Outdoor Sports . . and Pastimes. Cricket.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 81, 18 January 1902, Page 6

Outdoor Sports . . and Pastimes.

Cricket.

By Touchline.

AS was anticipated, the finish of the match between the Midland and Phoenix teams proved very interesting the oldei club lust lasting, long enough to win bj two wickets.. Seven out of the ten batsmen scored double hgurc& — Quee (4o), Robertson (32) Hoidsworth (24), Hickson (18) Hutelungs (lb), Williams (17) and Tucker (10). Hickey, with five wickets for 81 runs bore the brunt of the bowling, Greenfield (two for 22) being of great assistance. ♦ • < There is a lot of luck in a game of cricket and though one is inclined to think the Phoenicians did not have the advantage of what was going, other happenings come up before the mind's eye which appear to balance things. True, a couple of catches were dropped at the wickets, and an easy chance of stumping was allowed to go by, but, on the other hand both Tucker and Hutohings were unfortunate enough to play the ball on to their wickets that sent them to their dressing-room . «■ * * A deal of interest was taken in the game and the partisans of either club rejoiced exceedingly at times — the Phoenix ones when a wicket fell, and the Midlanders when a fine drive was made. * * * Holdsworth's innings was the most careful he has played this season. He generally chose the ball to have a go at at the correct time, although, truth to tell he appeared at times to be quite content in keeping his end up. The stand between him and Quee practically won the match.Quee put a lot of power behind his drives, three of them going with so much wood in them as to produce two fives and a six. Steadiness was the marked feature of Quee's innings, though what looked like a chance to mid-on early in the innings was not tried for by the fieldsman. The batsman was finally dismissed bv a brilliant catch in the slips bv Naughton — [See "Times" report.] Robertsons display was one of the finest he has given in' Wellington. Directly he took centre he was right in, and. playing everything with confidence, and with the face of the bat, he never looked like getting out till he lifted one to Midlane *in the deep field. In "Robbie's" innings were some beautiful carpet drives straight past the bowler. Hutchings is, so far, a slight disappointment to me. True, his defence is sound, but he has been playing senior long enough now to have got into his stride, and the manner of his batting should be taken on the style that characterised it in junior cricket. There he used to do plenty of banging, but since he has come up senior, "Jack" seems satisfied to meet the ball with the bat, but with no power behind it • * * The catch that disposed of Holdsworth by Harris (fielding substitute), was ,\ fine one. the strain being very great while the ball was in the air. In this connection, a few of the barr ackers on the seats of the stand displayed their idea of sport, for. while the ball was in the air, the?' incessantly barracked the fieldsman. * I have said before that chspl similar to this only bring into disrepute the club on whose behalf they are made. As far as the Midland Club is concerned, they are no parties to such unfair tactics, and would much prefer the barrackers in question to transfer their favours to some other club. Hickey bowled well, mixing them splendidly. Greenfield got a much better length than when put on in the first innings, and had more than his share of bad" luck. If all had been fish that came to his net, the two wickets he was credited with, would have been four. • ♦ « The Wellington-Old Boys' match was not taken seriously by anyone at the Reserve on Saturday, and it dragged its weaiTv way along, the older club eventually winning by an innings and 173 runs. Orombie (32), Taylor (11), and Hales (14) were additional scorers for Wellington from the previous week. The second innings of the Old Boys totalled 115— Staples (29), Jacobs (33), Sanderson (19), and Blacklock (13) getting the majority of the runs. Sanderson (five wickets for 134 runs) and Staples (four for 94) were the most successful bowlers for the younger club, Ashbolt (four for 24") and Connell (three

for 2' having the best averages for the Wellington team Mr. Albert Trott got back to Napier last wook, and has granted a pressman an interview. I onl> mention this in order to refer to the piece of sharp practice that is attributed to the Wellington Cricket Association when he speaks of the grass being cut on the wicket before play started on the second day. When Mr. Trott, through Mr. Marshall, the captain of the Hawke's Bay team, made the same accusation before commencing play on the second, day, the Ground Committee had an interview with Mr. Twist, the custodian, and he positiveH assured them that no such coui^e had been adopted — the wicket had onl\ been well brushed and rolled. The eonfromatdon of the roller used b> the local Cricket Association was what led Mr. Trott astray. The steering roller in front of the main roller makes a separate impression on the turf to the wide one', such impression being of about the same width as the mower would make The whole matter was fairly put before Messrs. Marshall and Trott, and ther both expressed themselves satisfied. Personally, I heard Mr. Richardson say to Mr. Marshall ' You have made a mistake in that matter . the grass has not been cut," to which Mr. Marshall replied. "Possibly so " Undei these circumstances, if Mr. Trott had to make an excuse for the defeat of the Hawke's Bay team by Wellington, he should have found one other than stating that the latter obtained an unfair advantage by the grass being cut previous to its second innings. The facts at any rate are as I have stated them, and they are vouched for. * *■ * The two paragraphs here quoted are from the Otago Witness" "Many inquiries have been made concerning exCansbrook bowler Monk's position in the Hawtrey Comedy Company. First, a cricketer, then, secondly, anything that the management can find him to do. When engaged by Mr Hawtrey, that gentleman said 'Monk, I'll want you to play cricket four days next week.' The Carisbrook player replied, Til play a month, Mr. Hawtrey, if you wish.' " "Many cricketers have strange fads Albert Trott's is to score a single off the first ball — never more — then he feels like settling down to work. Trott's fctyle somewhat resembles that of A. Clarke, who played in Dunedin a few seasons back, and who- was one of the most stylish bats seen on the Otasro cricket field." [This refers to the Clarke who is now the. captain of the Phoenix team.] * * » C. A. Richardson, the best captain New South Wales has had of late years," is the way the Sydney "Referee" refers to the popular skipper of the Wellington Club The third test match between Maclaren's English cricketers and an Australian eleven begins at Adelaide on the 17th instant. There is a lot of talk of Eady the Tasmaman cricketer, who was with the Australian team when last in Wellington, replacing Jones as the fast bowler on the Australian side. Championship matches for Saturday are — Phoenix v. Wellington, No. 1 wicket; and Old Boys v. Midland, No. 2. The former game should be interesting for although the Phcenix won the match played in the first round, the Wellington team has been materially strengthened since then. Gillie Wilson, who was captain of the St. Kilda Club, Melbourne, for rourteen years, has played his last game in Melbourne — at least, for some time He is leaving for New Zealand, to manage a branch of Sir Frederick Sargood's business. During all those fourteen yeais he has not only commanded the respect of the players that have served under him, but of the sporting world generally. A batsman of the forcing type, he is a possessor of good nerves. His departure makes a great gap in the ranks of the Saints. In common with all his friends—^ld they are legion — I sincerely wish him luck in Maoriland — Sydney "Referee." The following will be found to be a general experience of umpires — "What do you most dread when umpiring?" was recently asked of a gentleman who has often worn the white coat at international matches. "The confident appeal," he promptly replied. Nine famous umpires out of ten have given similar answers. The "confident appeal" is all the more condemned because the makers of such appeals, knowing full well their unfairness, invariably assume the bland and childlike tone and look of innocence. Many an honest umpire has been bluffed into giving a decision against his own conviction, throueh a chorus of "how's that?" uttered in a manner which plainly meant, "everybody knows it is out, it only remains for the umpire to say so " These things happened on the other side of the line, of course. — "Boondi's Budget." [Continued on Page 19 ]