Auckland’s Big Victory

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 856, 27 December 1929, Page 6

Auckland’s Big Victory

OTAGO SHIELD XI. ECLIPSED

Holder’s Attack Too Good

BY eclipsing Otago in the representative match concluded at Eden Park yesterday afternoon, Auckland, present holder of the Plunket Shield, put eight points to its credit in the season’s first match for the trophy—emblem of New Zealand inter-provincial cricket supremacy.

The match was a very one-sided affair, as tlio scores indicate, but for all that it was a most interesting fixture. The proverbial “ifs” of cricket played yn all-important part in its issue. Taken all through, the luck of the game was with Auckland, but everything which followed the opening of play went back to the winning and losing of the toss on the first day. Had Garrard put Auckland in first, or had Mills failed to come to the holder’s rescue in the dying stages of the first day’s play, the result might have been a very different one. Yet there can be little doubt that Auckland thoroughly deserved its victory; little doubt that Auckland would have won whatever the circumstances; but withal, little doubt that the scores do not fairly represent the relative strengths of the two teams. From the very moment Vorrath and Knight opened Otago’s first innings shortly after half-past one on Tuesday afternoon, the visitors had to fight an uphill battle. There were moments (as on the first day, when Galland smartly dismissed batsmen of the calibre of Whitelaw, Anthony and Wensley in one brilliant burst), when Otago could drink the nectar of success. But such moments were few . . .!

No sooner had these stars been sent on the homeward trail, than Mills filled the breach, and with imperturbable calm set about the task of retrieving the position, and putting a stop to the rot which might easily have eaten its way down the Auckland ranks just as it did in Otago’s. MATHESON’S BOWLING FORM

There is little more than can be said about Mills’s innings, which has not been said scores of times before. He batted on the three days of the match, and on all of these his display was graced with the elegance of the master bat.

Although the encounter cannot be taken as a real criterion of the standard of cricket of the Auckland team—-

as much a result of the weather as of Otago’s double-barrelled collapse—several members of the team added to their reputations, and others left theirs as they were.

Special mention must be made of Matheson, for although Wensley was the outstanding Auckland bowler there was never any doubting his prowess with the ball. Matheson, selected because of his ability as the fastest prospective representative trundler, did not get an over in Otago’s first innings, because the wicket did not suit fast men.

But in the visitors’ second journey to the crease he received his chance, and how well he took it is now part of Plunket Shield history. There were times when he was unplayable, and the ball with which he skittled such a dangerous man as McMullan would have beaten any batsman. This is the express opinion of R. W. Rowntree, who has “kept” for some of the world’s best in his day. Matheson’s performance cannot have failed to escape the eye of the New Zealand selection committee, and it is reasonable to expect that when this body meets early next week to sort out the Englishmen’s opponents for the first test, he will be considered.

Elliott was another Aucklander who did well, and on his performances justified his inclusion in the team. He bowled really well in Otago’s first innings, althogh he did not get a wicket, and did his share in confident fashion at the batting crease. S. A. R. BADELEY IMPRESSES

Many eyes watched S. A. R. Badeley, the Hamilton player of whom much has been heard of late, when he began his innings. There was some surprise when he threw all caution to the wind and attempted to lift the ball out of the ground in the first over he received, but he quickly recovered his confidence, and shaped very well for his 28. He also should retain his place in the side for the Canterbury match

Anthony, who has been playing club and representative cricket in New Zealand as long as any other player still in the game, again demonstrated that an Auckland team without him would not be at full strength. When the other bowlers were taking wickets he was silencing the batsmen. It was Anthony, also, who came to Auckland’s rescue when Wensley and Matheson went off after tea on the last day’s play, and put an end to Otago’s struggles with two Ibw. decisions, at a time when an annoying tail-end stand might have eventuated. Garrard won his way back to the team on club form this season, and after his fine 58 on Christmas Day, and the able manner in which he handled the Auckland team, there can be no doubt but that he, too, justified his inclusion.

