CRICKET MATCH.

Dunstan Times, Issue 679, 23 April 1875, Page 3

CRICKET MATCH.

Cromwell v. Clyde. The contest between the cricket clubs of tho above towns, consequent upon a challenge from tho former, took place on tho Cromwell ground on Friday last. The day selected turned outboautifully fine—indeed, no batter'weathcr couldhavo been wished for The attendance on tho ground was throughout tho match very fair, and the wants of the players and spectators in the shape nf meat and drink were liberally supplied by host Marsh, of tho Bridge Hotel, who, as usual acted up to his trade motto of giving “value’for money.” Considering the hurried arrangements in getting up the match, a very good wicket was pitched, the ground selected being one which, with a little attention and care, may he made equal to any up-country;.and it is to bokoped, now that a new spirit has been infused in our “knights of the willow,” steps will bo taken en to preserve and improve it. Wickets were to have been pitched at 11 a.m., but the tardiness of some Cromwell players in putting in an appearance made twelve the hour—a want of punctuaEty the more inexcusable from the fact that the Clyde men were on the field sharp- at the hour appointed. As to the result of the contest, opinion was pretty equally divided, although at '®ne time it was thought likely to prove a “ moral ” for Cromwell, as they had been fortunate (enough to secure an eleven above the ordinary average. But as the day of battle drew'on, a series of unlooked for accidents placed two or three reliable players out of it. During practice a day or two before, Mr. Drury, (to whom is duo the chief credit in getting up the match) met with a mishap which disabled him, andjfrom which he has not recovered ; while Mr Sams, tho crack bowler of the team, had two or three ribs broken by a fall-from his horse. Mr M'Nab, also above the average, had been prostrated, so that, altogether, things did not look promising for the Cromwellites. However, the best had to be made of the material available, and'the issue showed the Clyde men had met “ foemen worthy of their steel” even under the disadvantages above referred to. Of the general play on both sides it may be remarked that while the fielding of the Clyde team was an improvement on that of Cromwell, the latter was tho strongest in batting, Clyde had a decided advantage in howling, the captain, Mr. Stevens, doing good service in this department. Mr Snook directed the Cromwell eleven, and deserves a word of pralsejfor the judicious way in which he placed the field. Also worthy of special mention is the admirable wicket-keeping of Mr. MacKellar, and the pretty hatting of Messrs Gordon, Preshaw, and Tobin on the Cromwell side ; in which respect Mr. W. Fames, of the Clyde team, also distinguished himself, It had been arranged the stumps should be drawn at half-past five o’clock, and about an hour before that Clyde took the wickets for their second innings, having to obtain 101 to beat their opponents. The brothers Eames made a good stand, tottering up 30 between them ; but ultimately they had to give place, when(the timber began to fall rapidly, the appointed hour for arriving after six wickets had gone down for 40. The match was nominally declared a drawn one, although there is no doubt it was in reality a safe victory for Cromwell. We are glad to see the contest’was throughout conducted in a most friendly and fair spirit, no petty wrangling disturbing the pleasure of the day’s sport. The Umpires Mr. Sams, Cromwell, and MrG. Ratcliff, Clyde, deserve their meed of praise for the courtieoua and unbiassed manner theyperformed theironerous duties their decisions in no case being‘questioned. Below we give the result of.tho match in detail:—

CROMWELL—FIRST INNINGS. Olds, b W. Faohe—l I .... 2 Baker, c Evans, b Fache .... 0 MacKellar, 1 b w, b Richmond—ll2ll6 Tobin, b Facho—l 311113 112. - 15 Snook, b Richmond - - - . - 0 Gordon, bßichmond—l 4121224411 23 Preshaw, b Stevens—3l32lll2 - - 14 Escott, b Stevens—l 2 3 .... 6 Gudgeon, (not old) 1 2 1 .... 4 Wilmott, b and c Richmond—l2 11 - 5 Johnson, b Richmond, c Parsons - . 0 Byes, 7 ; leg byes, 4; wide, 1 - -12 Total - . . . . -87 SECOND INNINGS. Gordon, b Stevens—l 111 . . .4 Gudgeon, b Stevens—l 12 • . . 4 Tobin, b Boucher—3 1311111 -12 Snook, b Richmond—l 22 4 1 - . . - 10 MacKellar, b Fache—l .... 1 Olds, b Boucher—3 1 1 1 - - . -6 Escott, b Boucher ...... 0 Preshaw, b Fache—l 112 - . .5 Johnson, c and b Boucher—4 1 2 - . 7 Baker, b Fache—l 1 2 Wilmott, (not out) 0 Byes, 5 ; leg byes, 2 ; wides, 6 - - -13 Total 64 CLYDE—FIRST INNINGS. Donniston, b Tobin—l 3 1 - ... 5 C. Eames, cMackellar, b Snook—2 1 121 7 W. Eames, c MacKellar, b Snook— 1 111111 - - - . .7 Richmond, c and b Snook— 22 - .4 W. Faohe, c and b Tobin—3 . . 3 G. Fache, c Olds, b Snook— 31 - .4 Stevens, 1 b w, b Snook—l . . 1 Boucher, run out—l 1 .... 2 M’Guiness, c Snook, b Tobin— . . 0 Hall, (not out)— 22 Parsons, run out—l 1 Byes, 7 ; leg byes, 2 ; wides, 6 - - -15 Total SECOND INNINGS. C. Eames, b Snook—3 12 11- • . g W. Eames, c Snook and b Tobin—3 2 1121122331 22 Stevens, b Snook— Boucher, b Tobin— 0 M'Guiness, c Gudgeon, b Tobin— - . 0 Richmond, b Snook— 0 Byes, 10 Total (with four wickets to fall) - 40

At seven o'clock in the evening both teams and a number of invited guests sat down to a supper in Starkey’s Kawarau Hotel. The time at the caterer’s disposal was very limited, but notwithstanding this tho spread was all that could he desired, being both substantial and stylish, a fact which has (borne evidence to by tho enooniums of the partakers—and cricketers are no mean judges of tho excellences of a supper table. To use tho time-worn expression, “after ample justice had been done” the' comestibles, tho table was (cleared, and toast, song, and sentiment quickly alternated, sumo ’(capital speeches being made in tho course of the evening. Space will not allow us to notice these in detail further than (to remark that hopes were mutually expressed that(the present would prove the precursor of many similar pleasant meetings in the future—a sentiment which we cordially endorse. After spending a few hours in harmony and good fellow ship, the company separated—all being well with the day’s proceedings thus enjoyably brought to a close. We should have mentioned that Mr Preshaw ably discharged the duties; of chairman, being supported by Mr. Simpson, R.M., and Mr. Snook, while Mr MacKellar acted as croupier, assisted jjy MrHazlett, M.P.C. —Cromwell Argus.