nnlc!i u::s already won, al- [• , I.' i-ir-t! e'iiil t'.iel" Grimniett was | , 1,." !&„• vt!; f r ,r Ka>t. Hruy, who com- ; .' nVir r»nt:;rv Saturday, batted 1 v/c-II ft;':- XoVtti, as did Wilson and Crom-

bie. TIIO last-named pleased tho spectators most. , , , , , Baker was the onty East batsmim to make a decent score lfl«t Saturday, but one cannot help thinking' that Hickey would . get runs if they wouicl put, him in early 'enough to do so. liven;if H'ckey does riot bat in quite the orthodox fashion, lie is at all events prepured to try ana get runs, and he never fails to give the crowd a run for their pionqy. Victoria College Matches, The Victoria CollcgH seniors will not be going on. any tour: tl.es© liolKtAys. .lliey tried to arrange a visf.t to Canterbury and Otugo, but the idea ilell through as Otago would bo unable to : ploy. However, on Decotuber 20 and 17. an Auckland University/ College team will ■ play here. The match will take place on ; Kelbunie Park. And on Anniwrsa-vy Day, January 22, the Victoria ColJege players lvill travel to Christchurch to play a two days match with Canterbury Col'ege. A Very Good Pair—Fenton and Carter, • The only outstanding- feature of the South-Victoria. College match, completed last Saturday, was the excellent bowling of the South man, Fenton and Carter. In the vorv first .match of the season, Teu-ton-showed capitril;form, and he has maintained it right through. He has now obtained nearly 40 wickets, and ho has not been expensive by meting. Return of Patrick,, ■ Patrick, of the South Club, who has been absent from "Wellington for some weeks,, returned last Saturday. He will, be ready to, play for hi 9 club again when the championship fistureu are resumed. Somo Interesting Gunoral Notes. . The trial ball is tj» be abolished in firstclass crickst in Australia (says the Sydney "Arrow"). TJi-'ro are more ways of killing a goose than cutting off its headso the bowler isi su.ve to bo able to loosen his arm. I . •' , „ „. Mr. W. Findleor, secretary of the Surrey County C.C., rewired one hundred guineas for arranging the..-programme of the team. It appears to be pretty good pay; but it is customary (sayts an exchange).

.An application h t y Mr. E. R. Mayne for ■ permission to 1 takt- an Australian team to America-at the . close of the piesent season has been :refua.:d. The time does not seem opportune, nl ore particularly as a team has -only ; just finished a series of matches'in America. ■. I The ( in:il disb.inument of future Australian' Elevens''.must take placo in Australia. It means 'that tilers.•will be' no touring after • the','English programme is ended, 'unless the' party goes on under the auspices of the ..Board of Control. The great Sydney batsman, Victor Trnm- - per, did not make a century foT, his club ! last season, out he has already made two centuries since thef present season commenced. A Few Centuries. ' Rupert V. Minnett, who recently made a fine score of 205 in Sydney club cricket, is considered, by tt'-any to be a superior batsman to his brother, Koy, He is p. most attraoti.-e bafajman, .'and scores his runs all round tho wicket, piling up the. runs very liui'.ckly without playing recklessly The first century made by Rupert Minnett in gqade cricket was 137 against Waverley. J.IB eight. years back. That season ho also mado 130 -against Leichhardt ll.' In the following: season he did not compile a tfiree-figuro score in tho games. But in 190G-7 lie mad© lf.o, 106 112 and li'B for tho second grade team. .feus 'first century hi tho senior CTade was 10D against Sydney.; m 1908,9: Then ho scored 122. 150, 109, and lo2an one 0909-1%.'-Jn 1910-11 he mate 100 mid 182, in 1911-13 .196 and 103, and now he tops them all with 205. Beechey's Century, and Other Notes, The downfall of Petaie in their match against Central last week-'nd yras brought aSout in the' main by the great stand made by Beechey, who registered a century and 13 (not out). Although he dul .not play-a chancers innings, he gave, ■a notable performance, and assisted by a fast outfield stid inferior bowling this century-getter f'-imd the boundary in »reat style, seldom bothering his head about singles. It was a fine slaving, and his club mates deservedly earned him shoulder high at Hie conclusion of- the innings. , , . , Little. Smith, and Nelson also got a few runs .in tho fiivt innings, while in the second attempt jVpughton was half a hundred on (not out), and Hickson four over a score (not oulj). • Beyond Brice,'.Peto:le never had a batsman" who inspired confidence. Certainly M'lCenzie and Rowle.r got over double figures, but tlioy were; patchy. . Robinson for Centr-al again excelled himself with the ball :ind was closely followed by Kinvig. For'Petone Finlaysoii's average was not as as usual, but his performance could not be called bad. Bennett, who got one for nono, was taken off, nfter an over, whatever for, is hard to state. Unpleasant Runiours.. It is reported that things are not exactly happy in the I'ctono Club, and several prominent members have threatened to resign. If tbifi should prove correct then the eleven will go to pieces. Hutt C.C. Christmas Tour. The Hutt Cricket Club, followine their usual practice will make a tour of .the North Idand during the Christinas holi- , days and matches will be played at Marton, Taibape, Taumarnnui,-Hamilton, and. Auckland. The following players will make the trip:—Judd, Aldcrsjey (2). Finton, Climie, Pringle, Windloy, Schmoll; Hanimy, Bottrell, Dempsey, Collett, and I'assmore.

