Cricket 1912

M ay 18, 1912; CEICKET : A WEEKLY EECOED OF THE GAME. 143 and is a, valuable run-getter on a bad wicket. He can score in all directions, and once he makes up his mind to have a go he gives the ball the full face of the bat with a power that despatches it to the boundary at a rare pace. H e a v y S co rers . Another century maker was Mitchell, that clever Bexley Asylum player. Mitchell is a batsman who believes in going for the bowling, and his cutting and driving are especially vigourous. Sale, of Blackheath, also passed the century mark. He is a fine type of run-getter to watch. His defence is sound, and he gets his runs with a pretty variety of neat scoring shots all round the wicket. Jameson of South Woodford, another hundred manufacturer, is a free hitting left hand batsman, while Smith of East Finchley, who scored 100 not out against Albermarle and Friern Barnet, wields a perfectly straight bat and cuts and drives with rare effect. V ic t o r ia P a r k H a pp e n in g s . I am pleased to hear that the wickets in Victoria Park are better this season than they have previously been. Allan Cockshutt’s 148 for 7 easily beat Hartley 31. Willis, a free hitting quick footed batsman, scored 42 for the victors. Stepney Old Boys 88 beat Hope 48, thanks to Rosalke’s bowling. He took 6 for 14 and made the ball leave the pitch at a fine pace. Old Ford Wesleyans, 126 for 5, defeated St. Gabriels 83, mainly through a dashing 57 by Goodman. Saxons, 100 for 9, beat Cassland 57, Allan making 32, and P. Haddon, a tricky bowler who varies his pace and pitch judiciously, taking 7 wickets for 23. Want of light led to Poplar Liberal Association, 168 for 6, and Bow Midland Bailway, 54 for 8, giving up their game as a draw. Vaughan, with a vigorous 36, shaped well for the Liberals. St. Jude’s, 80, beat Ivydene 47, Barber making 20 for the victors and Canavan, a hard hitter, scoring the same number for the losers. Hackney Imperial, 196 for 5, beat Sidney Mission, 37. J. Smith a quick footed keen driver, obtained 94 in great style for the victors. Shamrock, 73 (Broom 19) beat St. Andrews, 31. Trinity Men’s Own, 94, beat Caslon, 54. Merry, with a bright 27, hit well for the victors. Old Victoria, 88, defeated Carlisle, 28, Masters shaping finely for 31. Liverpool Jottings. B y Gr. A . B r o o k in g . Gloriously fine sunny weather prevailed throughout this distric on Saturday last, and the best game in the world was fully enjoyed and appreciated by players and spectators alike. At Aigburth the unexpected happened, Liverpool having to haul down their flag to New Brighton, who made a brilliant and success­ ful effort to pull off the game, by fighting the clock (and their opponents) with great resolution. The score will be found in “ The Score Book ” on another page. New Brighton were chiefly indebted to Blundell (who has represented Cheshire) and Wilkinson for their victory, whilst Liver­ pool’s best effort came from the bat of A. B. Leather. Sefton beat Huyton after a good game at Sefton Park, though such a result scarcely seemed likely until Johnson and Boswell got together and made a timely stand ; the last-named playing very free cricket. Their batting was afterwards supplemented by good bowling on the part of Curtis and Clare, who secured 3 for 42 and 3 for 13 respectively. Bootle were victorious iu their encounter v. Neston on the prettily situated ground at Parkgate. It is true the Johnsons failed—and the two elder F. C. and T. S. are still most capable players despite years of service—but Sprake- ling showed splendid form and with Marsh as a partner, gradually turned the fortune of the game completely round, the side ultimately compiling 206, which proved far too many for Neston who notched 112, E. H. Johnson (the youngest of the brothers) and B. Sharp doing the damage with 6 for 26 and 3 for 5 respectively. F. Lott, left hand medium pace, off break, was Neston’s most successful bowler, with 5 for 63, and this gentleman I know from personal experience to be a real good trundler. He maintains a good length with a huge off break, and never forgets the straight ball, either the same speed or faster. Some of the members of the Toronto Zingari team formed a