CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1922, Page 3

CRICKET.

ARRIVAL OF MACLAREN. OUR SPORTING GAME. By Telegraph —Press Association. Wellington, Dec. 13. Mr. A. C. MacLaren, accompanied bj' his wife, arrived by the Uliimaroa from Sydney to-day. He stated that the idea of the tour was to give the ypung players of England an opportunity of improving their play and gaining confidence by appearing before crowds strange to them. With county cricket at. Home there was the commercial ring, but out here It was sporting cricket all the way through. WTien he could see the strength of the aides in New Zealand he might prefer to leave out the professionals from his side, making it purely amateur, but. that depended upon, the way the New Zealand sides treated them.

He expressed regret that the team had no opportunities for practice, particularly in Australia, without giving offence to those concerned in the arrangement of the matches. He thought that putting the team into the field too quickly rather killed the goose before it laid the golden egg. ENGLISH TEAM IN SOUTH AFRICA. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Capetown, Dec. 11. Marylebone, in the first innings, unade 284 (Russell 26, Woolley 14, Carr Mead 9. Sandham 128, Brown 42, Fender 9, Stevens 0, Mann 40, Macauley 0, Gilligan not out 8, extras 14. Pickerill took four wickets for 49, Yates two for 36. Benoni, in the first innings, made 196 (Stoll 42. Sibley 76). Macauley took five wickets for 40, Stev.ens two for 41, Fender two for 41. Benoni, in the second innings, lost four wickets for 46 (Bentley 22). Macauley took two wickets for 17, Stevens two for 2.

A dust storm arose and the match was drawn.

COUNTRY ASSOCIATION. POSTPONEMENT OF PLAY. The weather during ’the past fortnight has not been favorable to cricket, and although some of the matches were started, they had to be abandoned. It has now been decided by the executive to put off all matches until the last week in January. This is in accordance with the original arrangement to allow the harvesting to be completed before starting the second round.

The. leading team for the Dally News challenge shield is Tlkorangi A, which has won all its matches to date. Brixton, Tarurutangi, and Tikorangi B have lost one eftch, and Bell Block have h.-td three defeats. Lepperton are forming a. club, and intend making application for affiliation to the association. This should add additional interest to the competition, and will have the effect of doing away with the bye.

The euchre party tn assist the funds of the Brixton Club was not as largely amended as was expected. A fair number turned up, and an enjoyable evening spent. Mrs. de Launay won the ladies’ prize, and Mr. L. Sarten the gentlemen's prize. These functions should he continued, as they are a good business proposition as regards the club, the takings being all profits.