CRICKET.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 249, 7 November 1872, Page 8

CRICKET.

Had the clerk of the weather been specially petitioned, he could not have uranted our crioketeiß a more suitable day for the enjoyment of their game than vvus Friday, 25th vilfc. ; and there is no doubt that, in small communities like ours, tlie success or failure of a cricket club is influenced to a very considerable extent by the class of weather met with at the early part of the playing season. Cricketers, as a rule, are very enthusiastic, and at no time is their enthusiasm so great as at the commencement of a new seasou. , Should unpropitioua weather therefore set in at that time,, it gives such a check to their ardour, and reduces their enthusiasm to so low an ebb that probably it is never again revived, and cricket becomes a. failure. While on the other hand, if encouraged by favourable breezes, they get a sufficient stimulus tp keep them going all through the season, and hence it becomes a success. Our Lawrence players have good cause to congratulate themselves at having made so successful a debut ; and I hope to see .the ' interest at present manifested by them in' the game sustained .nntil the cricketing time expires. ■ Tho match which took place on Friday; afternoon was one between the Old and New Residents, or as I heard a by-stander quaintly remark, , " Old Identities v. New Cjaums" — the line being drawn atafduryearsresidency. The N,ew Coiners ' were made hot favorites from the start, and had they worked well' together, certainly should have scored a win ; but whether it was that their Captain lost control over them, or whether the immense amount of responsibility whioh they felt resting upon them was too much for their weak nerves, I cannot say, j but certain it is there was a screw lo6se somewhere ; and a more lamentable exhibition of cricket I scarcely ever before witnessed. Being.an O 1., my sympathies were naturally on their side ; and I was highly pleased to find them more than I equal to the occasion, as will 1 be found by a perusal of the score .annexed. Mr. Downes was Captain of the Old Residents, and Mr. Buck of the? New Comers :—: — j . New Residents -Isf Innings.

Menzies (Jus), b Downes - . r - - -0 Pyke, b A.rbuckle . . . . •£ Buck, c Clark, b Downes - - •> 20 Ayers, b Downes- .... 0 Hills, b Arbuckle -. " - - - 0 M'thersonj b Downes- -' '- - '8 • Rieille, o and b Arbucklp - -' - 2 I Tennet, b Arbuckle - - - - . 0 Hawson, not out - - - ' - - , 1 S3 2nd Innings. [ -"RieYlle, run out- - - - -, • - 1 Hills, lbw, b Downes - -, 0 M'Pherson", b Downes- • - 2 Buck, b Arbuckle - 2 Menzies (Jus), o. Davison, b Arbuckle 0 Menzies (John), b Downes - - » , 9 ! Pyke-, sfc, b 'Downes - - --* - ■ S . , Ayers, o and b Downes - -"0 Hawson, run out » - ' - . - 12 Tennefc, 6 and b Downes - " - '- '•- 2 k l Goo(Jger, not ov?t •• • , . • , -•' 1 • . Byes, widos, &o. v , -. - •." 1 i ■ ' .. • i "31 r ' : - .Grand total , . 'fyi f • - ' • , Old Residents —Ist Innings, Jefft- ryl b Pyke . , ". ' . ', 2 ■ Armstrong, b Bftok ". , '•. *', •• 1 ; -Do\vnes r 'bßiu^,/ . T . , .. . ,12i_ .Quin; c" Hills, b Buck, ' . . .' 4 • -'Harfo^ b B»|6k . -«.. . '„ /- JO ' , Olavk(o,,Tewefc, rr b r ßu,c.k .. „ . .. '0 Davison, "c St'Eherspn, b £yke. " 5 ■ A;fbuckl4;b3uck f ; . .!-._.. 6 . lAAderson, $pt[ out . . . , ; . ' : - „ -. .- ; j-J ' ; Byes, wides, &c.-- . ; rf ' . Wi , :T.'.' ■; •' '.».'■ '• ■•' -'* iß'f" 1 ' ' # '

As many of our local players. are new to the game and others Very trracttflJ^b^ practice, it would hardly be; fair^to' make any comment on the individual -plWjr.^ I would observe, however, that if 'they'fi&pe to compete successfully with, a, Dunedhi or even an up-country ' eleven, a very, marked improvement will require to take place, and -that in every'cFeparfm'ent of the game. -This improvement "can ''only be obtained be obtained by, steady practice ; and those who have not the time or, as is too often the casej the inclination io go in • for the required practice need never expect to arrive at any degree of proficiency, as it is by a practical acquaintance with the gamej and by that means only, they can become- what I should heartily wish to see every one of them, viz., Good Cricketers.

Excelsior.

2nd Innings. Jeffery, lbwb Pyke Clark, b Pyke : Harrop r e Hills, b Pyke , Downes, st b Pyke . ; Armstrong, b Pyke . . Arbuckle, t> Pyke » , Quin, ,c ijaws'oni' b Pyke . Davison, b Buck ' Anderson, hit wicket, .b Back Titfly, c and b Back .t ' Jamison,- not out i • Byes, widea, &c. . , Grand total .• • . 0 , 24 : . 3 .., 32 . . v 14 4 0 !<■ r i .- .- 30 ' , 113