high opinion of him. Northern and Birkenhead Park both elect to play without pro­ fessional assistance, and the first-named are to be congratulated on their splendid victory by 71 runs—188 to 117—seven batsmen compiling doubles, Considering the wicket “ the Park ” should have compiled more runs than they did though Martin (6 for 36), and Green (4 for 38) bowled very skilfully. Ormskirk and Rock Ferry were going strong against each other, and their drawn match was anybody’s game. The former scored 245 for 5, innings declared ; and “ the Iiocks” in response hit up 143 for 4, when time was called. In the ancient city of Chester, Wallasey played second fiddle to Boughton Hall; rather low scoring on both sides—55 to 82. Williams was top scorer for Wallasey with 17, whilst Wilson hit up 32 for Boughton. The Waterloo Park team, in fine weather before a good number of spectators, played a drawn game with Liverpool Strollers. The last named had the best of the wicket and light and notched 94, Hanson the captain playing admirably. Jones and Evans of Stalybridge had 3 wickets each for 8 and 15 respectively. Waterloo notched 71 for 8 when time was called, Rouse playing a sound and stubborn innings for 19 not out. J. R. Dawkins with 7 for 35 bowled well for the Strollers. A tie game is rather a rare occurrence in any class of cricket. One took place between Litberland and Gateacre—the scoring being very low, 37 runs each. For the first-named Wright bowled superbly, taking 6 for 17. The fielding on both sides reached a high standard of excellence. Guy for Gateacre batted well at a crisis, and nearly pulled his side through, and the finish of the game was most exciting. Cricket in Scotland. B y H a m ish . The weather gods are still propitious and, except for a gusty wind, the conditions on Saturday were well- nigh perfect, a fact that was reflected in the scoring which was excellent, both individually and collectively. Thus we find totals, all in afternoon cricket, of 385 for 3 wickets, 276, 271 for 9, 245 for 5, and numerous others round the double century, whilst among the century makers are Benham, Drumpellier, 170*, Combey, Boyal High School F .P .’s, 150*, and J. O. Murray, Edinburgh Academicals, 122*. Curiously enough in the matches in which these players took part no other batsman reached 30. Besides in minor matches, D. Johnstone for Colonel Menzies’ X I. scored 207*, and T. A. Gourlay for Kirkcaldy, 100*. It will be observed all were undefeated. The outstanding performance of the day falls to be credited to Combey, the Royal High School professional, who, like G. W . Jupp of the Carlton, the Saturday previous, made merry at the expense of Leith Caledonian, which team suffered their third severe reverse in succession. It is a pity to see this old club, which has included in its ranks many fine cricketers— Dr. Hordern was a member two years ago and R. H. Lambert of Irish renown some time in the nineties— losing ground so rapidly. Combey with six wickets for 16 was chiefly instrumental in dis­ missing them for 44, and then he helped himself to 150 while his fellow-batsmen came—and went. But he was lucky to get so far, though he batted splendidly ; an easy chance at 42 should have closed his career. llie second match under the new rule by which pro­ fessionals are barred was played at Raeburn Place between those old opponents, Edinburgh Academicals and Watson­ ians. A draw was the result, but the honours of the game lay with the Academicals, for whom J. C. Murray scored a fine 122* in a total of 231 for 7 wickets. He fell first ball last week, and doubtless felt he must do something big to retrieve his reputation. When time was called the Watsonians had lost 8 wickets for 104. The match did nothing to disprove the idea that non-professional cricket will be for the good of the game. The Carlton-Perthshire match also ended in a draw; what else can one expect if two strong sides give them­ selves only some four hours to attain a definite issue ? During the afternoon ten wickets fell for 359 runs. In the west Benham was the hero of the hour. The old Essex professional, opening the innings for Drumpellier against Clydesdale, gave a magnificent display of vigorous