CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 241, 1 March 1913, Page 7

CRICKET.

SATURDAY COMPETITION. Tlic following arc ; ;io-ilioiis of the teams in the two ro:::; . ivions: -~ ■?- \ "? United Service |l 7 2 U U:i\v io 4 ij x New Plymouth \\\ \ (j g -2 k. .„.2 C -u g £S £| £ J 2 LIIUKSDAY COMi'j..TJTJO.V Xew Plymouth 7 4 12 8 Inglcwood A. j. S 4 22 8 . Urenui 8 4 3 1 g ! Wnitara 7 2 4 1 4 Inglewood ]i....'i 1 3 1 0 High School 7 1 3. 3 2 The match set down for to-day is United .Service v. Law, at the Keereation Grounds. The cricket hoa-ou is rapidly drawing to a clo-.e, but not so the ' Thursday competition. This has not advanced at all during- the week, and it is extremelv doubtful if it will be brought to a iinaP ity this season. The Saturday competition advanced another stage, last week, when the final round was commenced. United Service. of course, hold an unassailable position at the summit of the list, and dofeals in both the remaining matches could not afl'eet this. Law and New Plymouth are, however, fighting hard for the position of runner-up, first one having the advantage and then being defeated by the other. Up to last week Law was leading, but New Plymouth, by a meritorious win, drew level again. Should Service beat both in the two remaining matches, or should each heat Service—and it must not be forgotten that cricket is a game of uncertainties—each will be again level, and will have to play, off for second honors.

The dual centuries-scored, on the previous Saturday by K. Bain ,and the Rev. A. H. Colvile must have routed up their confreres, tiecautie, last Saturday saw one player annex the three figures and another only required four runs to achieve that end. ' Greatbatch, of Law, was the successful player, but he was lucky, being dropped before he reached double figures and' several times after. Arden. the New Plymouth skipper, hatted well for his !)(i; playing; confidently! all found-'the wicket, and giving no chances. I fc'Was hard luek ! indeed to have his- wicket's scattered "by-such-a beautiful ball'when-so close 'tip;? •but it is the fortune' hi' war. '•'■' Xone, however, could have : -grudged : this'sports; man his centurv. •••-■■■':' - <" .' <.

": o>Jew. ! Plymouth's sebre of ltffl was compiled by. three 'players',' but Law's tfas 1 scored practically by tine.' Thlit good fielding can win or lose' a match 'was exemplified in the case of Greittbateh, Who was missed when he hard-hardly scdrcd. That let-off might'easily.'have cost'the match, but that Bewley and! Lash were dfeposed of so cheaply, thedatter as' the, result of smart fieldkigj ! and no one left who appeared able'to get runs. Some of the others could .stick, but r'uhgetting was a lost, or else not yet 'Ac-" quired, art. High School and Service played'..a friendly match, which, after a close fin-' ish, the latter won by four runs. The boys are improving, and with judicious coaching and practice will prove formidable opponents. ' '• ■ Southall was in good form with the ball at Wellington last Saturday, takiifg' six Victoria College wickets for 17 runs out of a score of 34. .■•,'■._,•

Macartney has been batting brilliantly of late, and has bad hard luck in not reaching the coveted century. Against South Australia he made OfLagainst Victoria 04. and against the Rest of Australia 01. In the latter match he had been at the wickets an hour and 40 minutes, and hit thirteen fours,, According, to an Australian paper, a more eharmr ing and a more skilful display could not be imagined., in. tire circumstances J Wristy and powerful inhooking and cutting, lie delighted everyone,, and the applause received on his return showed that his sparkling exposition had been appreciated at its true worth—one, of the finest innings ever played on the Sydney ground.

Trumpcr had a great reception when he went In the wickets in Iris benefit match. Says tlic Referee:—''Tlic cheering in recognition of Macartney's cricket, had hardly died away when the name, of 'Trumper on the hoard paused it to be renewed. It increased when the bat,s: man emerged from the pavilion, and as lie walked out the strains of the band were drowned until Trumper reached the wicket, when 'For He's a Jolly Good Fellow' asserted itself. The. Rest of Australia gathered near the pitch and cheered the hero of the occasion, and the general cheering again broke out. It was a big event in a most eventful cricket career." That he is still the player of old was evidenced by the fact, that he made 12(i not out in 2 hours 53 minutes. lie hit sixteen fours, and though he gave the two fairly possible chances of c. and b„ his innings was a veritable treat. Every imaginable stroke was used. Cleverly placed back cuts, forceful shots past cover, hard off drives, cheeky pulls, were blended in a manner that inade up a most delightful cricket. Tt was no wonder that the comparatively stolid occupants of the member's stand cheered again and again as the clever batsman ran in ahead of the others, as though bent on quickly seeking the seclusion the dressing-room affords. "Behind followed the other players, applauding him. Ryder, the young Vivtorian bowler, came off witli the fine average of five for (Hi. Auainst the wind ho was not successful."but with the wind he took five wickets for four runs.

Blayimr i" a country match in Now South Wale; tin- other day. T. Littlownoil was responsible for a remarkable bowlinjr feat. Tt was the last over of the (lav. lie howled two men with the first two halls, the third was not scored nIT. and three more batsmen were howled (iiii'lndiiiL' the hat trick) for no runs off six hall-. Pollowinu is the Law team to play the United Service in the Recreation Grounds todav: --Revlov. Elliott. Kin". Greatbatch'. Undersoil. TT. TS. Reid, T!. B. Tteid, Shepherd. Johnson. Quilliam and Lash.