BATTING AVERAGES. ' 4J V \ . " ' V'. . rj ' tfl 0 : ft ■3 to 5 .-g : - . £ ti .'m 3 3 Smith. (South) ...... -KB 74 : *i> 1 .44.0 Brica (Petone) 244 66 ' '7. 1 10.6 Naughton. Central) 152 -SO*' 7: 3 38.0 :j Brny ! (North) 215 '.112 : . C O 35.8 Burton (South) ...134 • 69 ., 6 2 33.3 Blacklook '(North)... 195 ' 726 0 3215. Laws) (South) '..........'127 '39 5 ' 1.., 31.7 Beechey (Central) .ll''l25'"113* 5" '1 31.2 Phillipps'(North) ... 115 ; 37 .5. 1 2S.7 Wynyard (North) ... 57 48 2 0 28.5 Patton (Hutt) ...... 161 83 ' 7 ' 1 2G.8 .Wilson (North),.. ... 153 58 6 - 0.,. 25.5 ; M'Qirr (East A) 99 . 72 '• „5 -1 24.7, C. Hicksoa-.'(Central) 96 - 43' 5 1* 24.0 . Baker. (East?. A).,JL19.1 42*, f : .2 23.8 Blamires (Central).:; 89 36 4. 0 . 22.2 Hutcliings- (East B) 110 45 6 .1 22.0 Bleiikinsop (South) 42' 42 2. 0' 21.0 Nash (East B)80 38* . 5 ;1, 20.0 WagstafT'(East B)... 93 - 50* fi 1 : -18.6Luckie (Nocth)'37 :18 3 1 13.5 Isher,wooil fflutt),..., 90 • 31 . 6. 1 1S.0 "Wills (East A)"•.!£' 54 ■ 26 4 1 18.0 Littlo (Central); . ...b9„ 32 .6 1 17.8. Walters (South)' ... 84 37 5 0 16.8 Tregear (Petone) ... 96 43* 7 1 -tG-O Tucker(East,.A): .108.;. 48'.., 7, ,..0... 15.4-' l BodgerS'(H'utt)- .t.-.;:~76 ; -~72' • •'S- 0. • 1j.2- . Midlano (East A).... 106 .86" 7 0 15.1- • ■ WKenzie (Petone)... 60 28' 4 ; 0 15.0 Hickey-(Ea'st ' A)-1.. 45 • -18 . 6 . 3. 15.0 6. .K'Jffdd- (Hutt)'.:." 69 ; 36* 6 1' 13.8 : Barber "(Petone) ... 96 68 7 0 13.7 r Cullen (East A) 82 36 6 0 13.6 O'Sliea (East) 41 35* 4 1 13.6 Dalgleish (Petone):.. ;.94 41 ,8"; 1 13.4. Paterson (Central);:. -■ 67 45 : 6 -- 5 ■ 13.4 Hughes (East B) ... 40 : 22 3 0 1.3.3 H'Cardell (Central) 39 17 4 1 13.0'. Bowles (East B) ... 78 40 6 -0 13.0 Bock (Hutt 65 30 6 1 13.0 : Tanning (College) ... .OS 30 8 0 12.2 .Staples (Hutt);...'... 86 . 28 ,Z 0 12.2 Rowley^.(Petone); ...64 , .27 7 0. 12.0. ; Crombie ($orth) ... 72 33 (I 0 12.0 S. Hickson (East A) 72 37 6 0 12.0 Birch (College) ...... 95 31 S- 0- U.S.. Howe (College)- ...... , 81'. 18 .8 1 11.5 Smith (B)"st:.B)45 .14 4 0 11.2 Gifches (Ejst--A) ...-'"77 28 • 7 0 11.0 ..Yeats (Hutt) ......... 22 20 .3 1 11.0 Hardham (Petone) 77 33 "7 0 11.0 .Lambert;(North)•'..<• 44 21* 5 -1 11.0 M'lnto'sh?-(College). 88 34 ' 8 0 11.0 Caddickv(College) ... 74 . 48 8. - 1 'M0.5 ■ Dickson (College) ... 63 28 s 8 ; 2 .10.5 'Indicates "Not out." - 'o/, . (

BOWLING.AVERAGES. - Wkts.. Enns. ' Av'ge. ■ Fenton (South)35 265 . 7.5 Eobinson •' (Central) 20 1G1 8.0 Griinmett (East A) 20 190 . 9.5 pinlayson (Fetone)... 24 . 236 . 9.8' Blamires (Central) ... 11 122 11.0 Southall'(North)25 283 11.0 31'Intosh (College)'.";. 11 135 \ 12.2 Casey (North) 15 201 :13.4 Kinvisr (Central) ; 11 148 13.4 Patton .(Hutt) ...... 14 .101. 13.6 Mitchell' (Central) ... 13 194 • : 14.9 Gibbes (East A). ... 17- . 255 M5.0 Hickey (East A) ... 10 150 ; 15.0 Eodgers (Hutt) ...... 19. . . 29i . ■ 15.4 Dickson. .(College) ... 12 191,, 15.9 Saunders (College) ... 12 222 18.5 Brico (Petone) ........ 14 i 2G.6 , 19.0 These are bowlers -who have talien ten wickets .:or.,. over this season, excluding East B,' whoso returns are not complete.