CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2648, 2 November 1909, Page 6

CRICKET.

THE COUNTRY FESTIVAL.

(Notes by “Short Slip.”) It was a bright inspiration which, prompted the management committee of the Poverty Bay Cricket Association to postpone all senior competition matches on Saturday last in order that the members of the affiliated country clubs might be given an opportunity of playing in town and demonstrating their abilities in view of the season’s representative fixtures. Gisborne’s Carnival Week had_ attracted a. goodly number of prominent country players to town, and the team which took the field for the Country against the Town, at Taruheru, though not the strongest that could have been ■ selected, was by no means a poor one, and was fairly representative of the district. . The most notable absentees were E. R\ Ludbrook (iuparoa), E. Derecourt (Motu), and L. Reed (Tokomaru), but with the exception of these three the side could 1 not - have been much improved upon. The wicket at Taruheru was in capital order, and when W. Dods (the Country captain) won the toss, the townsmen took the field fully expecting two or three hours’ strenuous leatherchasing. J. Bisdee (Rakauroa) and IS. G. Glass-ford (Tiniroto) were the opening batsmen. Many on the ground were anxious to see Bisdee’s first -appearance-, as he came- down with a high reputation as a first-class allround performer, and his feat of scoring 98 for Rakauroa against Motu last season had not been forgotten. .Ernie Sharpies was entrusted- with the duty of opening the attack, and his first ball was a beauty. It landed a perfect length, bad a lot of pace- on, and nipped across from the ofF a couple of inches, coming very quickly off the pitch, The bails were lifted, and Bisdee thus had a very brief stay at the wickets on the- occasion of his first appearance on a Gisborne ground. Billy MacDonald (Motu) was the next batsman, but Sharpies was in irresistible form with the ball -and shattered: tlie wicket with his fifth delivery, two wickets being thus down for 0. Jack Murphy (Tangihau) succeeded, and L. McMahon (the ex-Auckland and North Sydney player) took up the bowling at the other end. McMahon kept a fin® length with his slows, and turned the ball well from both sides, while he had his field judiciously placed. Glassford snicked the slow bowler into- the wicket, and 43 —2 appeared on the- board. With a couples of runs added, Sharpies shattered Murphy’s wicket, having bo far secured' three wickets for 3 runs. W. Oates, jun. (Tokomaru), and Hugh Williams (Mangatu) made a brief stay, but the former was rather inclined to be reckless and eventually threw away his wicket in hitting orit at McMahon, the ball going up behind the wicket. Williams returned one- to- the slow howler, and the innings was over in less than an hour for 38. Sharpies and McMahon both bowled exceptionally well, and Adamson and Davies finished off the innings in summary fashion. Though the bowling was good, the Country men Avere clearly out of form, iand many lost their ;■ Aifiokfets through failing to time their strokes. Charlie Lasker g£i\ r e tire Country men a taste of his hitting qualities, and showed a sound mixture of aggression and defence in '.running up his 69. It Avas also a pleasure to see A. H. Hodge get going again and reminded one of old times to- see the crisp cuts of this Bobby Abel of Poverty Bay. After scoring 31 in attractive style, he Avas splendidly taken loav down in the slips by Bisdee, off Oates. McMahon (14) and Charlie Dillon (14) Avere the only other men to score, the stalwart young left-hander getting in some poAverful drives. The ToAvnsmen’s innings closed l for _ 154, AVhich Avas very moderate’ considering only tAvo wickets had been down for 101 at the luncheon adjournment. Oates and Bisdee did most of the bowling for the Country men. The former sent doAvn no fewer than ninel- - overs and Avas as fresh as 1 paint at the close. He secured four Avickets for 57 runs, and Avould have had even better figures had he refrained from -attempting the impossible—bowling a fast right-hand leg-break. He persevered Avith this ball, with the natural result that his length Avas erratic and these deliveries came in for punishment. Bisdee started the innings in the role of stumper, and shaped capitally in that position. He stood close up to the fast bowlers, and nearly caught Charlie Lasker napping in playing forward to a fast one. He had the bails off in a twinkling. After lunch Jack Murphy took the gloves, and Bisdee took a turn at the bowling crease. He showed what a useful all-round man he is by bowling like one aa-lio kneAv the game and could play it. He takes a fairly-long run, has an easy delivery; and mixes his pace and length Avith judgment. He Bent down ten' overs for 29 - runs and captured' three wickets. No less than eight Countrymen, had a turn Avith the ball. The Countrymen shaped much more confidently in their second essay, and ran up 141. Bisdee did not go first ball on this occasion, but stayed long enough to prove that he is by-no- means a bad batsman. He played good cricket and made a number of good strokes, but Avas inclined to be reckless. He hit a fine sixer over the willoAV trees' off McMahon, but in -attempting to repeat the stroke Avas clean boAvled next ball Avith his score at 31. Jack Murphy also played capital cricket, and made a number of finished strokes in running up his total of 23 (not out). Jack has a cricket pitch on the polo paddock at liis home at Tangihau,'and mush have a knock in the e\ r enings occasionally, as he shaped in better form than anv of his team mates. W. Oates (15), Pilcher (16). and H. Stevens (10) all helped to SAvell the total. M. Hooker, avlao hails from Sydney, and is playing liis first- season’s cricket in Gisborne, was the most successful of the Town bowlers. He has a someAvhat peculiar delivery and bowls a sIo-av medium ball Avith a turn from both sides, his off-break being the most effective. He opened in a highly sensational manner, clean boAvling H. Williams and Robinson Avith his first and second deliveries. In alii he captured five Avickets for 39 off 42 balls, and hit the Avickets ffre- times. For the Countrvi Oates, Bisdee, McDonald and Dods did fine Avork in the field. Colonel Winter, and Messrs MaAvhinney and Heenan gave every satisfaction as um- , oires. The latter Avas a one-time AvelllcnoAvn Wellington representative player, and is fne possessor of a gold medal for his performance of t?coris,g 146' (not out) for Wellington against HaAvke s Bay, at Napier, in 1887. He learn-

