CRICKET

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2630, 12 October 1909, Page 6

CRICKET

ABOUND THE GROUNDS. /(By “Short-Slip.”) King Cricket has ascended his thrcne earlier in Gisborne this season than has been, his wont in the years that have flown. The reason for the aged monarch showing such praiseworthy precipitancy to open his court this year has been caused by the new by-laws of the Poverty Bay Cricket Association, which provide that all cup competitions must start not later than the second week m October. On Thursday last I received a peremptory mandate from the Sporting Editor of this journal to attend the opening of the Thursday competition and chronicle the doings of the Knights of of the Willow in both matches. On pointing out to my chief that two matches were being played that afternoon on grounds as far apart as victoria Domain and Taruheru and that it was obviously impossible for me, even if I employed my 60-horse-power Darracq to watch both grounds simultaneously, I was informed that the “Times”" had procured one of the most recent models of the Wright Brothers aeroplanes solely for the purpose of enabling me to report accurately on their behalf the many competitions that were to be played this season, even down to the junior grade contests. After having the mechanism, of the cloud clipper explained to me, I made an ascent from the backyard of the office, nearly carrying away the signboards of several premises as I glided over Gladstone Road and set out on my

mission. I had intended to stop over Victoria Domain, but something went wrong with the confounded brake and. before I knew where I was I was gliding over the Coursing Club’s plumpton at Te Hapara. I here regained command of the infernal machine and came round with a beautiful bird-like sweep right over the chimney stacks at the Taruheru Freezing Works. Far below me, on the green sward of the Taruheru cricket ground, I saw two elevens taking the field, the men in their snowy flannels looking like Lilliputian players. Pushing the lever down hard I took a swift circuit of the ground, and came down to a position where I could have a glorious view of the field. Suddenly remembering that I was neglecting the other match at the Domain. ""I tilted the lever suddenly and shot up about a thousand feet into the blue vault of heaven. I then travelled westerly until I reached a paddock near Lytton Road, and there dropped out an anchor, and rode like a king in calm repose on the breast of the heaving atmosphere. I had here a beautiful view of both grounds, and got out my little table and set to work. The Sporting Editor has supplied me with a most ingenious photographic apparatus by which I can take a kinematograph film of one match while I am watching the other, so that not a single stroke goes unrecorded. On the Taruheru ground the newlyformed Y.M.C.A. team made a first appearance when they opposed the oldestablished United Club representatives. United, who had only eight men in the field, totalled 85. -Alf. Lang hit out fearlessly and well, and made some fine strokes while limning up his score of 30, not out. I'or so diminutive a player. Alf, who is scarcely taller than the hat he wields, gets a lot of power behind his strokes, and is always aggressive. Armstrong, Austin, and " Hallamore batted brightly, but were each dismissed after just passing into double figures. Barker, Mill, Grant, Kuslmg, and Webster did the bowling for Y.M.C.A., and each succeeded in capturing a wicket. Kissling made a first appearance, and favorably impressed the watcher in the air-ship. He gets a good deal of pace on, and when he has had some practice should get wickets. Y.M.C.A. made a poor stand on going in to bat. and were all out for 48. Ralph Grant was the only man to show confidence, and he opened his shoulders in putting together his quota of 19, the only double figure score on his side. J. B. Hunt, who hails from Auckland, where he played junior grade cricket last season, handled Ins hat nicely. I liked the way he shaped. He keeps the ball down well, and does not allow the leather to hit his bat. He appeared to be shaping for a score, when lie played one of Gibson - s slows into third man’s hands. Hunt also did good work behind the sticks lor Y.M.C.A., and as I hear, he can also bowl a fair ball,he is a useful all-round man. Armstrong howled well for United, his figures reading: 6 overs, 2 maidens, 6 runs, 5 wickets. Armstrong is a modern bowler who adopts the old-fashioned practice of bowling to hit the sticks. He keeps a most accurate length, and his deliveries are so deadly straight that if the hapless batsman lets one past he is gone. Gibson secured three for 8, Austin one for 5. and Farrell one for 23. Hallamore, the United captain, once more took up the role of stumper for his side, in the absence of Jim Bowman. who has acted in this capacity for United for the past two seasons. He proved he had lost litle of that cleverness which made such a name for him in the days when he was regarded as one of the best wicket-keepers in the Dominion. United ran up 67! for the loss of one wicket in their second innings before stumps were drawn. Alf. Lang again batted spiritedly, and with Gibson put on 50 for the first wicket. With his total at 29, Lang hit over a slow leg-break from Barker, and was bowled. Considering it was the first match of the season, Lang’s performance of scoring 59 for once out was a distinctly good one. Austin joined* Gibson, and the pair took the score to 67 without further loss. . , United was thus left with 104 runs on, and nine wickets in hand at the close' of the day’s play. At Victoria Domain the Alhambra Club made their first appearance on the cricket field. Led. by the old veteran, J. Lang, they wen the toss, and ran up the respectable total of 117 against Te Rau. Stitchbury, an old veteran of over 50 summers, was top scorer, with a nicely '■ compiled score of 33. This player hails from Auckland, where he has played second grade cric'ket for many seasons past. He is also an adept behind the sticks. J. Lang, Gorman and Tremblett also shaped well with the bat, and were the principal contributors to the total. Jack Wack (six for' 12) bowled in capital style, and non-plussed most of the batsmen with that peculiar fast hall of his which swings in from leg. I Monk did next best with two for 21,

