CRICKET

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 138, 2 December 1911, Page 7

CRICKET

NORTH TARANAKI CRICKET ASSOCIATION. A meeting of delegates was held on Thursday night in Webster and McKellar's office. Present: Messrs. W r . Bewley, president (in the chair), L. Hill (hon. secretary), E. Whittle, D. Gordon and M. G. Williams (Xew Plymouth Club), B. Gwillim (Carrington Road), and K. Bain (United Service). Accounts to the amount of £9 4s 9d were passed for payment. The Wangunui Association wrote suggesting the dates December 20 and 27 for the annual representative match between the two associations, at New Plymouth. The secretary said that he had written accepting those dates. On the motion of Mr. Bain, seconded by Mr. Gordon, it was resolved to put the fixtures on a week, on account of December 7 being election day, the date of the la6t fixture of the first round beig left for the championship committee to fix.

The president paid a tribute to Mr. Hill, secretary, who resigned his position owing to leaving for Hawera. Mr. Hill had, he stated," come forward and taken the secretaryship at a time when it was found difficult to fill the post, and he moved a hearty vote of thanks to him for his services, and expressing his regret at his departure. Mr. Whittle also spoke in appreciative terms, wishing him success in his new home, and seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. On the motion of Mr. Whittle, seconded by Mr. Bain, Mr. D. Gordon was elected secretary. Mr. Whittle stated that a portion of the ground had been specially prepared and set apart for the representative match at Christmas, and as a considerable amount of money had been spent on this work by the town clubs, ho wished 'to apply to the association for some assistance towards the cost of its preparation. On the motion of Mr. Bain, seconded by Mr. Gordon, it was resolved that the association contribute £3. The first round of the Saturday competition will be concluded this afternoon, when Upitod Service will meet Xew Plymouth at the Sports Ground and Law play Inglewood at Inglewood. Much interest will attach to the meeting between Xew Plymouth and United Service, as both teams possess some good material and have won both matches played so far this season. Bain's 101 for Service against Law last Saturday was the first century this season, and was a performance that stood out on its own. This batsman is in fine form this season, and on Saturday batted brilliantly, being particularly severe on anything loose. His score included two sixers, eight fourers and four threes. With a magnificent lift for six he passed the century and then retired unbeaten. Weston also put up a fine score for Xew Plymouth against Inglewood when he hit up 80. It was a fine innings, marred only by two chances, and included some fine strokes, his driving and leg-hitting being very good. He was ultimately caught out through driving a bull hard back to the bowler, which Mcliae held. Hill, who leaves for Hawera. will be much missed by his club. He has been a most valuable member of the Law Club, as not only does he bear the brunt of the bowling but is also a conI sistent scorer. Last week, although Service scored 185. he bowled unchanged and came out with the fine average of six wickets for .i!). To Law's score of SO he contributed 10 not out. He will carry with him the bent wishes of all cricketers. Some good trundling was in evidence last Saturday, and several bowlers eanie out with good averages. Xicoll (seven for 27) he-aded the list: then came Dinniss with seven for 3fi, Pullen four for 28, and Hill six for 2!). Carrington Road could only muster 14 all told in both matches on Thursday. The seniors, with nine men. had rather an advantage over Waitara. whilst the juniors, with five men. went under to High School A. This looks ominous for Carrington Road'.- prospects —to be so short-handed in home matches at the beginning of the season. Cricketers are beginning to wonder when decent weather is going to come along. On Thursday fieldsmen i|iiite enjoy" I a gallon to the liouuda r.v an I could fully appreciate 1 difficulty that, ticfullback of strong football tram which •; ovcr-runniug its opponents, finds in keening hi-; place on a cold winter's day and waiting for something to do. Carringlou Road have now two unfinished match"- to complete. With the delay through wet Weather, elections, etc.. it will lengthen the season somewhat. Gwillim was the only senior batsman on Thursday to gel out of hi- teens, and he amassed f!2 by bright, all ractiv r-rickct. His innings included three mighty slogs for six anil six ]<-ser ones for four. After passing the fifties he got reckless. :,;nl the nasty ,-niaek in the mouth that lie received from Eggleston did not improve matters, compelling him to retire. On resuming a few halls later lie scored a boundary, and then a good ball from Eggle-'on among his timbers. Chappie, who kept, wickets for Waitara. was playing his first game behind the stumps and filled the bill fairly cap ablv. He missed two chances of stlimning. however, one of which when he failed to stump Gwillim before he scored. Eggleston showed glimpses of fine form in bis batting ,his cutting being parti-

eularly good. Smith, however, beat him [ with a beauty. > Smith showed that wicket-keeping is ! not his only forte. He proved himself a fine all-round player, scoring 13 and taking five wickets for 31 runs.

Rev. Harrison had bad luck in geting out when a ball landed on his hand on from tlunce on to the wickets. Dowsett, however, counter-balanced matters as he touched a ball which hit the wickets, but did not remove the bails. This latter player pleased the onlookers very much with his display. Urcnui, thanks to the fine bowling of Blundell (six wickets for 20) and W r . i Fuller (four for 32) easily defeated last ! • ear's champions on the Inglewood ground. j Inglewood received 15 extras in lie junior match against Fire Brigade, eight of these being wides. Rain interfered with the English-Xew South Wales match, which had to be abandoned. Matters were fairly even. The visitors scored 238 and the local team had lost eight wickets for IKS. Trumper and Macartney failed, only scoring one each, but Gregory came to light with tiC in faultless style, and Minnett also scored 52 not out. The Englishmen's batting was again painfully slow, whilst their fielding also did not find too much favor. If they arc slack in this department they cannot hope to excel in the tests. Some idea of the speed at which runs came may be judged from the fact that Macartney bowled 72 balls and had nine I runs hit off him

The Englishmen are at Brisbane today. The test match starts at Sydney on the 15th, the day after our secon 1 ballots. The Australian selectors ha>' ■ a problem to face, and this has be n •enhanced by Gregory's fine inning The latter was not previously counted in picking likely candidates for test honors, but that fine innings, coupled with his brilliant fielding, stamps him as being among the best. Armstrong's 250 against Xew South Wales was much appreciated by the big Victorian's many admirers. May he repeat it against the visitors!

Ransford has not been playing up to form for some time and unless he improves soon he may possibly be omitted from the tests.

The personnel of the Australian team to plav at Brisbane will be eagerly awaited. Xo doubt a number of colts will be tried, wih a view to the test matches.

The following have been selected to represent Law at Tnglewood to-day (Saturday)':—Lash. Elliot, Bewley, Greatbatch. Paton. Ron. Quilliam, Reid, Lawrey, Anderson, Johnston, and another.