CRICKET NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 9, 8 December 1926, Page 6

CRICKET NOTES.

KEEN EIGHT FOR LEADERSHIP. IN SENIOR COMPETITIONS. RAILWAY’S PROMISING POSITION. (By “Slip.”) “While the eventual leadership at the termination of the first round of the senior cricket competitions is still in the balance, present indications point to Railway entering upon the second round with at least a point lead over Old Boys. In the matches with R.S.A. and High School, Old Boys were able to force a four point win : n each instance, Railway having to be content with three pointers, but fortune undoubtedly smiled upon last year’s champions in their meeting with High School, for on the first day’s play the outcome had appeared to be a foregone conclusion. However, such is the uncertainty of all games that, from a winning position, High School eventually lost out.

Despite the disparity of two championship points, Railway promised to fully test the powers of the leaders at their meeting and Saturday revealed that they are still capable of turning the tables, for with but nine batsmen the old time champions emerged from the first day’s play with the honours.

The evergreen McVicar continues to bat well, and ho followed up his earlier contributions of the present season of 34, 3 and 44 with a valuable 92, his effort being well deserving of those other eight runs which would have brought him the first century of the season. The veteran has displayed even, greater scoring ability this year than he did last season, for his four strikes to date have been productive of 173 runs, as compared with 99 of 1924-5, although two of his innings were uncompleted in that season. Later on he ran up 102 (not out) aud 152 at two of his visits and it remains to be seen whether he will be able to equal that record. The opening partnership of McVicar and Mullins was productive of 36, the latter going when he had registered 20. This player has now had five strikes, and only once has he failed to get into double figures. His aggregate of 125 has been compiled as under: 60 (notout), 17, 19, 9 and 20, and he has been caught three times and run out once. His average does not attain the same figures as at this time last year owing to the fact that his third strike last year was productive of 146 (not out) which gave him an aggregate of 243 at the completion of his fifth innings. Kells entered upon his activities for the season indifferently by returning scores of one and five against R.S.A., but he was able to place double figures to his credit against High School and went still better on Saturday by registering 2,3 against Old Boys. He and McVicar added 42 for the sixth wicket, but still better things were forthcoming with the entry of Ingham. Given time to settle down, Ingham is capable of scores of very fair dimensions, and while ho took liberties on Saturday, it was not till he had carried his total to six runs beyond the half century mark that he was dismissed. McVicar was actually the first to go, succumbing to a catch by Brophy, while Ingham also fell to a catch by the same fieldsman four runs later. The McVicar-Ingham partnership was productive of 99 runs. Old Boys’ bowling honours were well distributed, Spring, the slow break bowler, taking three wickets at a cost of 70 runs, which raises his total to 14 wickets for 167 runs to date this season. Black took two wickets at a cost of 30 runs, both being forthcoming off successive balls. Diederich did not secure his usual measure of success, his bag being restricted to two for 52. His figures to date read 15 wickets at a cost of 143 runs. Hope, who will be temporarily lost to local cricket in the very near future, it being his intention to enter hospital to undergo an operation, reserved himself till the closing stages of the innings, but came on in an endeavour to separate McVicar and Ingham. The latter was not altogether comfortable facing the fast bowler and he eventually fell to him. It was Hope’s one wicket which was obtained at a cost of 27 runs, which raises his quota for the present season to 12 at a cost of 116 runs.

Whereas McVicar’s score of 92 runs contained 10 fours, Ingham’s, which was but a shade more than half that total, contained eight fours and one six. Kells’s stay at the wickets was a merry one, his total of 23 including two fours, one five and one six.

Old Boys’ opening in reply did not Eromise at all well for the side, tho rst wicket falling at four and the second at nine. Diederich and Broughton then became associated, the pair adding 38 before being separated. These two batsmen, particularly Broughton, have proved free contributors for the club and with their dismissal and the total standing at 70 for the loss of six wickets, matters do not appear at all bright for last year’s champions. Broughton, following a blob at his first essay with the willow for the season, has proved very consistent, his succeeding contributions being 53, 69 and 33, giving him an average of 38.75. Diederich likewise opened his activities with a blob, but attained double figures at his three succeeding visits, his scores of 31, 10 and 26 being, however, in arrears of those of his club mate. HIGH SCHOOL v. R.S.A. Opposing High School at Terrace End Park, R.S.A. ran up the very fair total of 203, of which Cooper was responsible for 70 and Perrin 58, the only other free contributor being McSweeny, who is on vacation from the Training College, Wellington, and who compiled 27. This player performed good service for R.S.A. last season and his re-entry into local cricket will be helpful to the club. Cooper has now had four strikes in competition play, Saturday being the first occasion on which he has topped the half century, although his contributions have all been double figure ones. Successive innings of 42, 36, 27 and 70 give him an aggregate of 175 and an average of 43.75. Perrin has not been able to display his usual consistency to date this season for, after following up his first strike for the season of one with 34 (not out), he again receded into single figures. His contribution of 58 on Saturday materially assisted towards making his figures read better and his averaee now stands at 25.5.

