CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 273, 24 December 1909, Page 5

CRICKET.

NEW- SOUTH WALES TEACHERS' TOUR. Uy Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Niglit. Tic New South Wales teachers now 'visiting New Zealand defeated Wellington at cricket to-day by 104 on tlie first innings. New South Wales mudi ■ 270 and Wellington liifi. For the visitors Rose made 158, Hurst 34, Elstou 22. WANDERERS v. ROVERS. The Wanderers secured a three-point win over the Rovers yesterday. There Was nothing very attractive ill the afternoon's cricket, although Whittle a u Ingram bowled well, and Mcoll got a very* clever catch, Wanderers won by 99 runs on the two innings. Scores:— WANDERERS. First Innings 18/ Second innings. Nicoll, b Ingram 6 'Lash, b Williams .' 0 QireintbachJ b Ingram 42 Stewart, c and b Ingram .. .. 0 McLaren, c Elliott b Clarke .. 0 Hill, c Elliot, b Clarke 22 Whittle, c Arden, b Clarke .. .. 0 Jack, not out 20 Cook, c and b Ingram .. .. 7 Goss, b Ingram o Smith, b Clarke .. .. .. 2 Extras jg

■ Bowling: Williams one for 33, Ingram five for 29, Clarke four for 22, Elliot, none for 10. ROVERS. First Innings 105 Second Innings. (Price, b Nicholl y Weston, b Whittle 15 •Hastell, run out .. .. !! 12 Williams, b Nicoll .. .. . ' 0 Clarke, c Nicoll, b Whittle .. .. i Bewley, c Hill, b Whittle .. !! 4 Elliott, b Whittle u Ingram, b Hill .. .. 12 Fairbrother, not out <jl Arden, c and b Hill .. . , [ \ Saunders, b McLaren .. 3 Extras .. .. 13

95 ' Bowling: Whittle four for 40, Nicoll two for 24, Hill two for 0, Greatbach none for 5, McLaren one for 7.

NOTES. (By "Ttird Slip.") Mr. Clegg made his final selection on Saturday last of the representative team to play against Manawatu next week, and it seems to be giving general satisfaction. The most noticeable absentee from the team was the selector himseU, but this, I presume, is owing to the fact that Manawatu are playing Inglewood Club on the 31st, and Mr. Clegg is not available for all three days. The team looks to be a particularly strong all-round one, as it includes such soum batsmen as Greatbach, Jtaman, Hasell and Eggleston, and the remaining seven men are all likely to make a few runs at times. The bowling /department, in the hands of Nicoll, Whittle, and Hill, will be fairly strong. Benbow was selected, but as I hear he will be unable to play, it behoves Mr. Clegg to look about for another bowler to fill his place, as his three selected emergencies cannot, by the wildest stretch of imagination, be credited with sufficient bowling prowess to capably fill the gap. Wood, of the United Service A team, has been bowling very well this season, and as a fieldsman is second to none in the province; in fact, he is a sound allTound man, as he is also likely to make a lot of runs on occasions. Unfortunhe has not had a chance of catching the selector's eye, owing to his indulging in Saturday cricket only, but this fact should by no means be allowed to mar his chances for representative honors. McLaren is another player who might easily distinguish himself in first-class crioket, as he is a fairly sound batsman, an excellent field, and might be useful as a change bowler. •Bond, of Waitara, is another player ■worthy of mention as regards good allround performances. There are several others one might mention, but the three players remarked upon should suffice for Mr. Clegg to fill the place caused by Benhow's defection, and I consider that cither of these three would acquit themselves far more creditably than Wilson, Fuller, or Jack. 1 Although Greatbach is by no means a first-class wicket-keeper, he will, 1 think, prove fairly serviceable in that position. One good point in bis favor is that he is not afraid to stand well up to the wickets.

1 I hear that they have an esfccltont ■wicket-keeper at Eltham, who is quite willing to come in and help NorLli Taranaki, but owing to the absurd animosity existing between North and South, this good man is debarred from our team.

If Mr. Clegg were wise he would absolutely ignore this petty party feeling, and select the man right away to 1111 Benhow's. place, as I feel certain that most of the level-minded cricketers tie.'would heartily endorse and approve of this action. If we wish to foster cricket in this province, it must be a trial uf the fittest, and let sentiment go hang. ' I sincerely hope that long before the visit of the Australian team to Taranaki the two divisions will he amicably amalgamated. Possibly some of our local cracks, who would otherwise be selected, ■would have to stand down; but when we 'consider how much such players as McCarthy, Cole, O'Connor, and'lnnmn '(Eltham's wicket-keeper) would materially strengthen a Taranaki team, it would make all true lovers of cricket wish for an early amalgamation of forces. With these men and our locals to select a team from, I haven't the slightest doubt that Taranaki would soon push its way to the fore, and might put up a creditable fight with representative teams from the four big centres of New Zealand. The Rovers-Wanderers match was concluded yesterday, the latter gaining a three-point win, and thus giving themselves a substantial lead for the championship. Yesterday's play on the whole was a poor exhibition of cricket, even Cfreatbach's innings of 42 being a pool display compared with his masterly innings of last week. Ingram was easily the best of bowlers on the losing side, and managed to keep the batsmen very quiet. This same player also batted very well, and was ablv supported by Fairbrother. Whittle's bowling was ■well up to his usual standard, but Nicoll Was distinctly off color and was lucky to get any wickets at all. However, he fully made up for this defeat by his ■excellent fielding, the catch with wliicii •he dismissed Clarke being a' magnificent piece of work. Hill also brought off a ■very good catch, and Lash in the mid field showed the spectators some very clever ground work. Clem Hill's chanccless innings against New South Wales must have been worth going a long way to see, and he seems to have got right back to his old form again. Crawford bagged six wickets in the second innings, and will prove a great acquisition to South Australian cricket.