CLUB CRICKET SEASON NEARING A CLOSE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 307, 19 March 1928, Page 6

CLUB CRICKET SEASON NEARING A CLOSE

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL STARTED

Eden Slumps Badly, but Makes Brilliant Recovery Against Ponsonby

DA Y OF SMALL SCORES FOR the most part, Saturday was a day of small scores in A.C.A. cricket. With the championship issue confined to the two teams on No. 1 area at Eden Park, the day’s play seldom rose above mediocrity, hut a fiery finish to the first day’s play in the Eden-Ponsonby match brought joy to the hearts of the restive barrackers on “The Hill,” and incidentally left Ponsonby with an uncomfortable feeling that the two points it holds up its sleeve may be badly wanted on March 31, when club matches close down for the season.

PONSONBY LOSES GRIIP ON MATCH STIFF TASK AHEAD FIELDING THE TROUBLE If Ponsonby, after its brilliant rise this season, is fated to crash right at the end of March and lose the club championship final, one of the chief reasons will be its shockingly bad fielding on Saturday. Had the Ponsonby bowlers been properly supported in the held on Saturday, Kden might have been all out for less than a couple of hundred runs. But as the match stands at present, Ponsonby will have to make nearer 300 than 200 to head Kden on the iirst innings, and it only wants a mild repetition of “butter-fingered” fielding, such is was in evidence on Saturday, to give Kden a chance of getting away with a four-pointer and the championship. in view of the ever-present risk of rain on the second day. A SPECTACULAR RECOVERY With eight Eden wickets down for laO, Ponsonby had every reason to ieel pleased with itself, even though Cooper might have been out half-way through his innings had square-leg been sufficiently wide-awake to get to a lofting shot on the log side. But Whelan and liennett, neither of whom has done much with the bat this year, came to the rescue in brilliant style. Aided by the slackest of ground fielding, they laid into the bowling in thunderous fashion, Whelan belting everything within reach, while Bennett

cheerfully plodded away with a barndoor defence to a close-set field, which ever and anon broke up into a frantic scurry to stop his occasional reminders that he still knew how to thump a loose one. It had been dreary cricket up to five o’clock, but after that there were fireworks aplenty. At a quarter to six, Whelan nnd Bennett were still together, having added one short of a hundred runs to the score. Whelan notched a sixer and nine fours. It was an exhilarating • xhibition of what a batsman can do iL he goes out after the runs, and leaves the rut of “tip-and-run” cricket into which play in Auckland has fallen. WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS With the exception of Roy, Snedden ind Abrim, the Ponsonby team ought to be relegated to a winter’s practice in their respective back-yards, varied by occasional visits to a coconut-shy (Tour for sixpence and n*..e for a bob”) to prepare them for next season. By that time, they may have learnt (among other things) that a wicketkeeper is not equipped with wings or that he ever had any thoughts of applying to Messrs. Wirth Bros, for a job as a super-trapeze artist. In any case, Wheeler got thro*ugli a great day’s work with two men stumped, one caught and one run out, ;■ nd only three byes in a total of 253. Details: —- EDEN First Innings POSTEES, lbw, by Roy 7 MINES, b Roy V 8 t'OOPER, lbw. by Snetldehi *lB I*.ROOK-SMITH, c Wheeler, b Abrim II WEIR. A. F., st Wheeler, b Taylor .. 41 WEIR. O. L., run out 17 CIEEESPIE, st Wheeler, b Smith .. 7 BUTEER. c Eendrum, b Smith .... 8 WHELAN, not out 72 BENNETT, not out 31 Extras • • - - •• •- 3 Total for eight wickets .. .. 253 Fall of wickets: 9. 23, 36, 100, 134, 134, 150, 154. GRAFTON RISES TO THE OCCASION BEST DISPLAY THIS SEASON Grafton sprang a surprise on United Suburbs at Eden Park on Saturday by nearly knocking off the latter team’s total without loss. Suburbs had first strike and compiled 146, to which Grafum replied with 109 for no wickets before stumps were drawn. Nothing of exceptional moment was seen in Suburbs’ innings, unless it was Kerr’s knock of 40, and thta was a good effort. Williams and McLaren opened the scoring and carried the score to 20, when a misunderstanding between the batsmen saw the latter thrown out by Hamilton for five. Hendy did not get a chance to show his prowess with the bat, as he was bowled by Goodwin after scoring a brace. The association of Kerr and Williams put on 50 runs for the third wicket. After a cautious opening and a. narrow escape from being caught, Kerr played confidently and scored freely with nicely-placed shots all round the wicket. Williams was not idle, and the pair sent the score along rapidly. After scoring 26 in steady 1 ishion, Williams was bowled by Goodwin. KERR’S FINE DISPLAY Kerr, who appeared to be set for a big score, then fell a victim to Horspool. His 40 had been knocked up in good time, and was a valuable conItribution to the score. Except for the early chance he did not again offend in the same way, and treated the bowl-

