CRICKET.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 247, 24 October 1872, Page 8

CRICKET.

All admirers of the game of cricket, mußt have been extremly gratified by the capital turn out made by the Lawrence cricketers on Friday afternoon last, for the purpose of inaugurating the. present season by an bpeuing match. The weather was all that could be desired, and the ground although' far from good, was better than I expected to see it, and with a few further improvements^ in the shape of clearing away the tussocks on a more extended radius, and levelling all uneven portions in the immediate neighborhood of tho wickets, which I understand it is the club's intention to get done at once, a really fair piece of grouud will be obtained, and although perhaps not so prepossessing in appearance as some, it will play much .better than most upcountry grounds. The match which took place on Friday, was between sides chosen by Messrs Buck .and Downes, and the result proved tneir choice a most happy one, and it led to a most close and exciting contest, 'the victory being obtained by Mr Buck's team, after a very hard struggle, by a small majority, as will be seen by the score annexed,

Buck's Sjt>e. — Ist innings. Buck, c and b Downes - - 5 Pyke, b Adams 3 Harrop, c and b Downes - - 8 Menzies (John), b Downes* 1 3 Sproule, b Adams- - - - 10 . Goodger, 0 Adams, b Downes - 2 media* not out - - " - 16 Tennet, b Adams ... 0 Meu3ies(Jas.), c Adams, b Downes 5 Byes & 2nd innings. Mensjtea (John), rnn out - - 1 Pyke, b Downes ... 9 Mengies (Jas.), b Downes - - 22 Buck, c and b Adams - - 8 flarrop, b Adams ... 0 Riedle, ran out 0 Sproule, b Downes 0 Tennant,.b Adams - - * - 1 Davison, b Downes - - - '-2 Goodger, not out 4 Byes 3 50 Grand total - - 107 Downes' Side. -Ist innings. Downss, b Pyke - - - 12 Adams, c Riedle, b Buck 9 Armstrong, c Henries, b Buck - 11 Jeffsjry, st, b Pyke - - - 4 Hill's, c Sproule, b Pyke - - 3 Tuljy, not out - - - - ,2 Ayers, b Buck 0 Qnin, c and b Pyke - - 0 Hawson, run out , - - - 0 ]Jyes 7 Wides .... 7 55 2nd innings. Adams, b Pyke - - - - 15 Jeffery, b Buck - - - .2 Armstrong, b Pyke - - 1 ■ Downes, c and b Buck 7 Tully, b Buck - - - , - 1 0 Clarke, b Buck -. - - * - 0 Qnin, b Buck - - . - 5 Hawson, b Buck ... 0 A yew, not out - - - - 3 Hills, run out - - 0 Byes * 11 Wides - 1 45 Grattd total - - 100

As it is very probable that we may be visited during the season by a Dunedin team, and perhaps too by an up-country one, I should like to impress on those players who have both ' time and opportunity to take part in the game, the necessity for going in regularly for practice, not rushing down for a week or two, and then sHccumbing altogether, but sticking to it right through the season. What though'it is occasionally a little hard work, it more than repays for the labor required, even on the health ticket, and I am convinced that with steady practice and a little coaching by Messrs Buck and Downes, that an eleven could be selected to compete successfully against any team that will be likely to visit Lawrence, either from up-country or Dunedin. One feature connected with, last Friday's game t could not help noticing and admiring, that was an entire absence of anything approaching apathy or laziness ; every man worlked well, and did his " level best," a thing rarely seen in scratch matches, Ido hope our Lawrence players will buckle on their 1 $-ne.°B in right . earnest this year, letting their ambition and the aim of their attainments in the cricket field be • Excelsior.