Personalities In Sport

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 299, 9 March 1928, Page 10

Personalities In Sport

Meteoric Rise of An Ex-Suburban Cricketer

H. Roy, the Ponsonby colt, who has suddenly come into the spotlight with some sensational bowling performances, deserved his place in the Auckland eleven against the Aussies. Roy has just passed his quarter-century mark, and was born in Yorkshire, where Dick Rowntree alleges they know a bit about cricket, although Ces Dacre doubted it when he got five wickets for 35. Anyhow, Roy learned none of his cricket in the county of broad acres, and was of a very tender age when he first went to school at Devonport. He did not distinguish himself at the Shore, but was a cheery worshipper of the Dacres and other Shore idols. PLAYED FOR POWER BOARD He played but little cricket in his school days, and none after leaving, until four years ago, when he chipped in with the Power Board’s “house”

team in the Suburban competitioThen he joined up with Ponsonbv vi season, but only had one senior gam This season he has appeared for Pm sonby in every game, but did not r"an over in the first match. * ‘ When Newdick dropped out Roy r „, an opportunity of proving himself and made a good start in the first game against Shore, when he bagged five for 104, in an innings in which Da err scored a century. In the last twi matches he has secured 17 wickets for 75 runs, an average of 4.4 per wicket Roy has had no coaching, but sav= that Nes, Snedden has improved" his attacking power a lot with useful advice and tips. Roy musters up a fair amount of pace and uses his height and reach effectively. He comes in that category of rare swallows who have not only pace, but also length and direction.