MERCANTILE CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 151, 22 March 1939, Page 16

MERCANTILE CRICKET

Last Round Of Matches On Saturday

NOTES AND COMMENTS (Bt Quidnunc.) The final round of .Mercantile League grade matches for the 1938-39 season will be played on Saturday. Not for many years’ has interest been so well sustained. With the exception of the C and G grades, in which there would appear Io be little prospect of Excelsior ami City Council being deprived of the title ot champions, all the grades are still m doubt. A Grade. Since the start ot the second round there have been some excellent finishes iu the A grade. The substantial lead built up by Amalgamated Bricks in the earlier games was gradually overhauled by Taubmtuirf, and with only two points between the teams for several weeks, keen interest has attached to the results. The form of the leaders has been so consistent that their prospects of carrying off the championship look bright. Their record is slightly more impressive than that of Taubmans, but the latter possess in J. Sandholm and J. H. Potier two bowlers capable of routing a side quickly and forcing an outright win. These tactics will doubtless be pursued on Saturday, and the tussle for championship honours is expected to provide plenty of incident. Ono Point Ahead.

In the B grade Justice Department are one point ahead of U.L.M. In the draw for Saturday U.L.M. team appears to have the easier game. Both teams have shown consistently good form throughout the season and success to either would be well merited. Justice Department impress as a’ better balanced eleven, having in Boon, Vasta, Dow, Roehe and Pointon players well up to the best A grade standard. U.L.M. have three very serviceable cricketers in Willis, Newman and Carroll, who are the mainstays in a very keen side.

In the Balance. The fate of the D, E and K grades is vexv much in the balance. In the D grade H.M.V. and Shipping are fighting out the issue. In the E and F grades three teams are in the running.

Heinemann Cup. Through winning by default last Saturday, and thus being deprived of the opportunity of adding to their aggregate of runs, City Council still have the commanding lead of 313 runs from Prestige Hosiery in the Heinemann Cup competition, and would appear at this stage certain to carry off the trophy. City Council's record this season is most imposing, the team having won its gra.de and compiled the highest team score (a record' for the league), in addition to which its leading batsman, L. Wallis, compiled the highest individual score. Success in the Heinemann Cup -competition to City Council would be wellmerited.

Double Centuries. No fewer than, five double centuries have been registered this season, the latest to join this band of batsmen being R. W. Richards, captain of Customs Dept., in the E grade. He was at the crease for approximately 100 minutes, and hit 16 sixes and 22 fours, 184 of his runs thus coming from boundary shots. Leading Averages. Following are the leading averages in the A grade: — Batting: K. Hatch (Taxes Department),-! 4 innings, 740 runs, average. 52.8; J. Moore (Prestige Hosiery), 10 innings, 509 runs, average 50.9; J. Ward (Amalgamated Bricks), 13 innings, 1 not 0ut,.559 runs, average 46.5; R. Barrett (Taxes Department), 14, 2, 470. 39.1; J. H. Potier (Taubmans), 16, 2, 544, 38.8; W. Jupp (Harbour Board), 16, 4. 454, 37.8; A. Davis (Working Men’s Club), 14, 1. 470, 36.1; B. Mitchell (Harbour Board), 16, 4, 414, 34.5; W. Smith (W.M.C.), 16, 2, 465, 3j).2; A. Erskine (Jasco), 12, 2, 328, 32.8; E. Pickering (Amalgamated Bricks), 17. 1, 510, 31.9; H. Lowe (Hannahs), 17, 1, 501, 31.3; L, Myers (Harbour Board), 12, 0, 344, 28.6; M. Liddicoat (Amalgamated Bricks). 17, I, 471, 27.7. Bowling: J. Saudholm (Taubmans), 71 wickets for 749 runs, average 10.ji_; j. H. Potier (Taubmans), 53 for 605, 11.4; M. J. Goodson (Woolworths), 70 for 821, 11.7; F. de Clifford (Amalgamated Bricks), 61 for 738, 12; G. Herd (Amalgamated Bricks), 51 for 647, 12.7; C. Murphy (Amalgamated Bricks), 23 for 309, 13.4: K. Hatch (Taxes Department), 59 for 835, 14.1; R. Janes (Prestige Hosiery), 43 for 613, 14.2; L. Beveridge fTaxes Department), 43 for 616, 14.3; P. G. Monk (Jasco), 30 for 455, .15.2; G. Knit (Hannahs), 50 for 861, 17.2; K. McDonald (Harbour Board), 39 for 699, 17.9; F. Bryant (Customs Agents), 28 for 522, 18.6; AV. J. Alatson (AV.M.C.),“27 for 516; 19.1; AV. MeGirr (AA’.M.C.), 27 for 523, 19.3: W. Smith (W.M.C.), 36 for 714, 19.8.

FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY Following are the Wellington Mercantile Cricket League's grade championship fixtures for Saturday:— A Grade. Amalgamated Bricks v. Harbour Board, Athletic 1, D. Calcinai and E. Upton. Hannahs v. Working Men’s Club, Newtown 7, B. Riggs. Customs Agents v. Prestige, Newtown 1, ,1. Mason. Woolworths v. Taubmans. Athletic 2, A. Millar and A. Newman. Taxes v. Jasco. Kelburn 3. R. Brooks. B Grade. Gasco A v. Tramways, Athletic 3, F. Barber; Sargoods v. Grey Cabs, Newtown 3, R. J. Carswell; .lustice v. Niven Clarke. Newtown 4, G. Emniins and J. McGillivray; U.L.M. v. Celtic, Anderson G, G. Williamson ami A. Kerr; Telephone A v. Smith and Smith. Nairnville 5. C Grade. Atlantic Union v. Excelsior. Wakefield 6, D. Preston and 11. E. Upton ; Advances v.‘Audit, Newtown 6, G. Nicholson; Ross and Glendining v. Sealoun, Kilbirnie 9. F. V. Sanderson ; 'Wright Stephenson v. Ferguson and Osborn, Polo 1, Hale; Berhanipore v. Pastimes, Newtown 5, S. Smith. D Grade. A.O.T.N. v. Labour Bureau, Polo 2; Shipping A v. Printing A, Wakefield 7, G. Huss and G, Harris; Labour Tourist v. Self Help. Wakefield 8, T. W. McLean ; Bonds Hosiery v. Star Stores, Wakefield 9; Milk Department v. H.M.V.. Athletic I.’ (!. Hartshorne and H. W. Cater. E Grade. Lands ami Survey v. lusuranee B, Newtown 2; Insurance A v. Customs Department. Wakefield o, A. .1. Wilson and R. Williams; Diithies v. Taxes B. Karori ■I. W. N. Broadley and E. B. Newton; National Bank win by default from Thompson Bros.; Burch mid Co. v. Central. Karori 5, 11. WilTeri F Grade. General Motors v. Wellington Woollen Co., Karori 1, G. Flint; Shipping B v. Moore Wilson. Karori 2, W. F. Clark; ,J. R. McKenzies v. Rovers, Karori 3, E. W. Smelt; Printing I! v. Harbour Board, Nairnville 4. G Grade. Gasco B v. Taubmans. Kilbirnie 7: Telephone Exchange v. City Council, Anderson 4; Dominion Motors v. Colonial Carrying, Anderson 5; Taxes v. P. and T. Stores, Kilbirnie 5.