CRICKET IN WAIRARAPA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 November 1939, Page 8

CRICKET IN WAIRARAPA

SATURDAY’S SENIOR CONTESTS W. Whiteman Scores First Century k of Season SPLENDID ALL-ROUND BATTING DISPLAYS FRANK HOAR’S FINE BOWLING PERFORMANCE (By “BLUE & GOLD.”) Saturday’s senior games provided further evidence that in batting, bowling and fielding there is a definite improvement noticeable, thus encouraging the hope that Wairarapa is now well on the way to reaching that standard which the district formerly' attained as one of the best country teams in New Zealand. The first century of the season was registered by Bill Whiteman, and the bowling of Frank Hoar showed that the latter is still Wairarapa’s best trundler. There is at the moment every prospect of the season being a most successful one, though the war will see some of the players before long handling a gun instead of a bat, more than one being due to go into camp shortly.

The Destroying Angel. With Frank Hoar as the destroying angel, the College team in the first innings was unable to make much of , a stand at all. Their total of 47 included 14 extras. Frank Hoar bowled 6.5 overs for 8 wickets and 19 runs, his last , two wickets being taken without a run being scored off him. It was an excellent bowling record. Frank Hoar is in splendid form with the ball this ’ season. So far in the senior competition he has captured 17 wickets for 98 runs, an average of 5.13 runs per wicket. The wickets have not always assisted him, but when they do he is . a most difficult bowler to play. , * A Sporting Action. In the College second innings Red ' Star played a sporting _game. Having ’ a substantial lead and an eight-point ' win appearing to be assured for them, they gave the College players an af- ' ternoon’s batting practice. Nine Red Star bowlers were brought into action, but these did not include Frank Hoar. ' Though the opening batsmen did not ! shape too well, as the innings wore on the display became much better. Taylor played quite an attractive innings for his 23 runs which included four boundaries. A Very Fine Effort. It was Shearer and Welch who were responsible for material improvement in the score. They took the total from 3 for 77 to 9 for 130 before a separation was brought about. Their runs were well deserved and they had to fight for them as the Red Star ground fielding was the best the team has staged for a considerable time. Welch (29) headed Shearer by one run in the individual totals. He batted very vigorously' and executed many neat strokes. He claimed six 4's in his total. An Attractive Innings. Shearer played a particularly attractive innings. He possesses quite a variety of strokes and times the ball well. With more practice and experience this boy should develop into a very useful batsman indeed. His score on Saturday included four boundaries and three 2’s. It was a knock that had much merit in it as there was plenty' of variety about the Red Star bowling. and the changes were frequently ■ rung, leaving a batsman very little opportunity to gel used to one style 1 of bowling. ' ' 1 Did Not Get Going. Tooby. who was top scorer for the i College in the first innings with 12 I not put. did not get going in the second innings, Paterson getting a good ' ball past him when lie had reached 6. Variety of Bowling. < Of the nine Red Star bowlers tried ' six obtained wickets. There were 30 | overs bowled during the innings, Paterson and Roys each sending down , five. N. Hoar and O’Kane were the j most successful, each securing two wickets at a cost of 6 runs apiece, i O’Kane sent down four overs including two maidens and bowled very well j indeed, keeping a good length. Newman Hoar bowled 3.2 overs and re- 5 quired very careful playing. There was certainly plenty of variety about - the Red Star bowling. Ground Fielding Good. As previously stated the Red Star ground fielding showed considerable improvement, though the catching was I at times faulty. A peculiar thing was that very difficult catches were held. I and simple ones dropped. During the C afternoon Gordon Peterson and O'Kano 1 were responsible for bringing off IV gortrl catches.

I A Well-earned Century. g I The honour of securing the first cen"t tury of the season in the senior grade ,f ! falls to Bill Whiteman, who on Sat- _ urday gave an exceptionally fine dis--5 play of all round batting. Always a t dangerous batsmen once he gets proi perly into his stride, he is a most dif- , flcult man to dispose of. He has a L . keen eye, and a determination to go s after runs, while no one can ever ac- . cuse him of letting loose balls go by t . without punishing them as they should L - be. On Saturday he demonstrated this s very clearly and laid the wood on in s a manner which delighted the spectators. ■ All round the wicket he scored neatly and effectively, many of his runs being obtained by neat wrist I work. On the leg side he showed the | I folly of sending down that type of ball I t to him. He is to be heartily congratu- , lated on his display and on the hon- - our of having compiled the first ceni tury of the 1939-40 season. His score , included twelve 4’s and two G's and . seven 2’s. Clarke and W. Whiteman I added 88 to the score and Whiteman i and Groves 105. ; Groves Again! Dave Groves, who played such a ' splendid innings against Red Star for 64, followed this up on Saturday by another very attractive display, regis- ■ tering 50 not out. Like Whiteman, he . scored his runs from a variety of wellplaced shots, and hit vigorously at times. His drives had considerable force in them and his wrist work was also very much in evidence. His score included five 4’s and two 6’s. He was not long in finding the strength of the bowling, and once he did he opened out his shoulders. Sound Batting. I Reg. Clarke showed quite a variety of strokes for his 32, which was compiled by sound batting. He was going! splendidly when Hendry caught him off I Barr. His total included three boundaries. Better Batting Display. The Old Boys’ batting display in the second innings showed a considerable improvement on that of the first innings and but for a couple of unfortunate run outs when the batsmen were going well, Lansdowne's task of securing an eight point win may have been more difficult. Several of the Old Boys batted very well indeed against bowling that was difficult to play most of the time. Lansdowne's fielding as usual was keen, so that all round Old Boys had a stiff proposition in front of them. Good All Round the Wicket. ! Alexander played a very attractive! and forceful bat for 28, which included five 4’s, a 3 and a 2. He was good all round the wicket. Bowled by a Beauty. Hendry seemed set for a good score when Greer got a beauty past him. Hendry's 22 included four boundaries. Made by Good Strokes. Whitburn's 26 was made by good strokes and included four 4’s. Steady Batting. Both Barr and Dixon plugged along steadily for their double figure scores. POSITION OF TEAMS The following are the positions of the teams in the senior championship: Won. Lost. Ch. points. Red Star 2 0 16 Old Boys .... 1 I 8 Lansdowne 1 1 8 Wairarapa Ira College .... 0 2 II