“Dick” Rowntree Awarded Palm as N.Z.’s “Best Ever”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 269, 3 February 1928, Page 10

“Dick” Rowntree Awarded Palm as N.Z.’s “Best Ever”

Still the outstanding figure with gloves and pads in New Zealand cricket, “Dick” Rowntree enhanced his already great reputation by his consistent, watchful vigilance behind the sticks at Wellington in as hard a test as could fall to the lot of any wicketkeeper. It is sufficient tribute to his ability that when the “heads” foregathered for the inevitable korero at Wellington on Saturday night, discussion centred round the question as to who could be awarded the palm as the Dominion’s greatest ’keeper. Three names were unanimously approved as the basis of discussion, “Dick” Rowntree (Auckland), H. D. Boxshall (Canterbury) and Arnold Williams (Otago). The consensus of opinion placed them on the same high plane, with the former two for preference, and the final argument was waged on the question as to whether “Boxie’s” lightning speed at removing the bails could be offset by “Dick’s” brilliance in snapping up anything that the batsman had touched. Finally, an old comrade-in-arms of the two men advanced the view that putting them on a fifty basis in this respect, “Dick” should get the preference for his greater ability in dodging that bug-bear of all wicketkeepers, Mr. Extras. On being put to a vote, the decision went to the Aucklander.

The weights tell the story of what happened at Melbourne Stadium on a recent Saturday night, says the Sydney “Bulletin.” Reg Trowern scaled 10.3|, Joe Barnes 9.94. Joe found the Maorilander altogether too strong. Round after round he was punched