SHOWING FORM

NZ Truth, Issue 1141, 13 October 1927, Page 12

SHOWING FORM

Batsmen Make Merry With Bowling (Prom "N.Z. Truth's" Christchurch Rep.) The umpire's call of "over" has replaced the referee's command of "scrum" on the playing fields of Christchurch, and the Canterbury Cricket Association's competitions started on Saturday under ideal conditions. PENERALLY speaking, it was a day out for the batsmen, who showed better form than did the trundlers they faced, and two centuries were hoisted. This • was a good beginning for a season that should produce much brighter batting than have previous years, if the English tour is going to have any influence. Last year's champion side, Riccarton, made a splendid start against West Christchurch, and after batting all day had lost seven wickets for 419 runs. Five of the seven batsmen achieved double figures, but half the runs were supplied by A. Cox and C. E. Evans. Despite rumors that he was going to play m the City and Suburban competition, W. Hayes took his old possie behind the sticks for West, and he performed smartly, too. Young Oliver looks quite likely to go further m both Rugby and cricket as his elder brother has done. On Saturday he gave a lusty display and swung a powerful bat to the extent of 45 runs before being caught. Another newcomer to the Sydenham club is V. Hahn, and if he can reproduce for the first grade team his form of last year m the Technical Senior B. team, he should wear a representative cap before long. St. Albans have a good chance of beating Sydenham, for their total is 76 for one. The one is L. Coffey, who last year was associated with Hahn In some big scoring efforts, and has also left Technical. He was unlucky on Saturday In that he was dismissed by a miraculous catch, taken by Hahn, by the way, before he had scored. East Christchurch scored , only 152 against Old Boys, who have the match well m hand with 170 for three wickets. G. R. Gregory was top scorer with a creditable 48, and T. . Kennedy, who has changed over from Linwood, was next with 39. W. Moffat collected six of the East wickets for 64 runs, the best trundling effort of the day. Lin wood, have been unlucky this season m losing both Kennedy and R. O. Talbot, but the team is still a solid one, and Old Collegians will have to battle hard, to win next Saturday.