CRICKET IN WAIRARAPA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 December 1939, Page 11

CRICKET IN WAIRARAPA

FIRST SENIOR ROUND COMPLETED Red Star Team Unbeaten GOOD BATTING DISPLAYS ON SATURDAY (By ’’BLUE & GOLD.”) The first round of the Wairarapa Cricket Association's senior fixtures was completed on Saturday, and despite the fact that Red Star has lost three of its best players in Wally Peterson, G. Coleman and Arty Friend, who are in camp, Red Star heads the championship table with an unbeaten record. Saturday’s games saw Red Star pull their match out of the fire, defeating Old Boys to gain an 8-point win, while College secured their first victory of the season by obtaining five points at the expense of Lansdowne. The various matches produced some good batting displays, notably on the part of W. Whiteman, H. Preston and K. Miller for Lansdowne, C. Roys, I. Coleman and F. Hoar for Red Star, and Patrick for Old Boys.

A Fighting Finish. The Red Star-Old Boys game produced a fighting finish. In the first innings Red Star were 18 runs behind Old Boys and in the second innings they were in a bad position being 20 runs on with three good wickets gone. But the side made a splendid recovery thanks to the good batting of Roys, lan Coleman, G. Peterson and Frank Hoar, the total of 164 being reached before the last wicket fell. Jack Renner, who headed the batting in the first innings, was taken suddenly ill early in the afternoon and was unable to be present. the team consequently being one player short. A Determined Effort. The Old Boys were left with 147 runs to get but they put up a determined fight, despite the fact that five good wickets were down with the score only 44. But playing a dogged game Patrick was chiefly responsible for bringing the team within sight of victory, but the bowling strength of the Stars predominated in the struggle for supremacy, and Old Boys were 37 runs short of victory when the last wicket fell. Il was a game played in the best of good fellowship among players who enjoy the game for the game’s sake. An Excellent Strike. Charlie Roys, who has improved considerably in his batting this season, played an excellent innings for 46. He faced the bowling with confidence and while taking no risks punished the loose stuff as it deserved to be. Possessing a good eye, a variety of; strokes, and a coolness which is especially useful when his team is in a tight corner he is well on the way to be one of the best batsmen seen in the Wairarapa in recent years. His score on Saturday included seven 4’s and two 2's. Roys and Coleman put on 60 runs while together. Useful Contribution. lan Coleman again came to light with a very useful contribution when his side sadly needed runs. Little more than a schoolboy, this young player has a bright cricketing future before him as he should steadily improve. He plays a cautious game and while not taking overdue risks can hit hard and often when occasion demands. It may be mentioned in passing that the Red Star team possesses three very useful, young players in its team —boys \\fho have really only just stepped out of the junior rank — in Charlie Roys, lan Coleman and Newman Hoar, with the latter gaining the distinction of having secured a position in the Wellington provincial country eleven to play the Wellington senior eleven this week, an honour of which Newman Hoar should be proud and which was justly earned on his batting and bowling performances during the past two seasons. In Saturday’s game Coleman hit six 4’s. two 3’s and a 2.

Vigorous Batting. Gordon Peterson went at the bowling with a will and his score of 19 included four 4’s. The Old Dependable. Always to be depended upon to put up a score when his side needs runs. Frank Hoar made an exceptionally useful contribution of 22 to the Red Star total. He has been batting very consistently and well this season, while in bowling he stands out on his own. His form this season is certainly little short of wonderful when one takes into consideration the fact that he has been playing senior cricket for some thirty years. Cricket seems to be in the bones of the Hoar family. The late Tom Hoar, father of Frank, was still among Wairarapa’s best bowlers when he was well into his 50's and was always able to contribute his share of runs, while the late Arthur Hoar was a splendid batsman over a long period of years and Bill Hoar was one of the hardest hitters and fastest scorers Wairarapa has seen, playing senior cricket longer than the average player. Newman Hoar is carrying along the traditions of the family, and a son of Arthur Hoar, who plays with the Red Star juniors, and is only a schoolboy, already gives promise of following worthily in his father's footsteps. Frank Hoar on Saturday included four boundaries in his total of 22. — Patrick Difficult to Play. Patrick bowled the best among the Old Boys’ trundlers and was inosl difficult to play at times. A Good Knock. Patrick played one of his best knocks to date against the deadly bowling of Frank and Newman Hoar. This youthful player is a decided acquisition to the Old Boys eleven and has the makings of one of the best allrounders the Wairarapa has yet seen. He is an excellent bowler with a deceptive swerve at times, and plays a