but Harry Wack could not get a length and had 32 hit off him without securing a. wicket. Te Rau collapsed like a child’s house of cards on going in to bat, and 42 was the outcome of their innings. No one reached double figures. Harry Babbs and “Tiny” Olsen.were the destroying agents. The former bagged five for 9, while Olsen gathered in "five for 11. Though both bowled well, I could see from my eerid that the Te Rau batsmen were woefully out of form, and that Babbs and Olsen were simply slaughtering tame ducks. Te Rau. however, have not a bad side, and when they get into form will give a much better account of themselves. Limitation of space will not permit of notes on Saturday’s 1 games in this article. I shall deal with them later on in the week. I may tell, you, however, ’ without any breach of privilege, that mv aeroplane was going well. I got some splendid films, and that the games were interesting.

POVERTY BAY ASSOCIATION

The usual weekly meeting of the Management Committee of the Poverty Bay Cricket Association was held last evening at the Alhambra Club rooms, Mr R. G. Hallamore presiding. The principal business of the evening was to make regulations for the junior grade competitions. Four entries were received, viz.. United, Wanderers, Y.M.C.A., and Alhambra. After the classification of players had been made the draw resulted as follows: October 16th : United v. Y.M.C.A.; Wanderers v. Alhambra. October 23rd: United v. Alhambra; Y.M.C.A. v. Wanderers. November 7th : United v. Wanderers; Y.M.C.A. v. Alhambra. It was decided to restrict the junior matches to one day, and to play five rounds. Any junior wlio plays three times with the senior eleven shall be declared a senior. A request was received from the Secretary of the Cook County Women’s Guild "for the use of Victoria Domain on November 9th (King’s Birthday) for the object of holding a monster picnic in aid of the Guild’s funds.—lt- was decided to reply that the ground would be required for cricket on that date. At the instance of the Taruheru Club’s delegates it was decided to allow that Club to replace players absent on the second day of a match with other members of the Club, the opposing eleven to have the same privilege. It- was decided to insert advertisements in the local papers informing sheepfarmers and drovers that Victoria Domain was available to accommodate sheep which required depasturing in town for a few days at a time. An application was received from F. Ayles, of Melbourne, who acted as one of the coaches for the Otago Cricket Association last season, offering liis services as -coach to the Association for six months at £3 per week. It was decided to reply that the Association was not in a position to engage a coach at present.