ed his cricket at Cheltenham "College, and' played regularly for Wellington from 1883 to 1891. The match Avas thoroughly enjoyed by -all avlio took part in it, and hopes were expressed that the Association Avould endeavor to- arrange, as many meetings betAveen the Toavii and Country representatives as possible. On the Victoria Domain, those good sportsmen, the Waingake Qlub players, placed a strong! . 'eleven in the held against a Toavu eleven. Scoring, Avas low' in the opening sets, tlie Town men falling for 64, while" Waingake could only total 10 less. "Considering the teams Avere playing on the concrete pitch it is hard to account for this double collapse. JLreslie Coop performed a remarkable boAvling feat for Waingake. He sent down 21 balls and secured four wickets for 5 runs. Fed also trundled Avell for the le Arai Valley men, capturing, three Avickets for 17 runs off' 54 deliveries. Coltliart (26) Avas responsible for half the Waingake total, and he shaped confidently and Avell in putting his runs together. Alf. Laug (23), Monk (19), and Barker (14) Avere responsible for the score in the first innings of the Town men. The others simply.;.did nothing. Harry Babb was all there with the ball, and captured eight Avickets for 21 runs in Waingake’s first venture. Alf. Lang and George Glennie established a fine partnership for the second Aviclc-et in the Town’s second innings. Both men played free and attractive cricket, and carried . the score along at a brisk pace from 9 to 90, when Glennie Avas smartly stumped bv Griffiths, off O’Connor. The retiring batsman had hit Avell all round thewicket for his quota of 40. Barker joined Lang, and the total Avas taken to 122 before Barker Avas taken by Stewart, oir Coop,’ for 14. Alf. Lang continued' the even tenor of bis rungetting Avay, .and _\vas still banging aAvay merrily Avhen tlie closure Avas applied Avith six AA’ickets down for 160 .• The diminutive United batsman had at this time 75 (not out) to his credit, which- gave him the pretty little batting a\ r erage for the day of 98. In the only other match he has thus far played this season it Avill be remembered that Alf Lang scored 30 (not out) and 29, so that bis average to date Avorks out at 78.5. Let’s hope this capable batsman keeps these figures up throughout the season. L. Coop only secured one for 32 in this innings, but Colt-hart succeeded in bagging tAvo for 33 off 78 balls.

Requiring 171 runs to win, Waingake were unequal to the task, and Avere all .dismissed for 94, the Town team thus winning by 76 runs. Colthart (21), and SteAvart- (24) made a braA'e effort, but N were both dismissed Avhen they appeared to 'be settling doAvn for a long score. A. R. Barker boAvled well, securing five wickets for 19 runs off fiye overs. A return match is likely fo take place at an early date.

POVERTY BAY ASSOCIATION

The weekly meeting of the Management Committee of the Poverty Bay Cricket Association was held last evening in, the Alhambra Club rooms, Mr. Allen presiding. ■ It Avas decided to -play the matches against the Motu Club on November 9th (King’s Birthday) and Thursday, 11th inst., at Taruheru. A Married y. --Single match Avas also arranged for the King’s Birthday at Victoria Domain. It Avas also decided to arrange a junior match for that day at Victoria Domain, an eleA’en from Alhambra and Wanderers to play; a team composed of United andY.M.C.A. players. P. Sim and Owen Avere selected to select the former team, and D. McLeod and D. Hutton the latter. It was resolyed that no senior players should be allowed to field as substitutes in junior competition matches. All players who can take part in tlie all-day matches against the Motu Club on November 9th and 11th at Taruheru are requested to 1 forward their names to the selector, Mr. W. Gibson, stating on Avhich day they can play. Messrs J. B. -Hunt and W. Gibson wore appointed a sub-committee to. attend tbe next meeting of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union and bring several matters affecting the interests of the Association before that body.

ENGLISH PLAYERS FOR NEW ZEALAND.

The lonic, Avhich lias just arrived from London, had as a passenger Mr. 6. P. Buckeivham, the Essex _ fast boAA’ler. He has accepted the invitation of the Christchurch Association to act as “coach,” during the coming cricket season in the Dominion. He Avill be accompanied By the Sussex..professional A. E. Relf. Buckenliani... is one of the few fast howlers Avho seem to improve with ago. Commencing his county career in 1902, when he took only 18 Avickets at a cost of 36.66 apiece, he gradually improved his figures until in 1906 he took 135 Avickets for 24.13 each. In the folknving year lie. took 118 Avickets for 22.15 apiece, and last year 103 Avickets for an average of 24;66, and this seasonllO for an average of 20.44. With the bat he is .not so good. A. E. Relf who is already ■ knoAvn tc NeAV Zealand cricketers in person, has had a ,very successful year as a bowler. Up to the time of his leaving England lie had taken 138 Avickets for a fraction of over 16 runs each.