CRICKETERS BEAT GOLFERS

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 4, 6 February 1952, Page 3

CRICKETERS BEAT GOLFERS

ONLY EIGHT RUNS MARGIN Indications are that a cricket match played on January 27 largely arranged as - a social game between the Taupo Golf Club and the Taupo Cricket Club might well develop into a "loeal Derby". A. J. Collett and R. Beale, respectively captain and vice-captain of the Cricket Club, and exponents of both games played in this match for the Golf Club, and the resulting vacaneies in the cricket side were filled with youngsters. It is quite fair therefore to say that both teams contained a fair proportion of "has-beens," "never-was-sers," and "may-be-sometimers." No doubt the players themselves will i forgive us if we say that those who j deserved most praise were those who have been cricketers on the Golf Club side and have given up the game for varying periods of two-to twenty-four years. Of these J. Woodward, A. Graham, L. Stevenson, I. Potts and L. Cheal all aequitted themselves so well at- the batting crease that it seemed a great pity that they had given up the game at such an early age. Put in to bat by the Golfers, the Cricketers opened with Forster and Dave Woodward who both commenced very confidently though slowly. When the score was 11 Woodward was caught by his father for four. Forester put the full face of his bat behind every straight ball, and per_ haps used the dead bat a little too much for the pleasure of the spectators. Hov/ever, when he received two loose balls in one over he had no hesitation in dispatching the first for four and lifting the second for a very well timed six over the square-leg boundary. With the total at 41 he reached forward on the leg side and dragged his foot a little vwhich giave Beale the opportunity to stump him very smartly. Acres. in the meantime proceeded on his very fortunate way, giving several chances including one to cover-point who slipped on the uneven ground just as he reached the ball and strained a thigh muscle. Strange was very subdued for him, but the partnership added 49. Shortly after the century appeared both these batsmen were out, the latter bowled by Collett, and Acres caught at square leg off Wilson. Stone was his usual unorthodox self, and Thomas hit hard to add runs quickly, whilst Patchett and McKeen who went in at the bottom of the batting order added a rapid 20 with the result that the Cricketers totalled the fair score of 179. Collett and Wilson shared the bowling honours and were not easy to score off. Potts was steady and for the most par-t inexpensive whilst Smith thQugh he put down the odd loose ball adso bowled some very good ones and collected two good wickets at the end of the innings. J. Woodward and Beale scored 20 for the Golf Club's first wicket and then Beale made up his mind before the bowler bowled that he was to belt 'Strange, and he paid the penalty when the bowler was able to drop Ihe ball on a good length and knock the stumps down. Cranham watched every ball earefully, and the score rose steadily to 58 before Strange gained an l.b.w. deeision against the left-hander Woodward. Collett was batting freely, but Graham showed a tendency to lose patience and to pull the straight ball. This proved his undoing for at 92 when the partnership had added 84 he was bowled trying to pull the ball on to the on side of the wicket. Stephenson batted very neatly for his 10 out of 19 whilst he was at the crease, and was perhaps unlucky when he slightly lofted a return drive and was caught and bowled by Loughlin. The bowler who was nearly off balance accomplished an athletic twist of his brown torso in order to take the catch. Three quick wickets then fell in-

cluding that of Collett who unluckily for the Golf Club was given out leg before to Strange. Seven were out for 112 when Potts and Cheal be~ carne assoeiated. They took the score to 140 before Potts was bowled by Thomas. Thereafter, Cheal was left to do the bulk of the seoring. Smith left to a good piece of stumping by Patchett which gave Thomas his second wicket and the last man went to the wicket with 25 runs still to get. In the closing stages Cheal dispatched a short ball from McKean over the square leg boundary for 6.

He was playing a steady nicely judged. innings, but refused several short runs which would have narrowed the gap between the two sides more dangerously and might have demoraIised the field. When 8 runs still separated the teams Miles failed to get his bat properly behind a ball from Strange and played it on to his wicket, leaving the cricketers winners. In a finish such as this a score board on the ground is almost essential to enable both sides to appreeiate the closeness of the struggle, and although the finish of this match could be favourably compared for closeness with the previous match at Rotorua, the fact that both 'sides were equally informed about the state of the match made for an atmosphere of far greater excitement at the former game. In spite of that everyone enjoyed the game thoroughly, and look forward to many more battles between Golfers and Cricketers. Taupo Cricket Club: — A. Forster, st. Beale, b. Potts, 25; D. Woodward, c. J. Wocdward, b. Collett, 4; G. Acres, c. J. Woodward, b. Wilson, 38; I. Strange, b. Collett, 24; R. Stone, b. Wilson, 24; W. D. Thomas, l.b.w., b. Smith, 20; C. Sulherland, b. Collett, 4; R. Clark, c. Graham, b. Wilson, 0; J. Loughlin, l.b.w., b., Collett, 0; G. Patchett, not out. 10; S. McKean, b. Smith, 11; extras 19. Total: 179/ Bowling: — A. J. Collett, 4 for 46; V. Wilson, 3 for 46.; I. Potts, 1 for 16; L. Smith, 2 for 14; J. Woodward, 0 for 21; J. Miles, 0 for 17. Taupo Golf Club: — J. Woodward, l.b.w., b. Strange, 28; R. Beale, b. Strange, 8; A. Graham, b. Strange^ 26; A. J. Collett, l.b.w., b. Strange, 29; L. Stephenson, c. & b. Loughlin;, 10; V. Wilson, c. Thomas, b. Loughlin, 0; A. Ryan, b. McKean, 1; I. Potts, b. Thomas, 15; L. Cheal, not out, 33; L. Smith, st., Patchett, b. Thomas, \4; J. Miles, b. Strange, 2; extras : 14. Total: — 171. Bowling: — I.Strange, 5 for 46; S. McKean, 1 for 40; J. Loughlin, 2 for 41; D. Thomas, 2 for 30.