Championship Matches.

NZ Truth, Issue 122, 19 October 1907, Page 3

Championship Matches.

Bright weather had the effect of drawing the public to the Basin Reserve m large numbers last Saturday, when the senior fixtures were advanced another stage. The wicket was m first-rate order, and one of the top-scorers on No. 1 wicket declared it was the best wicket he had played on for many seasons. Wellington just missed beating Midland to the tune of an innings, the figures, as the hands of the clock came round to six, reading, Midland 113 and 44 for 8 wickets, Wellington 194. Old Boys defeated Petone by 71 on the first innings, the scores being Old Boys 162 and 130 ; Petone 91. Phoenix walloped Newtown out by 10 wickets, the tallies on the slate being Phoenix 168, Newtown 129 and 57. Under the new rules Of scoring Phoenix are credited with four points and Wellington and Old Boys two each.

Cobcroft is not the same Cobby as he was last season, and from present appearances is going to make things merry for fielders.

Last season he batted as though every ball was a difficult one, but his start this season was good to look at ; he was hitting to score, and got some nice strokes all round the wicket. His running between the wickets should be watched by his club-mates.

With a couple of exceptions the rest of the team are satisfied to run past their wickets and not trouble about the extra run that loose fielding often gives a chance of. '

Several more runs might have been added to the score-sheet had batsmen been more on the lookout, and perhaps there is nothing more disturfbingi to fieldsmen . than the run gained when they are least expecting it.

Just a word of advice, Petone : Keep an eye on the main chance and the two runs where you think there's only one m it ; don't run. 3o yards when 20 or less is sufficient to get you there ; it puts vim into the game, livens up the fielding, and warms up the hearts of the has-beens and would j h«'s on the bank.

Brice ran himself out badly. He was called for a run, which was safe enough, and didn't respond, and the bankers got to him a bit, with the result that nex% stroke he broke away for the other end without a call., and paid the penalty.

Brice is old enough at the game to know better than this, besides it's a good bit disconcerting to a young team. He didn't give his opponents any of his best bowling ; there wasn't that rocking them down like I've seen him doing m the past, which has made many a good batsman wish him out m the deep field instead of pushing the sphere at him.

However, there's plenty of time and plenty of scalps to capture. Mason shapes nicely, and is keen and clean m the field, although he was caught napping once when he should have held a fairly easy catch. He and Cobby were well worth watching m the field and saved a lot of runs.

Plenty of catches -were dropped, especially on the first day, but this was to some extent excusable as it was too cold for anything excepting to sit near the fire with some of that mixed with hot water and lemon within reach.

Taking the batting all round it was only fair and should improve after a Saturday or two more have passed. To have to face Tucker and Monaghanwith last season's scalps still fresh m mind was a bit of an undertaking for the younger of the suburbanites.

The way Tucker enticed Barber to step out to a nice, easy-looking ball and find that J. Blacklock had removed the bails rather astonished him but he will know better next time.

Patrick, for Petone, is shaping well. He was m for a long time for 7, and I will be surprised if he doesn't make a lot of runs later on.

He bowled fairly weH, and some peculiarity happened with his first ball to Jacobs. The bail came off, but Jacobs stayed on. Apparently, the umpire was not satisfied that the ball removed it. Green shapes peculiarly, and looked worth about 1 run, but he opened out on to Tucker and Monaghan. to the tune of 19, not out. Old Boys had a heap of luck one way and another, and if this follows them through the season they will be boss roosters again. Blacklock bore a bit of a charmed life m both innings. He gave the spectators a taste of his hitting powers, which is always appreciated. Monaghan is shaping well, and both he and J. P. Blacklock should give us something worth seeing later on. There wasn't anything startling m M.onaghan's bowling, but Tucker was doing handsomely, and from appearances is going to make things merry. His batting didn't worry Petone very ! much. Beechey batted with some luck. He hasn't got going yet. Jacobs shaped fairly and is apparently keen after runs, but is evidently short of practice. -Senior, of the Petones, had them all stuck up for a time and got wickets quick and lively until J. P. Blacklock and Beechev #ot on to him, although he beat both of them on several occasions. By the way, he is the Senior of the team m name and age, and I believe he didn't learn his cricket m the Dominion. Old Boys' fielding was only fair for the champion team. When the two Burtons resumed on Saturday m the Phoenix-Newtown game, some doubt was expressed whether Phoenix would sec the runs. However, Button senr., soon disposed of that idea, driving and cutting m brilliant style. He compiled 83 without a vestige of a chance. He was eventually bowled off his pads