Weir, Gillespie and Whitelaw, all Auckland representatives last season, had little chance of doing justice to themselves, as the last two, essentially batsmen, had only one innings at the batting crease. The Otago men owe much to the able captain who directed them throughout the long uphill fight. A. W. Alloo, who on playing years can be classed as a cricket veteran, infused life into the work of his men in the field, made a valiant attempt in each innings to stem the tide of Auckland’s success, and bowled long and often when his trundlers were being knocked about. It was Alloo’s captaincy and example in the field which made Otago’s ground fielding so brilliant, and his keen anticipation seldom left the batsmen easy openings to the boundary. For the abnormally large number of dropped catches, the captain of a team cannot, of course, be held responsible. Had Otago shown even ordinary success in this department it would have gone much nearer winning.

KNIGHT’S DETERMINED EFFORT What Mills’s 185 meant to Auckland,

Knight’s 37 meant to Otago in the Southerners’ second innings. He held his end up stubbornly from the beginning of the innings till lute in the day, and it was noticeable that Otago’s tail-enders faded away very quickly after he departed. Cavanagli also gave some promise of stopping tlio rot at one stage, but even he could not pass double figures. Maloney, who came with the team with a big reputation in club games in Dunedin, was out lbw. in his first innings, and reached only six in his second when the last wicket fell, leaving him not out, so that very little indication of his ability can be formed on his scant showing. Galland came a long way to add a pair of “spectacles” to his big interprovincial cricket record, but his brilliant spasm with the ball early in Auckland’s first innings must have recompensed him to some extent, while he fielded as well as ever. Clark, the visiting wicket-keeper, has very few frills about his work behind the sticks, and some idea of his solid work may be seen when it is considered that there were only 12 extras in Auckland’s long innings of 356. Dunning bowled much better than his figures, one wicket for 79, would indicate, and he handled the bat dangerously (from the Auckland viewpoint) in the second innings, before being run out through a misunderstanding with his partner.

There were few who believed that Otago would fare as badly in its second innings as it did in its first. The wicket had improved on the condition which it was in on Tuesday and Wednesday, but unfortunately was just at that stage where Matheson could make it suit his purposes down to the ground. Otago has come, fought a losing battle gamely, and it goes home after a defeat which the most optimistic Auckland supporter hardly thought possible. Details: — OTAGO First innings 67 Second Innings. VORRATH, lbw, b Matheson ...... 2 McMULLAN, b Matheson o ZIMMERMAN, b Matheson 4 CAVANAGH, b Matheson ........ 10 ALLOO, b Wensley .. io ELMES, b Wensley 4 GALLAND. c Badeley, b ‘Wensley .. 0 KNIGHT, lbw, b Anthony .. .. .. .. r,7 DUNNING, run out 14 MALONEY, not out 6 CLARK, lbw, b Anthony 0 Extras 10 Total 97

AUCKLAND First innings MILLS, c Elmes, b Knight ISS WHITELAW, c Elmes, b Galland .. 7 ANTHONY, c Clark, b Galland .... 0 WENSLEY, c Vorrath, b Galland .. 0 GILLESPIE, c Galland, b Alloo .. 15 WEIR, c Dunning, b Galland .... 4 GARRARD, c Dunning, b Zimmerman 5S BADELEY, c McMullan, b Maloney 28 ELLIOTT, c Zimmerman, b Dunning 16 MATHESON, b Maloney 28 ROWNTREE, not out 3 Extras .. 12 Total 356

FINE BATTING PAGE’S DISPLAY FOR CANTERBURY NOTES ON M.C.C. GAME Special to THE SUN CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. Canterbury drew its match with the English cricketers, the home side scor--136 and 206 against the M.C.C.’s first innings score of 249. The feature of today’s play was a fine fighting innings by Page, which saved Canterbury from defeat after a follow-on. * Judging by the performance of the M.C.C. against Canterbury, the team should not offer great difficulty to a New Zealand side on a good wicket. The side is a very fair bowling one, moderate in batting and fair in the field. There are too many big men in the team for smart fielding. The English innings was ended in two balls by Merritt this morning. To Merritt, the bowling honours go, and had the wicket had more life yesterday, he might have put England out for a small total on his own. As It was, he bowled probably as finely as he has ever done. In an hour before tea yesterday, he had every English batsman puzzled. His figures were excellent for a slow bowler. In 32.2 overs he bowled four maidens for 97 runs and five wickets.

