BOATMAN'S CRICKET MATCH.

Inangahua Times, Volume XI, Issue 1680, 19 March 1886, Page 2

BOATMAN'S CRICKET MATCH.

After such miserable non-crickdaMe ] weather as that of Monday and Tues- i day, St. Patrick appears to liavi* put c in a good word for Wednesday, and \ great was the joy of the Beef ton team t on waking to find that, though dull, f the day gave every promise of being c fine, and on taming up at the vendee* I vous most of the team and the lleefton t Band soon found themselves under the 1 care of Messrs Arnold and J. Kidd I respectively, bowling down Broadway c to the lively strains of a galop, and a c merry pace was kept up until the a Branch was reached, Arnold trying to c out Jehu Jehu, and Kidd astonishing c himself and us l>y his pace. But pride ' must have a fall, and in the Branch n a swingletree broke compelling Mr t Kidd to spend a few minutes in the i river, whilst the poor envious bauds- £ men sat and greedily watched his I

accession of comfort. .'But soon we were moving on our way again singing and brass band ma sic interspersed with trifling badinage and bon-mots relieving tbemonotony of the travellers, and creating a most palpable astonishraent and wonder in the faces of the ontlying dwellers. OuCronadnn being reached the band conveyance, which in the river catastrophe had been satisfied to constitute the whipper-in coach, now resumed tho lead, and set off at a merry pace for their destination, the cricketers following up closely. Here our pace was so pleasant that I more than suspect Mr Kidd half imagined bis steeds had bolted, r.nd soon we found ourselves in Boatman's rattling np the street to the inspiriting airs of another galop. Here a scene presented itself as the members of the coach loads threw their arms round the necks of their respective Jehus, and bid them an affectionate adieu until the return trip. Blear ty welcomes to the town of the trefoil now rang out cheerily on all sides, airiM believe for a time more members of the team than myself began to imagi* that we were ahont as good as an Shetland eleven. But we had not raucljP time given us for such conceited rafcries, as the Boatman's team were JU terrible way to start giving us another thrashing, so we let ourselves be quietly driven and led to the slaughtf-r (9), and at once proceeded to the pleasurable business that brought us there, to repay old scores. On Reefton winning the toss Boatman's were put iv and R. and J. Kirwan at once proceeded to make tilings lively, although the fielding at (irst was better than ever I remember seeing the Reeftouiaua exhibit, the bowling to being good though destined soon to be much improved, 14 runs resulted from the first. 4 overs, when R. Kirwatt slipping a ball was splendidly caught, his brother being dismissed 2 runs later, 8 runs were added and Graham was bow fed by a beauty, 1 run added and Balmer was beaten by a hard one. Then came a little stand as Walker and Silcock got together, 12 runs being added before North found his way through Silcock's defence, aud in the same over Wynn hit out for two, and was bowled. Powell followed, and hit up 5 before being well caught at long on, Theobald appeared, and at ouce commenced operations, but soon 4°st his partner Walker being dismissed l>y a very hard one from Blakely. Heaphy then kept up his wicket for some time, and enabled Theobald to score, but was dismissed for 1, and W. Kirwan, last man, appeared, aud each batsman having added 1 ruu the innings closed for 57. North and Pickering soon faced the bowling of Powell and Silcock, and showed they meant business by scoring 17 runs from the first 4 overs, the Reparation being brought about by Pickering at 25 being caught by Wynn, the finest catch in the match, 1 run was added and Gi'ieve was run out, but on Wliitejoiiikig North a long stand was made, runsf coming slowly until at 41 North was bowled by a good straight ball, Lncas and White added 14 runs, when White was bowled and Shepherd joining Lucas 8 more were added, wheu Shepherd was caught very finely, Blakeley joined Lucas only to run himself out, and Doogan at 67 joined Lucas, and was caught 4 runs later, Nash joined Lucas who was run out 1 run later, Nash being dismissed with 4 added, Lecher wits dismissed at 79, and this closed the innings 22 nitis ahead. In the second innings of Boatmans Blakely bowled too well for their taste, getting Silcock' wicket in the first over for 8 Pickering next over bowling R. Kirwan, and Blakehy again following suit 3 wickets for 4. Pickerings next over produced one run, and Blakeley bowled a maiden. Next over J. Kirwan was run out, 14 runs were added, Blakeley getting Graham's wicket, and a maiden ; then 4 runs were added, and Balmer was run out, 2 runs more and Blakt ly succeeded in getting Powell's and AVynns wickets in one maiden over 7 and 8 for 18. Pickering's first ball got rid of Walker, and four rung were wanted to save tho inniugs defeat. When W. Kirwan joined Heaphy and 8 rims were addod in the remainder of the over, One run wanted to save the innings defeat, when Blakeley with the first ball of of the over seemed to put liifc ball clean through W. Kirwan's bat and Recfton won by oue innings and one. ruu. Three cheers having hewn given by each team for its opponents. All ma-d0.. .f0r Archer's for dinner. At six o'clock Archer's dining-room was besieged, and the two teams and a number of friends sat down to a thoroughly clever exhibit of the cuisine's art, and here I would take the opportunity of congratulating Mrs Archer and her friends on the very tasty manner in which the table was laid, and then busuwss-— business? it is a compliment to the word. It really was enjoya''l« to note the gourmands capabilities of one of the Boatman's team who helped so much in the last match to lower the Reefton Dolors. If h« be a knight of the willow and leather he also deserves the title of knight of the fork, in fact several of us are much more deserving of that title, and also of knight of tho " spoon " Later on in the evening than to any willow and leather honors. For an hour and a dalf we enjoyed ourselves as only jrioket and football teams can do by sating, drinking, chattering, laughing md occasional repartee*. The toasts ?f "the Queen" "otn- visitor's" "the entertaining team" "the laclie's" 'the press" "umpire and scorers" md "our host and hostess" having t)een duly honored and responded to interspersed with songs by Messrs 3ilcock, Narlh, Balmer, Potts, and Nssli, and moat lower waistcoat but-

