CRICKET COMMENT

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5278, 13 December 1946, Page 3

CRICKET COMMENT

OLDTIMER.)

,,, drawn game between high school and takapuna.

(By

Briliant crichet weather favoured the annual school match between Rotorua High School and its old rival Takapuna Grammar School. High School was given the flrsfc strike by the Takapuna captain and J. Dansey and B. Ryde gave their side an excellent start. These boys were ably supported in knoeking up a good total by E. Leonard, B. Cave, T. Costello and P. Tapsell. With 199 for seven wickets on the .board, school's innings was declared closed. Bnice Ryde, who top-scored with 57 to his credit, gave a sound all-round clisplay. When the Takapuna lads went to the wicket, they quickly showed that they had many capable batsmen. The Rotorua atack was at times very loose" and xeceived the deserved punishment. G. Watt was top-scorer with 57 and made nse of shots all round the wicket. Other good seorrs were Colinson 3-4, and Robinson 25. Although Takapuna made every ef-. fort to get the required runs, six o'clock found it with five wickets down for 153. It was like old times to see the two chools at grips on the cricket field. Both teams perf ormed very well and I- am sure the Rotorua High School XI feels proud of its good showing. Century to M. Curtis. The first club century of the sea-' son was made by M. Curtis in CityAlbion's second innings against Old Boys last Saturday. Old Boys, continuing their total of 112 for two wickets on the first day's .play, compiled the useful total of 261 all out. W. Hig-gins gave two chances while making his 81. E. Andrews 52, S. Burgham 34 and J. Sherriff 27 all performed well with the bat. M. Curtis bowled very well, taking five wickets for 35 runs. City-Albion, in the crease once more, quickly took charge of the bowling and M. Curtis gave a sound display of clean hitting anl quick scoring. He made his 102 not out in approximately 105 minutes and semed to enjoy the practice at the expense of Old Boys* ' attack. Two games which should be well worth watching start on Saturday. Old Boys meeting Kahukura, and R'H.A. playing City-Albion. Witih this series completed the selectors should then have a good idea of theirplayers for the representative side and the McLean Cup competition should begin to take shape. As a point of interest I give my very unoffi'cial list of points already gained in the first two series: — R.S.A., 12; Kahukura, 10; Old Boys, 10; City-Albion, 2; Ngongotaha, 0; High School, 0. It was very pleasing to see D. Ewert and E. Andrews perfofm so well for the Country team against Auckland. On the first day's play, Andrews drew many favourable comments on his wicket-keeping and I have been told by one who watched the match that he compared well with L. A. Kent, the Auckland keeper. On the Saturday, Doug. Ewert topscored with 48 to his credit in the first innings and made another 20 in his seconcl knock. Considering this is his first season's cricket for some time and the first game on a turf wicket for five years, Rotorua cricket can feel very proud of his performance. Results at a Glance. Rotorua High School, 1st innings, 199 for seven; Takapuna Grammar, lst innings, 153 for five. Drawn game. City-Albion, lst inings, 157; second innings, 141 for three; Old Boys, lst innings, 261. First innings win for Old Boys. Outstanding Performances. Batting— M. Curtis (City-Albion), 102 not out; W. Higgins (Old Boys), 81; B. Ryde (High School), 57; G. Watt (Takapuna), 57. Bowling. — -M. Curtis (City-Albion), five for 35.