CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 235, 22 February 1913, Page 7

CRICKET.

The following is in. 'Mi;; 01 ni.ivcncs played in each eompetii ato date: SATURDAY' COM: .'TUTRIX. '■-. s"' 3^-3 ' Cniicd S,oyi,-e ;i 7 2.14 Unit. 11 ServV" !) 7 ti !4 La w !l 4 j 8 Xew I'lyniouili 9 .'! (j (i ' |-g I » TIiriiSDAV COMPKTITIOXT Xew Plymouth 7 4 1 1 8 Inglewood A. .. 8 4 22 S Urenui ' S 4 '3 1 s Waitiya 7 2 4 1 4 Inglewood ]!. . . r> 1 :{ ] 2 High School .... 7 1 3 3 2

The third round uf ma telle/ 1 in the Saturday competition concluded ou Saturday last, wiieu United Service further increased their lead by easily defeating Xew Plymouth. United Serviec now holds an absolutely unassailable lead,

and the fourth round cannot affect the position in any way. The match on Saturday was notable for many things, lirst and being the utter rout i>f Xew Plymouth for 02, Mason being the only decent contributor, with, a score of 111. The fact that three men were 1 mi out and that no extras were put no speaks well for the iielding.' Service gave a line display of batting,

amassing ;l()4 for the loss of seven wickets, and severely testing the whole, eleven of their opponents' bowling ability and inability, lor every one of the team had a trial with the ball. The score would have been much larger but for the fact that Bain and the Kev. Colvile each cried enough after reaching the coveted three ligurcs and retired unbeaten. Both played line cricket, and the latter'- century was particularly popular. Law and High School played a friendly match on the school ground. The boys were defeated, but tliey are young and keen, and with judicious watching sliould produce some good material. Lash, playing for Law, was in fine form, and retired at 71, Bewley hitting up 07. H. B. Keid and Johnson were the only others to make a stand, and the innings closed for 18. High School's score was 127, and the principal contributors were Monteath (30) ami •extras" 30. The wicket-keeping could not nave been up to the usual standard.

I The Thursday coniju tition is progress- | iug very slowly, and unless matters are shaken, up will hardly reach finality hefore the foqtbailers are chasing the elusive leather. Only one match eventuated last week, that of I'renui v. High School, which the country team won, and are now level with Nesv Plymouth and Inglewood A, at the top of the list, with S points. Xew Plymouth, however, are in the best position, as they have only one loss recorded against them, Inglewood A have two and Urenui three. The match between High School and Urenui was played at Tikorangi. The school team put up a decent total of 1)8, but it was all compiled by two of the team, viz., Mr. Ryder o2 and Pott 28 (not out). Urenui had no difficulty in eclipsing this total, scoring ISO, and tins would have been larger, but that W. Fuller aud 0. ioremaii retired at 70 and :i7 respectively in order to give the others a chance to bat Lye (30) was the other double-figure scorer. j

Cricketers are evidently determined to get a ground of their own, and it is to be hoped that the enthusiasm will not be short lived, but will continue until the desired end is attained. The meeting called last week to discuss the committee's report was decidedly encouraging. The Racecourse is of course the objective. There is a reserve there that was set apart for sport ui which at that time cricket was paramount. On that reserve the Star Football Club. Coursing Club, and Agricultural Society are located, and it would be difficult U> obtain sull'icient area for cricket without encroachment. By readjustment, however, it was explained by several of the speakers there would be ample room for all. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the Borough Council will be able to arrange the adjustment as asked for, considering, of course, the claims of those already in possesion. This, however, will have to be done at once if the ground is to be ready for next season, as there will be much work to do to get the ground in order. Some favour Tiikapa. as it is held that more ground could lie got there, and that though at present rather out of the town, the advent of t rani.s will bring it within the twopenny section far sooner than will be the case at the Racecourse.

Hltham have won the championship of South Taranaki. Will it he possible to arrange a match against the local champions when decided. A match was to have been played between Elthaui and at the picnic at the river port last Thursday.

Hawora. whkdi has been the home of some noted Taranaki cricketers in the past, is to receive a welcome addition in the shape of the Rev. E. C. Blainires. Ihe Rev. geiitb-u-.n is a forceful batsman. Last Wednesday, playing a-rainst Oriental lie notched 181 (not out)' by a splendid display of free hittinsr. thouch lie should have been pi vc-n out at ISO when he tipped a ball which the wicketkeeper held.

The following is (lie Law team fo Play the Xew Plymouth team on the Sports .'round to-morrow:— Bewlev Elliott, '■reatbatch. Anderson. TT. B.'Reid. K. 1.. T,e,d. Shepherd, .Johnson Droken--1m re. T.as], and Unties.