by A\ Day while trying to force the pace. None of the others did anything, marvellous with the bat. Ryan was the only bowler who troubled the batsmen. When Newtown resumed it was seen the Phoenicians were after a four point win, as the fielding and bowling had improved fifty per cent, from the previous Saturday. It was a melancholy procession, and Hickey, Laws, and Moore ran through them. The 18 runs to win were quickly hit off by Hickey and Burton senr., whose iagferegate for the day totalled 90. It was a plucky win, and Phoenix thoroughly deserved it. . There was one point about the game that deserves mention, and that was the sportsman-like action of the Newtown 'team m hurrying to the wickets and taking the field when their opponents wanted 18 runs with, only 16 minutes to^et them m. Some older clubs playing near the pavilion might well take an example from the Newtowners' book. Wellington's tail wagged briskly against Midland, and before its house came down, the score-sheet showed 194 to its credit. With half the team up-ended for only 44, Wellington had a bit the worst of the deal on the resumption of play, but a valuable run-getting partnership between Nash and Stan Hickson, and later on between Tom Hales and Hickson, saw it clear of Midland by a substantial margin. There was no fireworks display when Jack Mahoney and Hickson started operations, 22 singles being notched m succession before the monotony was relieved by Stan clouting Upham well past' the fieldsmen. The fast bowler spread-eagled Mahoney's timbers with a beauty, the ball swerving m from the off and completely bafiling the batsman. The tally on the slate was then 84. When Nash and Hickson faced the music, the spectators expected a speedy separation, but the pair upset all calculations and carried the score to 150, at which stage Nash was stumDed off Cunningham. The batsman swung round to leg, lost his balance, and before he could recover himself Williams had the bails oft Nash began crampil'y, but subsequently settled down to solid batting. He acted purely on the defensive, allowing his partner to pile on the runs. He was not adverse, however, to punching the leather when opportunity came his way. It was a most serviceable innings. Fisher, whose batting mission is to bang as mightily as possible, was not long m giving a chance off Upham, and Charley Mitchell "clinched the ; bargain." He made way for his club ! slammer, Tom Hales, who wouldn't be shifted, and saw the score hoisted to within six of the second century before his partner came to grief. Hickson exhibited excellent form m the compilation of his 75. He hit clean and hard on both sjdes of the wicket, his off-strokes being m most constant demand. Every time Stan swung his arms his strokes were crisp and forceful, and he had the fielders busy all the time, the ball travelling at a great pace. The Wellington man gave a clinking, blemishless display. Tom Hales shaped confidently and aggressively. It was not one of his " Jessopean" displays, but an innings which carried with it a good deal of merit, When necessary, Tom can manipulate the bat as well as a good many players m our little city with pretensions to. be considered batsmen, ' Upham was not successful on the correct wicket, his three wickets costing a fraction over 28 runs apiece. Ernie wants a fiery wicket to show off his capabilities. On these occasions he can often make the ball talk. Patrick had easily, the best bowling figures on the Midland .side. The fielding was generally good although it got on the slovenly side towards the finish of the Wellington innings. There is no necessity to enlarge upon Midland's display m its second knock. It was a sorry exhibition which came from the bats of the Midlanders, and only time saved them from a one innings rout. Hales, Luckie, and Fisher trundled accurately, whilst their efforts were well seconded with keenness and sureness by the fieldsmen. Patrick, Bruce, Williams, and Barron could only muster four runs between them, and this fact serves to illustrate how well the. •Wellington bowlers were sticking up their adversaries on a wicket which gave them not an atom of assistance. Claude Hickson went along m characteristic style until Fisher knocked bis timbers out of plvtmb, and Sisson, who was the only other doublefigure contributor, got l.b.w. to the ex-Southerner. Tommy Taylor, whose alderaianic proportions always loom up largely m the playing arena, achieved a certain measure of distinction by accepting three catches m the slips, all off Martin, too. With Hales, Luckie, and Fisher on the job, Wellington has a fairly strong attack m hand this season..