Simmonds bowled well, even if he had not taken wickets, and his length was mainly responsible for his success, allied with pace off the pitch. He took three for 64 in 30 overs, five of which were maidens. The other bowlers were useful changes.

Tho Canterbury fielding: was very patchy, a lot of chances being missed. PAGE THE SHEET ANCHOR

Canterbury’s batting effort was not brilliant, and some part, of course, of the low score of 136, was nerves in young players new to big cricket, and lack of practice against fast bowling. It remained for two seasoned batsmen, Page and Roberts, to stiffen up the side. After three wickets had fallen for 52 runs, they added 49 between them before Page was skittled by a very fast one from Nichols with a restrained and valuable 26 to his credit. He drove well on both sides of the wicket, and played the fast bowling with confidence. Roberts went six runs after Page, at 107. He had batted confidently from the jump, and drove vigorously. It was a knock in his best form, and his 38 included five fours. He pulled back from a ball from Barratt. Allen was batting nicely until he slipped on tho pitch in going back when Page refused a second run for a shot down the gully. He had dropped the bat, and flung himself at the crease to get in, but Dawson’s throw was too quick for him. THE ENGLISH BOWLING The English bowling was entrusted to Nichols, Barratt, Worthington and Woolley, and this battery kept Canter-

bury subdued. Nichols is not quite as fast as Everett, but more accurate. He took four for 32 in 17 overs, five of which were maidens. Worthington is just over medium pace, and is a spin bowler. He had the best analysis, three for 16. Woolley bowled guileful left-hand stuff, and his wicket cost 36 runs. Barratt is slower than Nichols, but a useful fast-medium man. Nichols fields four slips, the wicketkeeper standing back, third man on boundary, tine leg on the boundary, point, mid-off and mid-on. Barratt’s field is similar, with one slip less, and a short fine leg. The fielding was fair, with Benson fine behind the stumps. The follow-on started inauspiciously, two wickets falling for 30 runs, but Page played a captain’s knock, driving beautifully and cutting well. He dashed Gilligan’s hopes of winning, and in 68. .minutes he made 86 before being caught and bowled by Earle. Off one over of Duleepsinhji’s he got three sixes and three fours. Altogether he hit nine fours. Cromb made a nice 26. Details: ENGLAND First Innings 249 CANTERBURY First Innings CROMB, b Nichols * 4 ALLEN, run out 19 TALBOT, b Nichols s PAGE, b Nichols 26 ROBERTS, b Barratt 3S HAMILTON, c- Gilligan, b Woolley .. 9 LESTER, st Benson, b Worthington 7 POWELL, not out s MERRITT, b Worthington 1 BURNS, b Nichols 0 SIMMONDS, b Worthington l Extras * 43 Total 136 Bowling: Nichols, 4-32; Barratt 1-37-Worthington, 3-16; Woolley, 1-36. Second Innings CROMB, c Benson, b Worthington . . 26 ALLEN, Ibw, b Nichols 4 TALBOT, c Benson, b Worthington.. 13 PAGE, c and b Earle .. 86 ROBERTS, lbw, b Duleepsinhji .... 23 HAMILTON, c Nichols, b Duleepsinhji 9 LESTER, c Worthington, b Duleep- . sinhji 20 POWELL, c Turnbull, b Duleepsinhji 4 MERRITT, not out 9 SIMMONDS, not out 0 Extras 14 Eight Wickets for 206 Bowling: Nichoi, 1-37; Barratt, 0-35: Worthington, 2-25; Legge, 0-20; Duleepsinhji, 4-49; Woolley, 0-20; Earle, 1-20. FRIENDLY CRICKET The following players will represent their respective teams in a match between elevens .representing StanleyBay ancl North Shore, to be played at Devonport tomorrow, commencing at ten o’clock: Stanley Bay.—M. Nelson, L. H. Saunders, A. Whitley, H. Whitley, R. Worrall, E. C. Gee, S. Walters, M. Scott, B. Scott, IT. Haggett, J. Lynch. North Shore.—Prater, Player. I). Webb, Gerrard, Naismith, H. Nicholas, Drake, H. Smith, Wynne (2), L. Wilson.

