SPORTS AND PASTIMES CRICKET NOTES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10131, 3 December 1910, Page 7

SPORTS AND PASTIMES

CRICKET NOTES.

[By "Leg-Break. 77 !

Thf following are tlie local fixtures for to-day Senior: Carlton v. Masterton, on the Park Oval ; Carterton v. South Wairarapa, at Eoatherston. Junior: St. Matthew's A. v. St. Matthew's .13., on the Park Oval; Mastertou v. Mauriceville, on the Schoolgrounds; Opaki, a bye. The continuation of the junior fixture on the Park Oral on Saturday last, between St. Matthew's A and Mastertou, ])roved cine ot the most interesting and best displays of junior cricket seen on the ground for some time. The wicket was in firstclass order, and showed signs of careful preparation. St. Matthew's in their first innings had only made 47, while Mastertou had made 70 in their first innings, and had four wickets down for 67 in their second. They added .'56 runs for the remaining six wickets, bringing the. score to 103. St. Matthew's were thus facing the score of 127 runs to win —wiiiifc was thought to bo a hopeless task. However, such was not the case, St. Matthew's winning easily by 4 wickets, thanks to Moersch (41) and Stewart (41 not out). These two batsmen batted splendidly. The former was inclined to "stonewall" for a start, but as soon as he got liis eye in, lie made things pretty merry. Moersch is particularly good on leg stuff, hitting veary hard. Stewart, too, played very good cricket, showing strong defence, and scoring very quickly. Tie played very carefully, punishing severely anything loose thrown up. 1 congratulate these two batsmen for the brilliant manner in which tliey" won the match for their team. It must be admitted that the bowling • of the Mastertou team was not used j to the best advantage. Jackson and | Wheeler should have been taken off 1 long before they were. Thompson, who is undoubtedly the best bowler in the team, only receiving tAvo overs towards the end of the match, and he succeeded in dismissing Moersch with his eighth ball. Had the bowling been managed different a much closer game would have resulted, although it is generally admitted, the best team won. r The following arc the.leading batting and bowling averages in the St. Matthew's Clubs so far this season:—Batting: Klavin (B) 32.6; Stewart (A) 29; Ratima (B) 24; Moersch (A) 14.7; Wilkie (A) 13.6; Walker (A) 12; Connell (B) 11.5 j Perry (B) 10.3. Bowling: Ratima (B) *1.2; Cresswell (B) 4; Hoar (B) 4.2; Walker (A) 13; Russell (B) 6; Moersch (A) 6.3; J. Berry (A) 6.6; Wilkie (A) 6.8. So far tliis season the highest score in junior cricket has been made by Flavin (St. Matthew's B), viz., 57; Moersch and Stewart (St. Matthew's A) next with 44 and 41 respectively. A. Pearson, the new coach for the Auckland Association, has commenced liis duties, and is showing good form. He has been allotted to the Ponsonby Club, and his inclusion should be a good help to the West Enders • Folkard, who bowled so well for New South Wales against South Africa has made 451 runs in five innings •in club cricket this season—an average of 90 runs per innings. Micllane, the "Wellington representative ciicketer, is showing good form with the bat this season. Playing for East A. against Hutt last Saturday, and facing Brice and E. Judd, he made 81 not out. "Here's a tip, and one that is almost a certainty to come off," says the Free Lance. "Upham, the retired and retiring bowler, will be a member of the team that goes to Auckland if he keeps up his present bowling form. His figures in matches just concluded prove that he has lost but little of his old-time powers, and that being so, he is still capable of representing Wellington." The Auckland Association has revived a° communication from the Canterbury Association, asking if he local authorities will agree to i Plunket Shield match about „ the >nd of January. It: is- understood' ;hat dates at that time will suit. Tom Prow, who played for Carterion seniors last season, is at present laying- fourth-class for North Sydley. George Oiffcn's advice on bowling should be valuable. "The great sbject to be obtained by a bowler is i thorough command over his bowl--[ng ( » ho says. ; 'A considerable amount of pati&nt practice will be accessary before a young bowler w ill be able to bowl, knowing where each ball is going to pitch; but until he can do so he cannot hope to achieve permanent success. Too many youngsters run away with the idea that if they can make a ball break they are fine bowlers. This is most erroneous. I have seen many a lad's bowling ruined simply by trying to turn the ball too much. In his effort to break he would lose his length." To would-be fast bowlers: "Do not bowl too fast at first. If you do you will lose vour length. Let the lads first of all devote their energies ' to obtaining a command ovei the ball.