CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2672, 30 November 1909, Page 6

CRICKET.

POVERTY BAY ASSOCIATION

I?;:. Tlio usual weekly meeting of the & “ Management Committee of the Poverty Cricket Association was held last -evening at the Alhambra Club rooms, Mr. J. B. Hunt presiding. A letter was received from Mr. A. C. ® Steele, accepting office as a patron of || the Association, and enclosing a donation to the funds. The ground committee reported that the turf wicket at Victoria Domain lhad come on well during the past few ways, and would be fit for play on Saturday next.—After discussion, it was 7 . decided to postpone playing on the turf -y for another week, in order that the young grass might get as good a hold as possible before using it. The secretary was empowered to ar- ■ range for, obtaining several loads of -yi soil for Victoria Domain, with which to top-dress the wicket and improve- the outfield. Ho was also requested to as7;|c cortain the cost of sight-screens. It was decided to write to the Hawke’s Bay Cricket Association in-* fe, d.uiring whether there was a possibility |y- of their representative eleven visiting Gisborne during the Christmas or Now |f Year holidays to play tlio annual match against Poverty Bay. The question of arranging for a team f|- to visit Tokomaru was brought up, and the delegates present were requested to obtain the names of play ere who could make the trip and report to next meetK ing.

POVERTY .BAY GLEB MATCH.

The members of the Poverty f Bay Chib play their annual match at Taruli&ni to-day, when sides representing the President and Vice-president will take the field. The match commences at 10.130 a.in. The following aro the teams: — • , „ President’s team: 11. Barker, P. Barker, Barton, Bennett. Dodd ; Fenwick, Foster, GatTuiim, Gouldsmitli, O. Grav, O. Holdswortli, Humphreys, JI. ! C. Jackson, F. J. Lysnar, E. H. Mann, Monckton, F. W. Nolan, E. V. Palmer, F. Parker, V. A. Pyke, R. R. Shorratt, Simraonds. Stock, Symes, Wachsman, Claude Williams, Hugh Williams, and Mitford. Vice-president’s team: W. F. J. Anderson, F. IJ. Barker, R. Barker, V. j Barker, W. R. Barker, Branson, It. b. Burko, G. Coop, H. deLautour, A. Dewing, Ensor, Graham, Grant, B. J. Holdsworth, H. Kenway, Kirkpatrick, i J. It. Murphy, A. W. Rees, A. C. v Steole, Strachan, Thomas, Hon. Capt. Tucker, H. H. Wall, A. H. Wallis, Watson, Carl Williams, Dr. J.' W. Wil- ’ liams, and J. D. Donner.

POSITION OF THE CLUBS.

SATURDAY COMPETITION.

HOUND THE GROUNDS.

(Notes by “Short-Slip.”)

It is quite exhilarating sight every Saturday afternoon to see ; three ' matches in progress on Victoria Dov main. The held is absolutely dotted from •end -to end with the white flannel-clad figures of the 66 players, taking part in tiie contests, and the.scene of animation -does one’s heart 'good -after being accustomed ' to watch, for seasons past, one solitary senior fixture being fought out on the ground. The starting of the junior'competition marks a distinct forward movement in the history of the game in this district. Everyone' knows' that" if cricket is.to flourish and improve you must have the youngsters coming on' to* feed - the senior'ranks. And it will not bo /long before the juniors will .make their existence known in a. practical..way' by displacing those--w.ho do. not put in- the requisite amount o£ -practices -to - make them plficiept. Prom now onwards the .. young- ’.uns.wiil he knocking-. at the, door, and. this.vwill'.haye the-.effect ,of, spurring omthementintihe senior ranks 'to retain their places against, opposition, .a fact which'should result in the, standard : <>f play being raised-all round. As- the -season advances, batsmen' are -striking feirm and some tall scores are being registered. For consistent scoring pride of place must be given to! that burly 1 and '-genial To - Itau batsman, Harry Wack. He put up a fine performance against United', on the 4th inst., bv scoring 56 in workmanlike His play is characterised by much sounder defence-this season, while his hitting is well-timed and powerful.! On the r tilth he registered' 25 " againstthe Motu team, a!t Taruheru'. On the lSth he again showed' his partiality for the United bowling , bv hitting up 38 by confident and well-made strokes, while last. Thursday, on the Taruheru ground, at call of time, he wa£ still going strongly against Y.M.C.A. with 36, not out, to-his credit. He has thus scored 155 in-his. last four innin’gs for -three times out, which' gives him the nice little average of 51.6. » • A.' It. Barker, . the tall young ; Y.M.C;A. representative, has also been showing capital form with the bat lately. Against Te Rau, on Thursday last, at Taruheru, he gave a brilliant display of all-round-the-wicket strokes for 74, while against the strong Wander--ers’ attack, at Victoria Domain, on Saturday last, he got going in his best stylo to the tune of 53/ Barker learned his cricket at Blenheim High School, and as he is only a colt in respect of age a long string of tall, scores are likely to he notched in the future by that flash- - ing blade he wields. Barker also bowl's, a/very useful 'right-hand medium-paced hall, with .a dangerous turn from the : off, and is therefore a most useful : all-round performer. ' §? . Lionel Manning*; the tall United lefthander, - has the credit of the highest '. score of • the season to date! standing §Opposite his name. This was obtained i.nn Thursday last at Victoria Domain', an the match against Alhambra. Manning hit all round the wicket with equal .precision, but his leg strokes were gems an a distinctly' high-class performance, ' and the manner in which, he* sent the hall speeding to the boundary at long- ' leg, time and again was quite Bardsley:;idian. There was a good deal of excite-