BEALE’S TEAM WINS OTAGO ELEVEN DEFEATED rrcss Association DUNEDIN, Today. Air. E. C. Beale's Auckland touring cricket team yesterday defeated an Otago eleven by five wickets. Otago made 159 in the first innings and 105 in the second. Auckland made 145 in the first innings and 1-0 for five wickets in the second. The winning runs were hit oft the second to last ball of the match. Details: OTAGO First Innings 3-59 Second Innings RITCHIE, Ibw, b Lawrie 0 TOOMEY, c Strickland, b Lawrie GROVES, ruh out 3S LYNCH, b Lyon « ALLAN, lbw, b Lyon 3 DICKINSON, b Lyon 21 BARROW, b Vivian 0 CHERRY, not out 14 HEENAN, b Lyon 0 SILVER, c and b Vivian 16 LEM IN, o Lawrie, b Vivian .. .. Extras 2 Total 105 Bowling.—Lyon. 4-34; Lawrie, 2-29; Langton, 0-17; Vivian, 3-16; Owen, 0-7. AUCKLAND First Innings VIPOND, st Heenan, b Lem in .. .. 33 LAWRIE, b Silver 59 L YON, b Lem in 22 VIVIAN, c Heenan, b Lemin 5 STRICKLAND, b Lemin 2 SCHNAUER, b Lemin 3 0 OWEN, b Lemin 0 LAUGHTON, st Heenan, b Lemin .. 1 SMITH, lbw, b Dickinson 1 LEWIS, not out 5 AICKIN, c Groves, b Dickinson .... I Extras 6 Total 145 Bowling: Dickinson, 2-45; Groves, 0-15; Lynch, 0-13; Lemin, 7-43; Silver, 1-23: Dickinson bowled four no-balls. Second Innings VIPOND, lbw, b Dickinson S 3 LAWRIE, b Groves 40 LYON, c Silver, b Dickinson 31 VIVIAN, lbw, b Lemin 0 SCHNAUER, not out 0 LEWIS, b Dickinson 0 AICKIN, not out 4 Extras 8 Five wickets for 120 Bowling: Dickinson, 3-45; Lemin, 1-42; Groves, 0-5; Lynch, 0-8; Silver, 0-12. A STRONG SIDE WELLINGTON’S PLUNKET SHIELD TEAM McLEOD NOT AVAILABLE From Our Resident Reporter MiELLINGTON, Thursday. The Wellington selector, W. S. Brice, has made an excellent choice in the players he has chosen to meet Canterbury on Saturday in the Plunket Shield match at Wellington. At least four of the province’s leading players were not available for the match, but even with this disability he has chosen a very strong side. McLeod and Foley are both still suffering from injuries received in previous matches this season, and Hollings is away on holiday. Worker was also not available for the match, but it is quite probable that he would not have been selected on his play this season to date. One man who was not selected, H. B. .Massey, will be greatly missed, however. He is a fine all-rounder, always seems to shine in big cricket, and is one of the most capable slip fieldsmen in the province. Apart from these defections, the eleven must be classified as a strong combination. T. C. Lowry will captain the side, as he has done on many previous occasions, and he will be able to call on a strong batting team, almost without a tail to be afraid of. With C. S. Dempster, W. F. Airey, R. H. C. Mackenzie, and Herb. McGirr, backed up by F. T. Badcock, Matt. Henderson, Ken Janies, J. R. Lamason, H. M. Lambert, R. W. Hope, and the captain himself, the side may be expected to do great things at the batting crease, even though they will be called upon to face the wily deliveries of Merritt. VARIETY IN ATTACK On the bowling side, Lowry will also be in the position of holding under his control a very strong attack. He has two medium fast trundlers in the team Henderson and Hope, both of whom are in excellent form at the present time. Henderson is a left-hander, too. W hen seeking a change, he can cah on McGirr and Badcock, both bowlers who have good averages to their credit. When these four fail Lowry can still call on Lambert Airey, and even himself for a change! It is a great pity that McLeod was ai f a * la b le » as is in great form i ball this season - and even ln . their opening match found his deliveries more than thev could understand and handle. * Apart from the absence of Folev and McLeod, it is difficult to see how the team could have been strengthened, and had they been included it i«* now quite as difficult to see who could have been left out. Foley is a good opening batsman with Dempster, & but S ? !f* Mackenzie ’ and the latter has the i^r llty -* t 0 dl . s himself in when the necessity arises. The inolu«in« Hope, who has already previously represented the province, as well 7L Uie Dominion, is sure to strengthen thl r!neH ln&, + and it: will not weaken the Is a bftter a h y t extent ' though Hollings i. % hotter batsman, but is no bowler they" o win be* ‘V* ”? n Strike t"™; tney will be extremely hard to shift ,Y iCkets ' ard it is qlute on stm has to a V he U WUI Win - "t,t o°e dangerous than * Westa*to“ anTci! CAMBRIDGE BOWLING From Our Own Correspondent Th r • CAMBR ttK3E, Today. a one-day m Hnkf e tou?n VUnSr C ‘ Ub held ing Day. y 32 player " 0,1 Boxweather was ideal for h rt ' The the greens were in emS ll ’ e ' and The tournament was won n c J-;"diti„n. R- White, Head!fHodgson, three wins and two f Q A bla i lday with a margin of 47 points on th*- havins Bourke, Tod, McFarianf” their, wins. James were runners! un Edwin 'vins and two losses bin three margin on wins " ' bUt only 41 Points EirS S W as follow f/uun N° U Hnr?l Rodgers. w s ’i Phair n, Boulton £•' A^f LeaTl ’ L>nsHulme, McAlister, "’•> If"’ Leaning, home, Bryce, Butler W- i,' c,a rke. tVag^ whe, Sutherland H. lr 'riv n a riCksen - <HanE ™eS t ’Ho«nr-i^;-P‘‘ d a>-. V it. H&d "- '■! „ Third Round —Bouitnn ,Ste, V 6 - a eAr?AfistlV, R i2 n v~Hiir u O, V 8 Butler, 10; Hallldsfv i- 11 '’ J i*rnes, 31, v V. Edwin 'Jam”?i , °l il ,l :

