CRICKET

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 15, 23 April 1952, Page 7

CRICKET

REVIEW OF SEASON 1951-52 In the season just concluded the Taupo Cricket Club played more matches than for many years past and probably more than the Taupo Club had ever previously arranged. It was an extremely successful season and the reeord at the close was Played 15, Won 12, lost 2, no result 1. One other match was cancelled owing to the weather after the team had travelled to Putaruru for the game; and one or two were arranged and cancelled owing- to opponents being unable to raise a side. The matches which produced the most interesting finishes were the two January games when the Rotorua. Works Department and Taupo Golf Club were beaten respectively by one wicket and by eight runs. The second match of the season, also against the Works Department was similarly close as Taupo were only 21 runs behind when the last wicket fell. Both the opening match, against N. Coles Ltd., of Putaruru and the final game v. Rotorua R.S.A. followed the same pattern when the visitors, batting first, made good totals and the Taupo Club chased the runs and got them. Four out of the twelve matches won were won outright and the Club can claim an unbeaten reeord since the first week-end in December last. The most notable feature of the teamJs performances has been thefact that the batting strength has . been solid down to No. 8 or No. 9, and when the earlier batsmen failed, someone at the lower end of the batting order always came to the rescue. Several times in the season the fifth and sixth wicket partnership saved the team when it was in trouble. Beale took part in two of 1 these, adding 81 with Strange against Works Department at Rotorua when 5 wickets had fallen for 32, whilst in the home match against National Park he added 82 with Acres after 5 were down for 45. Loughlin and McKean saved a total collapse at Kauangaroa when they doubled the score after 5 wickets were down for 42, and in the following week they clinched the game against Reporoa by adding 55 for the fifth wicket. There were two century partnerships during the season: McKean and Thomas adding 108 for the fifth wicket in the opening game, whilst Strange and Acres put on exactly 100 for the third wicket in the last game. At Tokaanu, Forster and Collett just failed to raise three figures for the third wicket. Collett being bowled when 94 had been added. Eight other partnerships apart from those mentioned topped the 50 mark, making a total of fourteen altogeher. As Captain, Collett was fortunate in having a good variety of bowling at his command. Loughlin and Strange were faster apd more accurate than any other pair of bowlers which the team had to play against during the season. Both

enjoyed purple patches, Loughlin at Tokaanu taking 9 wickets for 9 runs in the first innings ineluding four wickets in four balls and finishing with 11 wickets for 20, whilst Strange at National Park took 7 wickets for 9 runs in the second inings or 12 for 30 in the match. In reserve Collett and McKean chiefly with ofr breaks were excellent in the second line of attack. Patchet took some good wickets with his left hand deliveries, and Forster tempted 10 batsmen to their doom with his apparently guileless looking slows. tSmnnex only pjayed in t/he home matches prior to Christmas when the wickets were not particularly suited to his bowling. He would probably have shown better figures had he been able to turn out after the holidav period. Owing to the success of Loughlin and Strange none of these bowlers obtained enough opportunities to show their capabilities, but us~ ually they looked as though one or

other of them was able to obtain a wicket when required. The team was fortunate in having a very capable and often brilliant wdcket-keeper in Beale. who "stood up to nearly all the bowling and sometimes brought oif most impressive pieces of stumping. Late in the season, when the ground was hard and the ball was f lying. high from the fas-t bowlers he let through many byes through continuing to stand up. The extras total eould pundoubtedly have been less startling had he not done so. but account should be taken of the moral effect which a wicket keeper exercises over his opponent when they know that he is looking for his wdcket. On the wdiole the fielding of the team was good. There were days when all the eatches wrent to hand, just as there were days wrhen they all seemed to fall on the carpet. Collett 11, Forster 10 and Loughlin 9, topped the catching^ totals, whilst Beale and Acres took seven each and Beale stumped five. 1 The most improved fielder was undoubtedly young Robert Clark who started the season in rather lackadaisacal fashion, but by the end was moving fast to the ball, saving a lot of runs at fine leg* and taking some very good catches. A most welcome addition to the fixture list during the season was the match against the Taupo Golf Club, which proved a great success and provided a thrilling finish. It is a fixture which may well develop

into a local derby, and certainly all this year's players will be looking forward to a repetition next season. At the tea interval of this match Arnold Forster was presented with, a medal kindly presented to the club by Mrs Peart to be awarded to the most improved player in 1951, and this player celebrated his award by playing two very nice innings of 41 and 35 in his next two visits to the crease. This review of the season^s play would not be complete without some reference to the splendid team spirit of the Club which was so. admirably fostered by the ladies, particularly Mrs Peart and Mrs Collett asisted on various occasions by Mrs Patchett and Mrs Loughlin. These ladies untiringly attended all the home games and provided afternon tea week after week. Thus adding tremendously to the social side of the matches and helping to make it a delightful season for all concemed.