ing very much as ho pleased. It was the best knock of the innings. Stotter had a long stay at the crease before he did much scoring, and if he had followed the policy of Leikis, who knocked up 13 in quick time >md then went out, he would probably have done much better. However, Stotter later opened out at anything loose and his batting was consequently more attractive. He was caught for 21. The only other man to reach double figures was the last man, Somers, who carried his bat for 14. A GOOD OPENING Webster and Horspool opened for Grafton, and both were in luck, as they were missed early. Both men were after runs, and at first they took chances in getting them. After a slow beginning, the batsmen brightened up, and with the total at 40 became aggressive. Webster hoisted the century with a boundary shot, and with the total at 309 stumps were drawn. If time had allowed it is very probable that the deficit would have been knocked off without loss, as both of the batsmen were well set and seemingly did not find anything difficult in the bowling. However, Grafton is in a strong position when play recommences next week: —• Details: UNITED SUBURBS First Innings. McLAREN, run out .. .. .. .. .. 5 WILLIAMS, b Goodwin .. ... .. „. 26 HENDY, b Goodwin .. .. 2 KERR, c Goodwin, b Horspool .... 40 STOTTER, c Street, b Horspool .. 21 WETHERILL, c Wylie, b Horspool .. 0 LEIKIS, c Street, b Webster 13 MARTIN, c Goodwin, b Horspool .. 6 MILLS, run out 3 SOMERS, not cut 34 BUSHILL, absent 0 Extras ................ 16 Total 146 Bowling.—Horspool, 4-23; Goodwin, 253: Webster, 1-29; Hamilton. 0-25. Fall of wickets: 20, 22, 72, 90, 90, 103, 114, 117, 146. GRAFTON First Innings. WEBSTER, not out 51 HORSPOOL, not out 52 Extras 6 Total for no wickets .. .. 109 Bowling: Somers, 0-3; Kerr, 0-10; McLaren, 0-15; Williams, 0-19; Leikis. 0-20; Martin, 0-36. Y.M.C.A HAS HOPELESS FIGHT AGAINST VARSITY STUDENTS’ BREEZY START Minus what have been three of its stalwarts for the past season—Bowley, Lyon and Wells, Y.M.C.A. had a hard light in its match with University on Saturday. The blow of having to do without Bowley was bad enough in itself, but when it became known that Lyon (who is going back to his home at Rungitikei this week) could not play Y.M. bowling strength was dealt another severe blow. •, Captain Don Miller won the toss from Garrard, and Elliot and Bambury set about the task of getting the runs for the Association. Against the excellent bowling of Gee and Smeeton, the team did well to get as far as the nineties before its last wicket fell. VETERANS GO EARLY Much was expected of Len Elliot, but he was beaten by a straight one from Smeeton, which kept low when his total was 6. “Don” Miller filled the vacancy, and began in his customary fashion with a couple of fours. But soon after, when apparently well set, he was snapped in slips. Poeppel played the bowling in his usual solid, confident manner. He was the only one on the Y.M. side who was not afraid to hit out at Smeeton. and he brought off several fine carpet i shots past cover. Even he, however, was not fated to stay long, being clean bowled by Gee. R. RIDDOLLS’S FINE EFFORT The innings, which saved Y.M.C.A. from absolute annihilation, however, was R. Riddolls’s fine 36. Partnered first by his brother, Riddolls played himself in, in his usual anything but inspiring manner, having a fair slice of luck before he reached double figures. Once there, however, he settled down and gave Varsity a little leather chasing, scoring frequent boundaries. The remainder of the side was dismissed for 12 runs, “Mr. Extras” with 21 being second highest scorer. All the Varsity bowlers had good averages, Garrard and Bush finishing up with the freak figures of 3-6 and 1-3 respectively. Gee was erratic to begin with, but he settled down later. Smeeton troubled the most. A LIVELY START Kelly and Gee opened for Varsity, the former stepping off the mark and running up 40 in half an hour. His partner held up his end, and the total had passed 50 for none when Kelly was given out lbw to Elliot. Then followed a slump, the next two men being dismissed without opening their

