CRICKET

Wairarapa Age, 10 February 1927, Page 2

CRICKET

PLAY AND PLAYERS.

(BY

“SPECTATOR.”).

Play in the Martinborough-Old Beys’ game, the only senior match played in Masterton last Saturday, reached a very low standard, w T hicli was especially noticeable in the case of the visiting team. Martinborough is by no means a strong batting side, but there is no doubt whatever that by the. exercise of a little more grit and determination the team, could have registered better performances in both of their innings. Especially was this noticeable in the second innings, when the majority of the wickets were easy gifts to the bowldts, and. any ball was good enough to get a wicket. Guy’s knock for 20 in the second innings was the only display that wa? worthy of senior grade. Going in early, his was the last wicket to fall, and in putting together his runs he played some attractive strokes. There were some fair scores made in the continuation of Martinborough’s first innings last Saturday, but in the main they were fluky efforts of th« hit or miss variety that possessed little artistic merit. In an impregnable position, Old Boys closed their second innings with two wickets down for 109, leaving themselves an hour and a half in which to dismiss Martinborough for a threepoint w T in. The time limit proved more than ample for Old Boys’ requirements, for at six o’clock, the visitors, batting two short, were all out and preparing to depart for home. Law played go®d cricket for an unbeaten 57 in Old Boys’ second innings. He was not in such a hurry as usual, and as a consequence had sufficient time to compile a score of respectable dimensions. Gee carried off the honours in bowling, securing six wickets, including the hat trick, for only 20 runs in Martinborough ’s second innings. Logan (0 for 43) was used too long in the first innings, being especially expensive against Wall, who, on one occasion, scored 14 off three successive balls. McMichael showed another streak of inconsistency last Saturday. Lack of length and direction robbed his bowling of the sting it has possessed of late, and he failed to build up an average. Martinborough were unfortunate in being without the services of their star bowler, Bill Beech, last Saturday. Bill’s absence was due to his right thumb being badly crushed in the mechanism of a tip-dray, and on Saturday it was stated that there was a probability that the injured members would haVe to be amputate. One of the most popular of our cricketers, Bill may Ivy certain of the sympathy of every player and follower of the game in his misfortune. Next Saturday’s match between the unbeaten United and their local rivals. Old Boys, should prove to be the game of the season. When these strong batting teams met in the first round, United w T on on the first innings by only ten runs in an aggregate score of nearly six hundred, and it is practically certain that there second meeting will see equally good scoring. Anticipation of another well-contested game is certain to evoke more than ordinary interest in this gajpe.

SATURDAY’S FIXTURES. SENIORS. United v. Old Boys, at Park Ova’. Carterton v. Martinborough, at Carterton. Featherston, a bye. JUNIOR. Druids v. Old Boys, at High School. United v. Oddfellows, at Memorial Par Jj. Carterton v. Greytown, at Carterton. High School, a bye. THIRD CLASS. Hikurangi v. W.F.C.A., at Memorial Park No. 4. Technical v. Hibernian, at Memorial Park No. 3. High School B v. United, at High School. High School A v. Carterton, at High School. TEAMS FOR SATURDAY. UNITED. Seniors, to play Old Boys, at Park Oval,_ at 2 p.m.:—E. M.‘ Bundle, A. Hoar, F. Hoar, A. Jones, R. McGregor, J. O’Dowd, A. Patrick, J. Patrick, H. Preston, J. Ronner, T. Voyce. The umpires will be W. Minett and N. A. McGregor. CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS. POSITION OF THE TEAMS. Senior.—United 'll points, Carterton 8 points, Old Boys 5, Featherston 0, Martinborough 0. „ Junior —Oddfellows 22 points, Druids 20, United 9, Carterton 9, High School 8, Greytown 6, Martinbcrough 3, Old Boys 0. Third—W.F.C.A. 22 points, High School B 18, High School A 17, United 15, Carterton 15, Hibernian 8, Technical School 3, Hikurangi College 2.