I most attractive bat which he demonj strafed on Saturday. He can score well all round the wicket and can glance the ball away nicely at times. With more experience he will improve considerably and may be given the honour of being the best all round player in the Old Boys senior team today. On Saturday his contribution of 54 included nine boundaries and a couple of 2's. Good Strikes. Hibbs's score of 20 included four 4's, while Lendrum made the pace at the wickets, his 13 including a 6. the only one on the Old Boys side, and a 4. A Good Sport. Players and spectators were pleased to see Lendrum reach double figures as he is keen on the game and never has the best of luck. In an official capacity he is the backbone of the Old Boys Club and one is of opinion that, but for his energy and ability, the Old Boys Club would not be in the sound position it is today. He has the interests of the game and of his club at heart and is always anxious to do what he can to assist Wairarapa cricket. Popular on and off the field, Wairarapa cricket would be much poorer without such a splendid sportsman as Lendrum. Bowling Honours. Frank Hoar sent down 11.1 overs for 5 wickets and 62 runs, while Newman Hoar in 11 overs had 47 runs hit off him for three wickets. Roys bowled : one over, securing a wicket. A Splendid Win. The Wairarapa College team is to bo congratulated on its splendid win against the redoubtable Lansdowne eleven. The boys had to tight hard for the first - innings victory as with W. Whiteman and Preston going well it was just on the cards that Lansdowne might head the College firstinnings score. However, with keen fielding and good bowling by Upston. Thomson and Taylor. Lansdowne eventually found the task of heading the College first innings score 89 runs beyond them. Followers of the game of cricket and especially the Lansdowne team, will give the boys every credit for their victory so ably earned under the capable captaincy of Tier. Bill Whiteman Again. Once more Bill Whiteman displayed in no uncertain manner his capabilities as a batsman when his team has its back against the wall. He batted splendidly on Saturday, displaying a determination and keen judgment in picking out. the right ball to hit. The bowling had considerable sting in it and required careful watching. But Whiteman revelled in the conditions and went at the bowling with a will, displaying good shots all round the wicket and driving with considerable force. He was going along merrily and looked like set for a century when Upston caught -him off McFarlane. His 56 included three 4’s and two 3’s. Back to Form. IT. Preston was back again into his . form of two or three seasons ago with ; a contribution of 51. made for the most , part by powerful hitting. He displays ( considerable skill with the bat and , once he gets his eye in is a most difficult player to dispose of. He notched six boundaries in his score. In his 1 second innings strike he contributed i a patient 13 not out, made up chiefly i of singles. ]

Many Attractive Strokes. K. Miller made a useful contribution of 35. displaying many attractive strokes. This player is a mere youth and by the manner in which he shapes he should develop into a good batsman. He is also smart in the field. Good Bowling. Thomson, Upston and Taylor shared the bowling honours. They all bowled well and kept the Lansdowne batsmen fully extended to make runs. Thomson sent down 13 overs and Upston 15 overs. Only two maidens were bowled during the innings in 40 overs. Second Innings Failure. The College team failed somewhat badly in the second innings, only reaching 75. No less than seven bowlers were tried by Lansdowne, 19 overs being sent down altogether. POSITIONS OF TEAMS. The following are the positions of the teams at the end of the first round of senior matches: — Out- Ist Inn-

right win. ings Win. Lost. Pts Red Star 3 — — 24 Lansdowne 1 — 2 8 Old Boys 1 — 9 8 College — 1 2 5