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accounts. Schnauer, however, effectively stopped the rot, and he and Gee carried Varsity’s total to 127 for three at stumps—Gee not out 44, Schnauer not out 30. Details; Y.M.C.A. First Innings ELLIOTT, b Smeeton S BAMBURY, b Smeeton 3 MIDLER, c Bush, b Smeeton .. .. 12 POEPPEL, b Gee 6 STALLWORTHY, b Gee 0 RIDDOLLS, R., b Garrard 35 RIDDOLLS, A., c Pearson, b Bush . . 3 SMITH, b Garrard ' 0 HUNT, c Smeeton, b Garrard .... 0 PEARCE, not out 1 OTTER, c Garrard, b Smeeton .... S Extras 21 Total 97 Fall of wickets.—ll, 26, 37, 49, 51. 68, 82, 88, 91, 97. Bowling.—Smeeton, 4-34; Gee, 2-33-; Bush, 1-3; Garrard, 3-6. VARSITY. • First Innings KELLY, lbw, b Elliot .. 41 GEE, not out 44 SMEETON, c and b Poeppel .. .. .. 0 PEARSON, c Hunt, b Poeppel .. .. 0 SCHNAUER, not out 30 Extras 12 Total for three wickets .. 127 Fall of wickets: 55, 60. 60. PARNELL’S POOR DISPLAY DULL DAY AT DEVONPORT A perfect Indian summer day, with a good wicket and a fast outfield, drew a larg'e attendance at Devonport on Saturday, and with no cups or caps depending on the issue of the game, it was hoped that some brighter cricket would liven up King Willow’s final flutter at the Shore. But the batsmen were apparently anticipating their long winter sleep, and the match was about as exciting as an egg-laying competition. SAUNDERS SETTLES SEVEN Duncan and Hay were the openers for the maroon caps, and neither Player not Coates made much impression on them, though both were treated' with the utmost respect. After an hour of dreary pottering about Frater tried a double change in the attack, bringing on Saunders and H. Webb. The tactics proved successful and a procession of Parnell plodders ensued until after the tea interval, when Parnell was all out for 120 after nearly three hours’ occupancy of the wickets. The Shore was without Scott, who was injured in the previous game, and Archer was promoted from the A team. The colt shaped like a veteran with the gloves. His stumping of Stehr and Turbott, and snapping of Duncan, all off Saunders, were exceptionally smart bits of work. Saunders was in nis most seductive mood, and mixed slow lobs with an occasional fast spinner, so that whether the batsman went to hit or stayed at home to poke about, he didn’t stay long enough to score many. At the other end Webb was flighting them cleverly and was difficult to score from. WANT OF CONFIDENCE Lack of confidence was the cause of no Parnell player scoring beyond the teens, and on so easy a wicket a more aggressive policy would have been more profitable for the men from the bath suburb. On Saturday the form shown was not consistent with the high place on the ladder the team once occupied. In about 45 minutes the Shore batsmen knocked up 79 for the loss of three wickets. Monteith and Frater went early, the captain being foolishly run out through Player’s ghastly habit of turning to watch a shot behind the wickets, and completely ignoring his partner’s call for a run. Bush seemed set when skittled by “Doc” Aitken, and Archer was in with Player when time was called at a pleasantly early hour. Player had plied the long' handle for a characteristic 44, and Shore seem set to revenge the prevous defeat. Details;—• PARNELL First Innings DUNCAN, c Archer, b Saunders .... 19 HAY, lbw, b Webb 18 STEHR, st Archer, b Sounders .... 2 ANTHONY, b Saunders 8 McCOY, c Webb, b Saunders 16 MACALLAN, c Walters, b Saunders 1 TURBOTT, st Archer, b Saunders .. 12 GILMORE, b Webb 14 VON ROTTER, c Webb, b Saunders 19 AITKEN, not out 0 GOODSIR, lbw, b Webb 0 Extras 11 Total 120 Bowling: Saunders, 7-61; H. Webb, 316: Coates, 0-18; Player, 0-14. Fall of wickets: 36, 42, 56, 56, 71, SO, 93, 120, 120, 120. SHORE First Innings FRATER, run out 5 MONTEITH, lbw, b Anthony 2 PLAYER, not out 44 BUSH, b Aitken .. 14 ARCHER, not out 8 Extras 6 I Total for three wickets .... 79

