CRICKET.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 27 September 1880, Page 2

CRICKET.

The cricketing season has been fairly started. On Saturday afternoon the three clubs were in full awing with scratch matches, and, judging from what we saw, the season promises to be more successful than any of its predecessors. The Oamaru Club has especially a fine prospect before it, the ground being in capital order and its ranks swelled by the addition of many of the best players from the other clubs. The club - has also received a decided acquisition in the person of Mr. Denton, who on Saturday afternoon showed himself a sterling cricketer as a batsman and a fair bowler. On the other hand the club has lost, since last season, the services of Messrs. Grigg, G. Borton, and F.

Fen-wick. The Excelsior and Union (late Trades) Clubs have still to contend against the want of a good ground, and this draw-

back will in a considerable measure militate against thorough proficiency. We have not space to give the whole of the scores of Saturday's matches in full, and must therefore content ourselves with a brief reference to each of the games.

The Oamabu Club Inaugurated its season with a match between teams picked by the Secretary (in the absence of the President) and the Vice-President, and there was a capital muster of players. The weather was everything that could be desired, but, as might naturally be expected at the opening of the season, the play was not brilliant taken as a whole, but some of the players individually distinguished themselves. The President's side put together 55 before being disposed of, Denton contributing 24 by good orieket, and Sumpter resumed his old tactics of the severely defensive, and proved a hard nut to crack. On the Vice-President's side, none of the players got into double figures, the bowling of G. Millington proving too good, and the total only reaching 39. The President's side therefore won by 16. One noticeable feature was the large proportion of extras on each side. The Excelsior Club.

This olub had a scratch match, sides being chosen by Messrs. Bannerman and Snow. The former went first to the wickets and compiled 60, of whioh M'Donald, by vigorous batting, contributed 26 and Maw 14, Snow's side succeeded in heading this total by 14, making 74 hofore being disposed of. Of this number Snow made 32, not out, and Clayton 12, while extras swelled the total by 9. The bowling and fielding on both sides was fair. The Union Club,

The members of this cli\b, apened their season with a match between sides chosen by the captain (Mr. A. Hartley) and the deputy-captain (Mr. A. Slater). Following the example of the Excelsior Ciub matting was used, but still the pitch was somewhat rough. The deputy-captain's side was the first to wield the willow, but the total only reached 37, Hendry .making 16 and Ogilvie 9. The capt&in s s side did still worse, only leaking 24, of which Kite made not out. On their second attempt the deputy-captain's side made 35, .Keith making 15. With 48 runs to get to win, the captain's side went to the wickets and more than accomplished the task, a total of 51 being reached for the loss of four wickets, hartley made 23, not out, and and Gray (not out) made 8 ea,ph,