OLD TIMERS MATCH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 February 1939, Page 6

OLD TIMERS MATCH

CRICKET ON THE PARK OVAL MASTERTON'S KEEP FIT CAMPAIGN. FINE EXHIBITION OF PLAY. The Keep Fit Campaign in Masterton was celebrated yesterday by the playing, under the auspices of the Wairarapa Cricket Association, of an old timers' cricket match on the Park Oval. The weather was brilliantly fine and apart from the players themselves, the "world and his wife” turned out to see these grand veterans play the game that they love. It was particularly interesting id see the way cricket was played some years ago. Backward play was not heard of and the batsman was always on the attack, in contrast to so many cases today in which the batsman is on the defensive. This, of course, slows down the rate of scoring and does not make the game so attractive to watch. All the players showed that they had not lost the art of the game, and they must have been excellent cricketers in their day.

Tom Jordan won the toss and elected to 'bat. The captains agreed that each man was to have only 15 minutes at the wickets. Tom Jordan opened himself with Andy Torrance to the bowling of Claud Welch, and with the last ball of the first over he cleanbowled Torrance. Bill Hoar followed. Fred Phillips took up the attack from the other end and a few runs were scored. The spectators were anxious to see Bill Hoar open up his shoulders as in the old days. Hodder relieved Welch and Trapp relieved Torrance as bowlers and Jordan, was bowled by Trapp, after having played some excellent shots. Bill Darvill was next in and he stayed his 15 minute limit, as also did Bill Hoar. Frank Madsen followed and was bowled by Smart. Alec McKenzie went in and he was bowled first ball by Smart but Bill Yates managed to poke the ball back and thus stop Les Smart getting the hat trick. Archie Dixon and Lance Nicholson were somewhat aggressive for the bowlers and both stayed the limit. Jerry Daniell arrived in time to go in to bat and after playing tWo beautiful leg strokes was caught in the slips by Phillips off Trapp. The innings lasted one hour and five minutes and produced 79 runs.

George Wilson opened his batting with Arthur Styles and Les Smart. Both players showed some nice cricket and they also both played their 15 minutes, as did Eric Hodder, who followed. Hodder’s 17 was made with mostly carpet drives through • the covers. Percy Smith, who followed, was clean-bowled first ball by Torrance, who had relieved Archie Dixon. Owen Jones was next in and faced the bowling of A.lec McKenzie, who had come on in place of Bill Yates. Harry Booth (the oldest player, with the exception of Charlie Perry, who was umpire) came in and was bowled first ball, but it was a no ball. Booth, a tall left-hander, then settled down and produced some excellent cricket and after staying his limit had scored 11. George Wilson came in, also to stay his 15 minutes with a score of 6. In the meantime all Jordan’s team had been bowling for two overs, but Jordan brought back into the attack Torrance and .Dixon. Fred Phillips and Claud Welch were associated but Fred was easilj' run out. Trapp joined Phillips and a few more runs were added before* he was out lbw 1o Torranc-c-. The last man, Sortain Smith, camr in and played good shots. He was going along nicely, but Welch lost his wicket to the wiles of Torrance, and the innings closed with the total exactly 100. The umpires were Charlie Perry and Jack Betts. Jack Renner was the announcer. It was an excellent afternoon, and an example to the younger people to come back after a good many years and play the game. The players are to bo congratulated, on their really first class showing after many years away from the game. There was one rather amusing- incident. The only two players who are still actually ■ playing cricket, Percy Smith and Andy Torrance. were both clean bowled with the first ball they received. After the game Mr Jordan remarked that tins match should be made an annual one. The secretary of the Wairarapa Cricket Association (Mr Handcock) stated subsequently that the match would definitely be maejg an annual fixture. / , Details of the scoring are;—/ j T. JORDAN'S XI. Ist Innings. Torn Jordan, b Trapp 5 Andy Torrance, b Welch 0 Bill Hoar, retired 9 Bill Darvill, retired 13 Frank Madsen, b Smart 0 Alec McKenzie, b Smart .... 0 Bill Yates, b Jones 13 Archie Dixon, retired 10 Lance Nicholson, retired 16 Jerry Daniell, c Phillip.-.:, b Trapp 6 Extras 7 Total .. 79 C. WILSON’S XT. Ist Innings, Arthur Styles, retired 9 Les Smart, retired 14 Eric Hodder, retired 17 Percy Smith, b Torrance 0 Owen Jones, b Torrance 6 George Wilson, retired 6 Fred Phillips, run out 4 Claud Welch, b Torrance 10 Bernie Trapp, lbw. b Torrance .... 2 Harry Booth, retired u Sortain Smith, not uni (,- Extras 35 Total .... . . 100