HOLIDAY BOXING ' GRIME-SARRON CONTEST TONIGHT GOOD BOUT EXPECTED Memories of a couple of jcars when a world's championship being sought, will bo revived at the Auckland Town Ha l this evening when Hilly Grime will again light in an Auckland ring. The last occasion Grime was in thj, city he was on his way to America, but stayed long enough to fight Reg, Trowern, whom he defeated. Gri® however, failed in his quest of the world title, and went back to Au». tralia. where he was labelled a backnumber. Hy dogged perseverance h. has proved that ho is still capable of giving a bard tight to anybody in hi, class, and has shown that ho is yet a has-been, Sarron, who lights Grime this even ing, went to Australia with a repute’ tion that lie has lived up to. and hi stirring fights there made him a great favourite with the Australian flgi,, fans. Sarron took decisions over the best men in the Commonwealth, and the honour of being the only man to" have stopped Johnny Heckle th« New Zealand champion. The holiday boxing contest ha aroused a deal of interest in Auck land, and a large house is exp ec t ed ’ A good programme of amateur bouti lias been arranged in support of th» main event. LECKIE BEATEN AGAIN

CROWLE’S WIN ON POINTS Special to THE SUE PALMERSTON N„ Thursday. Tommy Cruwle, feather-weight bo, ins champion of Australia, defeatedths f>ew Zealand champion. Johnny laeckie, in a 15-round bout at Palmer, ton North tonight. Heckle put un a very disappointing display, while the little Australian definitely established himself in the opinion of Palmerston North fans as a. game boxer of n<> mean ability, even though he has been previously beaten by Tommy Done van, the h\aitara fireman. 0 Throughout the fight, Heckle refused to stand off and box, but clinched and hung on to his man, while Cro»1. replied by holding Heckies ri, ht arm and showering blows with his own right on the New Zealander's body There blows, against which Heckie appeared to make no effort to guard himself lacked sting, however, otherwise the fiftht would have ended sooner than it did. Had Heckle taken advantage of his superior reach and stood off and boxed his man. the result might have been different, but Crowle was clearly in his element in in-lighting, while, although Neckie tired lus opponent by hanglhg pn to him, the New Zealander received heavy punishment in return The boys were evenly matched as to weight, both scaling 9st 1 Jib, while Heckle was in better condition. In the last round, Heckie, with blood flowing from his nose, opened out and looked as if he might snatch victory bv a knock-out when he crumpled Crowle up by a body blow. Further blow* to the head and body had the Australian rocking, but he gritted his teeth and hung - gamely on, and although the last round was Heckie's, Crowle's display in the previous rounds gave him the victory. The referee’s decision met with a mixed reception, but the majority of 'tl cmwd seemed to be in agreement BLOOM WINS FROM JONES

