CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 268, 5 November 1908, Page 4

CRICKET.

Motes by " iS.A." Tin' uewly inaugurated competition opened on Saturday last under favoraWo conditions. 01' the six teams that are competing, tile match, between tlic two United .Service tenuis occupied all uiy attention. At a glance on paper the, "A " team seemed to ,liave a uecided advantage, hut as the match progressed, it struck me very forcibly thai, had the "){'' team not been unfortunately deprived of the services of I'jnakucJi. Knight and Allkin, the uiatch would have been very even, and 11 should not have been surprised if the "B" Team iiad prevailed. As regards individual <nuL'foruiu|ii<:vs t for the "A" Team, the Kev. Colvile and Mackay stood out head and shoulders above the rest. Colvile in particular showed us a very forceful style of batting, his oil' strokes being very masterful. He was not at all comfortable with some of Sonthall's leg-breaks ; in fact, on realising that this bowler was not too well supported by the wicket-keep-er, he left Jiis crease on several ucc.i sions, and should have been stumped at least twice. Mackay played a capital innings most of his runs being obtained by ni: favorite on strokes, lie eventually succumbed by playing outside a gooi straight ball from Dinniss. Of tile rest of the batsmen. Station deserves mention. He has a fairly gooi style and should develop into a sown bat if he would but cultivate patience and disabuse himself of the idea tha runs can be scored off every ball bow led to him. The bowling honors fell to the tw change bowlers, Hartigan and Craw shaw, who both secured excellent avci ages, but they had the great advantag of bowling to" the decided " tail" of bh "B' team, which "wagged" to the extent of six " blocs." Although his figures don't read as such. Colvile bowled well lor a few overs, but eventually had to retire from the hard hitting of Southall and Tinlay. ' The fielding of the "A" team on the whole was distinctly good, c,M did not show much room for improvement. For the "B" Team, the scoring was confined to •SiniiinimU, Dinniss, Finhiy, Southall, and l'resha\ .

Simmonds showed Ms some very good off-strokes, which should he cultivated by some of the younger members of tire club. Diuniss was batting very finely and confidently, and was wry unfortunate in being run out. Considering the fact that this was Finlay's lirst game ' this season, he showed remarkably good style, aim wilt, I anticipate, give the bowlers rare trouble before the season concludes. Southall tumbled into Ills old hard batting ways right from the start, and Bcored his few runs in quiek time. There were no bowling honors to be , distributed among the "B" Team, Southall was distinctly "off" and was evidently disheartened by the poor support from his field. Presliaw bowled fairly well, but too often played right into the hands of such a good leg-hitter as Jlaekay. If he would content himself with the off-theory, he would quickly see a considerable improvement in iis bowling averages. Dixon occasionally put down a good ball, but he should realise that slow lobs will rarely trouble a fairly good batsman. On the whole the fielding of the "B" team was painful to watch. Several of them looked as if they were playing anything but cricket. On occasions, when the ball went their way, it looked as if they were struck dumb with surprise at* such an insignificant Utile round thing daring to go near them. On recovering from their surprise, or perhaps on being wakened up by the yells of other members—they decided to pick the ball up, examine it carefully,' and eventually pass it on to the bowler or wicket keepvr for their inspection. Verily, if the " P>" team would hope to win a match, they will need very strenuous fielding practice. Perhaps, if they would only realise that in every English or. Australian representative team, at least two of the team are se-| lected solely for their excellent fielding, they might see the force of developing this branch of the sport.

The following will represent tiiv I''!'' Brigade in their match ajrainst .Vv. Plymouth team on the Tukapa ><voum! to-day, plav to commence at 2.3(1 p.m.: - T. Mamer, P. Douglas, W. Saddle". Xewsham. Bullot, Lvc', AUen, T. W. Rocli. -I. Stolir. '.M. Oman.

The following will represent tin- United Service Club's B team in the match against High School, to lie played oa the Recreation Sports Ground on Sutuvdav next. November 7th:—Southall (captain), Dinniss, Simmons Lash. Kinlay. Pfaukueh, Dixon. Preshaw, Allkiu, Xapicr, and Kennedy; eniergenci-s, Brabant. Huso. Play to commence s' 2.13 p.m. sharp.

The Xew Plymouth Hovers will i>c without the services of their eaptain. E. I.ash. in their game against t renui to-day. owing to his leaving to-day fjr the South on a brief holiday trip. A. 11. Steeds has been selected a < captain and wicketkeeper for the Xew Plymouth Club's Saturday team. This afternoon's fixture, Kovers 'v. Urenui, on the Recreation S]K>rts Ground should .prove interesting if the morning is fine. The wicket is in firstclass order. The first Australian interstate match commences on Saturday, when Victoria meets South Australia at Adelaide. The Victorian team is as follows:—Annstrong, Hansford, Hazlitt, Collins, Carkeek, Carroll. Horan, McKcnzie, Saunders, McAllister, Vernon, aiid Warne.