CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1922, Page 8

CRICKET.

NELSON v. WANGANUI. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright, Nelson, March 31. A anatd:! for the Hawke Cup, Nelson v. Wanganui, commenced in splendid weather and on a good wicket. At the luncheon adjournment Nelson had lost two wickets for 74 Nelson’s first, innings produced 109 runs. Tronson took six wickets for nine runs. Wanganui, at the close of the day's play, had lost eight witekets for 157, Holland being not out 91. SOUTH TARANAKI SHIELD. WON BY MAN Al A. The final for the South Taranaki Association shield was played at Hawera on Thursday between Manaia and Stratford, and resulted in a win for Manala after a remarkably close game. The competing teams were lucky in striking a fine day, and the grounds were in good order. The pitch was rather soft and inclined to bump at times, but improved as the day went on. The fielding, especially on the Stratford side, was remarkably good. Manaia won the toss and took the field against Stratford, who put up the respectable total of 98. Going in to bat Manaia opened up badly, ' losing their first three wickets for 1 run, and the score later stood at seven wickets for 40 runs. Then a partnership was established between Lynsky and Dr. Maunsel, which succeeded in adding the 59 runs required to win, Manaia’s score thus reaching 111. Lynsky played a good innings, but was fortunate in surviving’ three appeals for l.b.w. and caught behind the wicket. Stonewig, with 56 runs, topped ■ the score for Stratford, while Dr. Maunsel was the best scorer for Manaia. Although Stratford did not win this match they tave put up a very fine performance for the season, winning eight out of ten matches. The other two matches were only lost by the narrow margins of 13 and 23 • runs. NORTH TARANAKI PLAY. NO MORE MATCHES. Owing principally to the preparation for the football season, and the interest of players being Cransferred to the coming winter sport, the North Taranaki Cricket Association has abandoned all hope of bringing the chaunpionship competition to a conclusion. In the A grade competition Urenui must be regarded as the winners. High School, who were to have played Western Park, have forfeited the match, and New Plymouth are unable to get a team to play Urenui. The forfeit entitles Western Park to a 3-point win, which places them one point ahead of the Urenui Club, but as the latter are in no way responsible for New Plymouth’s inability to meet them, they may justly claim a forfeit from them, and so they would still on that basis retain the lead. It is regretted that the matches cannot be brought to a conclusion.

In the It grade the position is even more Involved, and there is no possibility of reaching finality. Several teams are still in the running, but players have switched over to football, and that means that all the grounds save one had been put out of action for cricket practice for the winter game. No more matches will therefore be played this season.