SENIOR B Parnell v Shore A The final match in this grade commenced at Devonport on an atrocious dirt wicket, and only Jacques, who scored 20 in four hits, made any display of interfering with the bowlers’ triumphs. Shore A.—First innings, 60 (Jacques 20). Second innings, 31 for five wickets. Parnell.—First innings, 72. Papatoetoe v. North Shore Colts. —Papatoetoe: First innings, 202 (G. Leighton 62, D. Burnside 53, H. Swaffield 50). Bowling: Rankin. 3-17; Moore, 3-33; Cowie, 2-24: T. Smith, 1-32; Jay, 1-40. Shore Colts: First innings, 9 for no wickets (Long, 4 not out, Rankin, 5 not out).

Friendly Matches Papatoetoe 111. v. King’s College 111. Papatoe: First innings, 246 (J. Havill 61, McFarland 44 retired, W. Kerr 23, McKenzie 20 retired, J. Sanderson 18 retired, Lusby 15 retired, Wotherspoon 16). Bowling for King’s College: Coles 3, Handysides 1, Newcombe 1. Hopkins .8. King's College: First innings 99 (Hopkins 27, Newcombe 27, Hogg 10, Bell 10,). Bowling for Papatoetoe: Thompson 4, Havill 5, Wotherspoon 1. ' Otahuhu v. King’s College.—Otahuhu: First innings 118 (F. Williams 50, C. Williams 14, Pierce 14, Game 11, 'Wells 10). Bowling for King’s College: Thompson, 6-26; Howden, 2-22; Lewis, 2-29. King’s College 86 (Caugliev 22, Lewis 21. Major 15). Bowling for Otahuhu: V. Williams, 4-19; C. Williams, 3-20; D. Game, 1-IS.

was sent away with a “duck” for tea. Fletcher was confident, but the fast bowler Bennett was emulating Stallworthy, and maintaining an excellent length, and his stumps were soon spread. Dickson made two (both skippers made the same score) and it remained for Roberts to play the bowling as it should have been played. Innes was never comfortable, but played the rock well and left the scoring to Roberts. At 55 Breese decided a change would benefit the side, so brought on Martin in Bennett’s place. The change was effective, .the leg break bowler getting first Roberts’s wicket then Wright’s. Blair and Mackie carried on, and at 5.45 stumps were drawn