ment when Manning passed into the' nineties and approached the coveted century. - When' 97, and only three runs were required, he opened out at one from Harry Babbs, and was well-taken alongside the rails at the long-on boundary by young Tom Atkinson. Manning was warmly applauded for his fine display, even the ranks of Tuscany joining in (the applause that followed him all the way to the pavilion. Another left-hander, stalwart Athol Young, of the Wanderers Club, deserves specal mention for his fine score against Y.M.O.A. at Victoria Domain, in the match which oonoluded last Saturday. On the previous Saturday Young played sound and vigorous cricket for 45, not out. Up till .thismatch he had 1 been performing indifferently with the bat, but he showed he can still make runs as cleverly as ever. Resuming on Saturday last, he carried iliis total along to 79, not out, 'when the closure was applied with six wickets down for 149. Young’s play was marked by strong'off strokes, a forward drive past cover bringing him many runs. $•/» Saturday’s .matches saw the conclus-', ion of the first round of fixtures in the Saturday senior competition. The Wanderers team a.re to be ,congratulated on .winning all three; matches, which gives them l a substantial lead in championship points. The Wanderers have a strong side, sound in all departments, and they pay strict attention to practice, possessing a practice concrete pitch of their own, of which they make full use. In Len McMahon they have a capable general who; guides the tide with a quiet- but" firm hand. Their* batting, bowling, and fielding are like good, while- you would need to go a: long way before getting a better Stump--or than 'Sam MeGorai ell: 1 -v.*'’ United and YIM.C.A', both owe their* defeat by the Wanderers to the same cause —rank bad batting in the 1 first innings. The free manner in which United and Y.M.C.A. scored in the second innings proves that the Wanderers’ attack is not overpoweringly strong, and there may be some turning of the tables in the second round. Hats off to those two Y.M.O.A. colts, A. R. Barker and S. Mill, for their fine stand for the first wicket against Wanderers’ attach at. Victoria Domain on Saturday last. Wanderers declared their first innings closed with six 'wickets down for 149 in the hope of getting Y.M.O.A. out a second time and thus securing a .three-point win. Barker and Mill, however, at once established a fruitful partnership, and the tens commenced to appear on the board. Mb: Mahon rang the changes on his bowling rapidly, but 50 appeared with both men going soundly and well. McMahon, McCall, Commons, Babbs, 'Adamson, Maude, and Glennie all had a turn at the bowling-crease, but 50, 70, 80, and 90 went up on the telegraph-board amidst applause. Just; as everyone was looking for the century to be hoisted for the first wicket, Barker off-drove Glennie .to the rails near the pavilion, and was well taken by Commons at the second attempt. The welkin rang again' with applause in - recognition ; of this spirited stand. The board showed. 94_1_1_53, and shortly afterwards.'ittmqi. was called with the Y. M.O.A score; standing at 102 .for; one wicket'; ' \!3qan£ Mill; was - left not Iputj with. \3?;tobis';' credit. Young Sanr‘'po&sesses;? as« much defence as Willie.Quaife, A4ick Banherman>; and when he masters* a fe W more scoring strokes some long scores should' go’ down opposite his name, Jim Lang tells ’ me that Sam is studying Rangi’s book, and. is assiduously practising the shortarm hook; the push stroke! in the slips, and the “cow” shot,'so he may shortly-, 'CorisidleraMy astonish local trundlers bv discarding defence for;;aggression. Try afad strike the happy medium, Sam ; endeavour to combine sound defence wth lusty hitting when the right ball comes along, and you will get many more .good scores. • / The Wanderers must' have heaved a tremendous .sigh of satisfaction that Saturday was the second day of the match instead l of the first, The Y.M.UbS boys evidently are getting into form, and may yet make a bold bid for the championship. \ ■ ■

,;-.v.• A.. SENIORS- * ' *• -* '! • •. ■ -v‘..... .Matches ; r; :l^v7^Giub:, : v' ; M ciiPiayedr-Won Lost Points. vWanderers . 3 • 0 :: 7 - ; TTnitei.: a .is; -l^ 2 3 • vTaruhOru v- : .' -3 1 r 2 3 ym.c.a. •v*., i : 2 2 ' ■ v,' .M, »-7 dijjHoEs:: ': ur ■ ■ u *' * • ’• Matches ; . ; Club . c;: played' Won: Lost -Point-tp tf5» Wanderers •. y..v6o r4-.-2 IT - Y.M.C.A. , :; -,5 3. 2 8 Alhambra 5 '3 2 ' "7 United -6 1 '5 3 THURSDAY COMPETITION. „ Matches Club ~ played’ Won Lost Points Alhambra 2 2 0 6 United 2 1 1 3 ~Te Itau 2 11 v 2 . Y.M.C.A. 2 0 2 0