POINTS VICTORY AT WESTPORT Press .Association WESTPORT, Thursday. -A- professional boxing contest between Lou Bloom (America) and •Jack Jones (Wales) took place this e\ ening. Bloom won on points. Over the first seven rounds Jones was leading, but Bloom scored heavily in the other eight rounds. SPRINGDALE ATHLETICS BIG CASH MEETING From Our Oven Correspondent TE AROHA, Today. The big professional athletic meetmg conducted by the Springdale Athletic Club at Springdale on Boxing Day resulted: IOOYds Maiden Race.—A. <3. Wilson, 1; Time. Hs h ec UOn ’ B ' W ' WiUoU * bby ' *■ iOOTds Handicap.—First heat: R. Wat- »? y ? s ' 1; Maloney, 7yds, 3; A Wets’? 11 ’ 3Jyds, 3. Second heat: J. E. Elliott. 1 ’ L; . Ir - Ivellet, Syds, 3: Costar, ? y T. Third heat: E. Tremain, s|yds, 1•A. E. Whitton, 11yds, 2. G. Wilkins, fL' d f' Final: Elliott, 1: Maloney. I: Whitton, 3. Time, lOsec. 2 -204 ds Handicap.—First heat: A Wat‘y'. ’ ■ : Costar, 15yds. 2: Tremain, lOyds, o. Time, 23sec. Second heat: Maloney, 37yds, l; Read, ISyde, 2: Falc!on4C’ 15vds, 3. Time, 23 T-ssec. Pinal: oi l; Maloney, 2; Read, 3. Time, <*i 4-usee. 440 Yds Handicap.—Walker. 28yd*, 1; Sharkey, 2Syds, 2; Read, 30yds, 3. Time, 491 sec. Handicap.—Watson, 50yds, l* walker, 30yds, 2; Morrisy, 3 2yds, 3. Time, lmm sSsec. One Mile Cycle Handicap.—A Pilkinpton, Ssyds, 1; Coleman, 100yds, 2; Caulton, 3. Time, 2mln 24sc. Miles Cycle Handicap.—O. Stare, 110yds, 1; McCann, sc-r., 2; Harcourt, scr., Time * smin 12Jsec. , .Three Miles Cycle Handicap.—Stare. i4oyds, I; McCann, scr., 2; Coleman, 230 yc *?’ Time, 7min 45sec. Consolation Race, one mile.— Pratney. 1: Sole, 2; Francis, 3. Standing Chop. 15-inch.—J. C. Larkin, losec, and J. McCormick, 13see (deadheat), l; j. Neil, 3. Time, lmin Standing Chop, 12-inch block. —J. Larkin, 7sec, 3; w. j. Costello, 3sec, 2; R. C. Honey, 37sec. 3. Time. SOsec. Underhand Chop, 15-inch. —Honey, n sec, 1; j. Douglas, 24sec, 2; Neil, 17sec, 3. Time, imin 16seo. Tree Felling.—J. Neil, 1; W. A. Baker. 2. Larkin finished first, but qualified for starting ahead of his has* dicap.

BOWLING ANALYSIS O. Mathcson .10 Wensley 27 Anthony 17.5 18 2

BOWLING ANALYSIS O. M. R. w. Dunning 37 13 79 1 Alloo 41 16 82 1 Elmes 15 47 0 Galland 28 6 54 4 Zimmerman.. 22 8 36 1 Maloney 12.3 1 34 2 Knight 5 1 12 1