! tons having been loosened, we pro ceed to relinquish the attraction of the banquet hall for those of the concert room and later on for the admirers of «' leo beaux yeux " for the ball room. Though the audience thauks chiefly to the Reef ton contingent was rather noisy the performers sang well all through. I regret lam imcompetent to criticise the singers but if I were asked for my opinion I should give the palm to Miss Flynn, who possesses an admirably sweet voice, and who knows how to use it. The ball now took possession of as. and a full room of good dancers and plenty of new and pretty faces soon conquered our bashfulness, and we threw ourselves heartily into the enjoyment of the moment, and all the sweet ball-room flirtations we could manage more than oue of our boys seemed pale and melancholy on the road home, and I ratker suspect the laughing roguish eyes of some of Erin's daughters have to answer for that. A downright pleasant match, a rattling banquet, a capital concert and a very lively ball, formed a reception such as the lieefton team have never before been accustomed to. I cannot speak too highly of the courteous and gener* ous manner in which Mr Siloock and his men (although vanquished), showered their hospitalities on us. But at half past five the ball died, and at last we found ourselves cheered out of Boatman's and on our road home again. The two coaches keeping together all the way and landed home again, fairly tired, but not dead-beat, as the band plainly proved from the cemetery to Rater's Hotel, May it soon again be our luck to visit Boatman's, or entertain our hosts here is the wish of. Bos-Skat. Appended is the full score. Notice may fairly be drawn to Blakeley's bowling analysis in the 2nd innings of Boatman's :— 6 overs, 8 maidens, 6 wickets, 1 wide. Boatman's Eleven : Ist Innings. R. Kirwan, 2,1,2,4,3,1 c,Blak«ley b Pickering 13 J, Kirwan, 1,1 c North, b Blake ley 2 T. Graham, 1 b Blakeley ... 1 R. S. Balmer, 1,1,2 b North ..." 4 T. D. Walker, 1,2,1,2 b Blakeley 6 E. Silcock, 3,1,3,1,1 b North ... 9 M. Wynn, jr. 2, b North ... 2 VV. Powell, 1,1,1,1,1 c, Doogan b Blakeley ... 5 F. Theobald, 2,1,1,1,1,2,3,1 (not out) 12 W. Heaphy, 1, c and b North ... 1 W. Kirwan, 1, c and b North ... 1 Byes 1 Total 57 Second Innings. E. Silcock, 1,1,1 b Blakeley ... 3 jF. Theol-ald, 1, b Blakeley' ... 1 iR. Kirwan, 0, b Pickering ... 0 j J. Kirwan, 1, (run out) ... 1 I T. Graham, 1,1 c North b B'.akei w-y 2 ! R. S. Balmer, 2,1,1,1 (run out) 5 F. D. Walker, 1,1,1,2 b Pickering 5 W. Powell, 0, Blakeley ... 0 M. Wynn, c and b Blakeley ... 0 iW. Heaphy, 1, fnofc out) ... 1 W. Kirwan, 1,1 b Blakeley ... 2 Fides 1 Total 21 Reefton : Ist Innings. T. North, 1,1,2,1,1,2,1,1,2,1,1,1, 1,1,2 b Kirwan 19 A. Pickering, 2,1,1,1,1,2,1,2,2,1, 1,1 c Wynn b Kirwan ... 16 J. Grieve, (run out) 0 F. White, 1,2,1,1,1,3,1 b Kir^ wan ... ... ... 10 H.Lncas, 1,2,1.8,1,2,2,1,1,1,1 (run out) 16 G, B. Shepherd, 2,1 c and b Kirwun ... 3 R. Blakeley (run out) 0 J. Doogan, 1, c Balmer b Kirwan ... 1 E. 0. Nash, 1,1,2 c and Kir wan 4 T. Lecher, b R. Kirwan ... 0 P. Shepherd, 1, (not out) ... 1 Byes 1,2,1,1,1,1 ... 7 Widesl, „ 1 No balls 1 1 | Total 79