SENIOR HONOURS TO KILBIRNIE

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 72, 26 March 1934, Page 15

SENIOR HONOURS TO KILBIRNIE

SURPRISING TURN OF EVENTS

When Kilbirne, in their first innings, failed to reach the score made by Petone it was generally acknowledged at the Basin Reserve on Saturday afternoon that the senior championship had been won again by Wellington, who were well ahead of Wellington College Old Boys in the other match on the Reserve. Subsequent play was viewed in the light of enjoyable and entertaining exercise until the astute Petone captain, W. S. Brice, sprang a surprise in declaring Petone's second innings closed. It was apparent Lo all, then, that the game was being fought to a finish. The first innings win was of no value to Petone so far as the championship was concerned, and Brice, after what had happened earlier in the afternoon, saw a faint prospect of getting Kilbirnie on the run. He was justified in this view, as Allcott in his last .seven overs in the first innings had taken five wickets for 6 runs, five of those seven overs being maidens. -On the other hand Kilbirnie saw a glimmer of victory by different methods than in the first innings. There was the opportunity to go hard for runs—l2l were needed in under 55 minutes. Kilbirnie jumped "at it, lost some wickets cheaply right at the outset, and then connected to bring off an amazing victory which had most of t the onlookers in high spirits. It was Wilson mainly who wielded, the willow to great purpose, and his match-winning effort, yielding 69 not out," resulted in his being carried shoulder high from the field in one of "the most enthusiastic demonstrations seen on local grounds at the finish of a match. Kilbirnie made the required runs with about a quarter of an hour lo spare, and the performance, in fading light, was a remarkable one, with the Kilbirnie captain, W. J. R. Christophersen, also playing a big part. Kilbirnie .won outright by six wickets, and took championship honours with seven points to spare from Wellington, who just failed to beat Old Boys outright. In the other matches Institute registered their second win and University accounted for Midland.