_ Roacli, who was brought into the side for the first time, put up a good Eerformance with tho ball Tor High chool, emerging with the excellent

figures of five wickets for 33 runs. Young, who had previously been given a trial with the ball with fair success, showed marked improvement, accounting for four wickets at a cost of 37 runs. The regular bowlers thus had a day off. . High School with one wicket down for 83 are in a good fighting position, Birch, another newcomer to the side, being still unbeaten at the close with 29 to his credit, and Pacey 35 (not out), but it is stated that the School eleven will be contesting their annual match with Napier at Napier next week-end so may have to sacrifice their chance of annexing the three championship points against R.S.A. unless arrangements can be mado for the game to be completed later. JUNIOR GRADE. The junior eleven of the High School has proved all too many for the opposing sides it has encountered to date,' for opposing Railway the team annexed a four point victory on the opening day of a two day’s match, while on Saturday it compiled the big total of 330 against R.S.A. B and then dismissed the latter for the poor quotas of 46 and 23 which leaves the team with the second playing day again free. McKenzie ran up 109 for the High School juniors, he then retiring unbeaten, while other good totals were forthcoming from Gibson 78, Cutler 38, O’Keefe 35 and Ellery 32. v Playing for Old Boys juniors versus Post and Telegraph, Cameron knocked up 79 of a total of 141. P. and T. replied with 64 which left them 77 in arrears, but as Old Boys have lost seven wickets for 56 runs, they have still a fighting chance. THIRD GRADE. Two interesting games were forthcoming in the third grade series, Phoenix winning out against Technical after being four runs in arrears on the first innings, while from an apparent hopeless position, P. and T. won out against Ria Ora. With an advantage of 26 on tho first innings and four wickets down for 78 in the second, Kia Ora endeavoured to force a four point victory by declaring, all matches in this grade being restricted to one day. To the surprise of both sides P. and T. knocked up 106 for the loss of six wickets in some 40 minutes, thereby securing four championship points. HAWKE CUP MATCH.

At time of writing the eleven to take tho field to-day at Marion versus Rangitikei in the Hawke Cup preliminary game did not promise to be a very strong one, such players as McVicar, Ongley, Mullins, Hope and Cooper being numbered among the absentees. Some difficulty was experienced in getting a team away to Wellington, the indifference displayed by some of the players in notifying their inability to travel being a regrettable feature and the parties concerned are deserving of being called to task by the management committee of the association.

Last year Manawatu opposed Rangitikei in the preliminary round for the right to lodge a challenge against the holders when the honours rested with Manawatu by an innings and one run. The match was contested at the Sportsground when the following did duty for Manawatu, the scores returned by them being shown in parentheses : —McVicar (41), Broughton (42), Gallichan (4), A. Rose (39), Wilson (17), Mullins (15), R. McDonald (2), Ongley (19), Donaldson (49)', Day (0), Diederich (5 not oua), In the trundling department Gallichan did great execution, the slow break bowler emerging with six wickets at a cost of 53 in the first innings and five for 42 in the second. Diederich followed up his brace for seven runs in tho first with four for 40 in the second, while McVicar accounted for two at a cost of 31 and one for 25 in the two visits to the batting crease by Rangitikei The attack was restricted to those four trundlers in the first innings, but Mullins and Ongley both had a turn with the ball in the second, but without success, the former having five runs made off him, while the latter had 26.

Hie preliminary gamo was played on December 10 and 11 and it was not till March 19 and 20 that Manawatu opposed the holders (Wanganui), losing out bv three wickets and one run after having been in a very favourable position at one stage of the second innings. Wanganui proved successful in withstanding all challenges for the season, but in their first match under the inter-group system with Taranaki on Friday, Saturday and Monday last they lost possession of the trophy to their northern neighbours. With the difficulty experienced In fielding a strong team in away matches, Manawatu’s prospects of success appear remote. More keenness by players is urgently required. SHEFFIELD SHIELD MATCHES. CENTURY TO MACARTNEY. NEW SOUTH WALES v. QUEENSLAND. SYDNEY, Dec. 7. The Sheffield Shield match, New South Wales versus Queensland, commenced to-day. New South Wales, in their first innings, made 287 (Macartney 114, Andrews 62, Ratcliffe 28 not out). Gill took three wickets for 89, Bensted three for 26, Oxenham three for 29. Queensland, in the first innings, had two wickets down for 48 when stumps were drawn. The weather was fine, and there was a good wicket. New South Wales opened badly, losing three wickets for 37. Macartney stopped the rot, and in partnership with Andrews runs came quickly, Macartney giving a polished display, with all manner of shots on both sides of the wicket. Shortly after he was dismissed, Andrews went, after playing a valuable innings. The remainder of the side w'ere 'unable long to survive the exceptionally brilliant Queensland bowling. The fielding also was very keen.—Press Association. <. VICTORIA v. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. FINE INNINGS BY HENDRY, ADELAIDE, Dec. 7. In the Sheffield Shield match, Victoria, in the, second innings, made 430 (Woodfull 84, Hendry 177, Willis 33). Williams took six wickets for 146. South Australia, in the second innings, has three wickets down for 93 (Schneider 28, A. Richardson 37). The weather was dull and threatening, but the wicket was good. Woc-d----fnil was unfortunate in being run out 1 third ball after the commencement. Hendry played a fine fighting innings, scoring at a rapid rate on all sides of

the wicket. He never gave a real chance. —Press Association. The first innings scores were: Victoria, 315; South Australia, 481. MARYLEBONE TEAM. CALCUTTA, Dec. 6. The Marylebone team, not taking its second innings seriously against Parsees and Europeans of Bombay, was dismissed for 135, the first low soore of the tour. The match was drawn. —Sydney Sun cable. NEW ZEALAND SELECTION. AN AUCKLAND PROTEST. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Dec. 7. The fact that Auckland is not represented on the selection committee to choose the New Zealand . cricket team to tour England next year was commented upon at a meeting of the management committee of the Auckland Cricket Association to-night. It was decided to forward a letter of protest to the New Zealand Council.