CRICKET

Wairarapa Age, 10 March 1927, Page 6

CRICKET

PLAY AND PLAYERS. (BY “SPECTATOR.’’) Nothing unexpected happened in the United-Martinborough match, which, was concluded at the Memorial Park last Saturday, and United had the easiest of wins by an innings and 165 runs. As the result of a good partnership JjCtween I. McLeod and Stringfellow, the tow not-out men, Martinborough did much to retrieve their poor start, and their score of 127 was, under the

circumstances, quite a fair one. McLeod, who scored 29, showed much better form than on any previous occasion, and employed a greater variety of strokes in getting his runs. Though still mainly relying on the forward drive, he got away some good leg shots on occasions, and also several square shots past point—where by the way, he was finally smartly snapped up by A. Hoar.

Stringfellow (21) showed a sound defence and ability to punish the bowl' ing all through his innings. He looked well set for a big score, when he had the misfortune to just snick an off ball from O’Dowd into Voyce’s hands, the United custodian taking a particularly neat cat-ch.

Roach (11 not out) also made a good stand, and should have had a much larger score to his credit but for his inability to punish anything loose. This player’s footwork is very faulty; he faces the bowler with both feet close together, and rarely shifts either foot in making any variety of stroke, with the result that there is little power behind his strokes and his placing is poor. Roach has a good eye and a very sound defence, nad if ho were taught to use his feet properly should make a really good batsman. Stubbs knocked together a useful 20 in enterprising fashion, but Smith, was uppishly inclined, and must be regarded as fairly fortunate in reaching 14. 11

The other batsmen met with little success, - showing poor defence against a very moderate attack. Biss gives the impression that he could make a score if he set about the job in the right manner, but will need more luck than he has had lately if he sticks to his present “swiping” tactics. Sixes are quite in order when a player has his eye well in, but are not to be generally recommended as a means of opening a scoring account.

Batting two men short, Martinborough 's innings closed with the score at 127. necessitating a follow on. With three men absent in their, second innings, Martinborough failed to score as well as they did in their first. They started badly, A. Hoar th his first over, skittling Stringfellow’s wickets with a full toss, and bowling Griffiths with a “submarine.” I. McLeod (22) maintained the improved showing he gave in the first innings, and he and Bqach, who played another painstaking innings for 13, were the only two to reach double figures. While F. Hoar can still tie the best' of them up, he seems to be bowling a larger percentage of “loose” ones than usual of late, and generally docs not appear to be up to his best form. A. Hoar also seems below par. He has developed decidedly erratic tendencies,and on Saturday’s form he was lucky to get a wicket at all.

Slippery fingers among the fieldsmen spoilt Renner’s and Patrick’s averages. The former sent down some mixed stuff with poor luck. In “Spectator’s” opinion A. Patrick is a better bowler than the United skipper appears to think, and might do hotter if given a chance earlier. When a member of the Carterton Club, Patrick was one of the team’s stock bowlers, and had some good averages to hip credit. O’Dowd was one of the most successful bowlers in Martinborough ’s first innings, owing his success chiefly to a judicious variation of pace. Old Boys made a welter of things in the second innings of their match against Featherston, which, by mutual consent, was concluded at Masterton. The bowling was not over-strong, and as a consequence there was some good scoring on both sides. Featherston, who were one run behind on the first innings, livened up the rate of scoring, and after putting together 220 for the loss of eight wickets, declared their innings closed. Half of this total was scored by Cundy, who, after playing himself in, played really attractive cricket.

It is not very often that two centuries are scored in one match in Wairarapa, but in Old Boys’ second innings, Gee topped Candy’s effort with an unbeaten 150. Bob scored at a great rate, all except 70 of the required runs coming off his bat, and it looked a practical certainty that he would have again held this season’s record individual score had his innings been played to a finish. In marked contrast to last season, Gee is right at the top of his form this year, and always seems to give of his best on the High School ground. United and Carterton are the only two clubs that now possess any chance of annexing this season’s senior championship honours, and therefore the between these teams next Saturday at Carterton is attracting more than ordinary interest. United so far have an unbeaten record, while Carterton’s only defeat to date was at the hands of the championship leaders. With a clear lead of three points, United must be defeated twice before Carterton gets a look-in, and, except in the unlikely event of United being beaten in the other of their remaining matches, Carterton’s only chance is to register a straight-out win in next Saturday’s match, and—-the teams being then level—follow it up by again defeating United in the play-off. Carterton are usually hard to beat on their own ground, and there is, therefore, every prospect of a keen and interesting struggle.