Cricket 1912

J u n e 8, 1912. CEICKET: A WEEKLY EECOED OP THE GAME. 211 Cricket in Scotland. B y H am ish . T h e most important fixture on Saturday was the Scottish trial game at Broughty Ferry, between sides drawn from the Edinburgh and Glasgow districts on the one hand and the Rest of Scotland on the other ; but whether the match will give the selectors much assistance in choosing the sides for the engagements with the Colonials is very doubtful. From the twenty-two players originally chosen there were eight withdrawals, and, in consequence, neither side was representative. And to add to the difficulties J. F. Gibson, the Cities’ wicketkeeper, received a severe blow on the forehead early in the Rest’s innings and had to retire, while W. F. Turnbull was practically incapacitated owing to a damaged finger. i- ■* The Cities’ team was beaten ; but in reality it emerged with most of the honours of the match. The weather was raw and cold, the wicket did not play too well, many catches were missed,^ and altogether the trial was anything but satisfactory, except perhaps from a financial point of view. Two players, however, both in the Cities’ side, added to their reputations. These were T. D. Watt, Watsonians, who, bowling right through the innings, captured six wickets for 88 without receiving any substantial support from the others, and J. B. Walker, Greenock, who scored 53 in good style. For the Rest R. G. Tait, Forfarshire (34) and J. A. Ferguson, Perthshire (59 not out) played the best cricket of the day ; they are at present the best batsmen we possess. G. K. Chalmers behind the stumps was another who showed he had lost none of his wonted smartness, and W . Webster, Aberdeenshire (4 for 40) did some excellent trundling. IMS' B y reason of the trial many outstanding club games were robbed of their importance, and surprise results cropped up. The Grange gave Selkirk (without the brothers Grieve) a severe drubbing at Raeburn Place—265 for 4 to 79 ; but their other eleven, chiefly untried recruits playing on reputation, was just as severely handled in its turn by the Royal High School F. P. at Holyrood : 85 to 329 for 8, and the School’s professional, a first-class bat, did not go to the w ick e t! Drumpellier had their three leading amateurs at Broughty Ferry ; but Benham was in capital form, which was good enough to inflict on Carlton their second defeat. He captured six wickets for 32 and then hit up 49 (two sixes and six fours). Another professional who was in fettle was Sellars, Leith Caledonian, who, against Dalkeith, had 71 and six wickets for 42. For Watsonians (172 for 6) against Stewart’s College (F.P.) (97) A. F. Wilson had seven wickets for 22 in 24 overs. A t Larbert Stenhousemuir suffered their first defeat, beaten by Edinburgh Academicals, who were the only club to overcome them last season. The visitors scored 177, and got rid of their opponents for 74. The trial spoilt the County matches between Perth­ shire and Stirling County, and Clackmannan County and Forfarshire. The big counties, who were much below strength, could only muster 75 runs each, after the other sides had collected 227 for 7 and 136 respectively. For Clackmannan T. A. Bowie (60) played his best innings of the season, and West (44) enjoyed his usual success against Ringrose & Co. In the other game A. M. P. Lyle (67 not out) did splendidly, while the bowling calls for special mention. Benskin (9 for 53) captured all the Stirling wickets that fell to the bowlers, and J. W. Ferguson (9 for 42), on the other side, all but one. By their victory over Uddingston Ayr have firmly established themselves at the head of the Western Union Championship, and so well are they going 'at present that I fail to see how they are to be deposed. •»239 for 7 (T. C. Dunlop 70) to 135 was a fair index of the relative merits of theY two sides on Saturday. Glasgow Academicals (167 for 2) against Greenock (128) accomplished their best performance, and Cobley’s 82 not out was a masterly effort. Clydesdale (142) beat Fergusiie (92), and Kelbume (93) defeated West of Scotland (56) in games in which the bowling was much better than the batting. The match between Gala and Peebles County at Mossilee was the only game of note on the Borders, and it was characterised by heavy scoring. Gala declared with 209 for 6, and Peebles replied with 177 for 2. For Gala F. H. Hoggarth (78 not out) and the Rev. W. S. Jenkins (35 not out) addedT105 without|being separated, and for the County T. Kyle (95 not out) and M. M. Thorburn (59) added 128 for the second wicket. * T. Kyle, up in years now, used to be professional with Hawick and later with Melrose, but he now plays as an amateur for Peebles County. Men of the Moment in London Club Cricket. T h e B a tt in g o f B o les — J ew e l l a n d H am m o n d — A F a s t B o w l e r — W h a t do y o u T h in k ?-—A F o rest H il l B o w l e r — Two C e n t u r y M a k e r s — F in e A l l ­ r o u n d P l a y e r — A W o r t h y S o n — E alin g M atch W in n e r — A r e w e S elf ish ?— W h y C en tu r ie s a r e m a d e . (B y “ S u re C atc h . ” ) I am pleased to hear that P. H. Slater, one of the most popular club cricketers in London, has agreed to captain South London in the coming Inter-District Cham­ pionship Charity Matches. Although in these games the well-known Dulwich leader has not yet delighted us with one of his big scores, it is highly probable he will do so this season, for such a fine batsman cannot keep on failing. Apart from his run-getting ability, however, P. H. Slater is just the man for a captain. He is a thorough sportsman and a popular personality amongst all cricketers. He will have a team almost up to county form to lead, and I shall not be a bit surprised if he again wins the London Champion­ ship for South London. Against Old Charlton last Saturday I notice P. H. Slater played a beautiful innings of 66. He is in fine form this season, and if he gets set in the coming match with North London he will delight the crowd at Catford Bridge. Possessing a fine defence, the Dulwich captain has a stylish stand, at the crease, and is able to persuade the ball to the boundary on either side of the wicket. It is not surprising that he is such a fast scorer. T h e B a t t in g of B o l e s . Is there a better cricketer in London at the present moment than F. F. Boles, of the Spencer C.C. ? Against Croydon he played one of the most masterly innings imaginable. In less than an hour he actually scored 102, hitting two 6’s and eighteen 4’s. It is a treat to watch Boles scoring runs. He takes risks, yet never looks like getting out. He goes for the bowling all the time ; and proves that attack is the best defence. With a fine upright stand Boles swings the bat very easily in meeting the ball. Always giving the ball the face of the bat, he scores so quickly because he can place the ball on the leg side as well as he can on the off. He makes his strokes with power, and keeps the ball very low. J e w e l l a n d H a m m o n d . Another attractive rungetter is M. F. S. Jewell, of the Sutton Club. Jewell has scarcely what I should call a solid defence, simply because he is more of an hitter than a defender ; but he can stop the real good ones as well as most men, and no other club cricketer I know can make the “ Hayward” shot past cover quite so well as Jewell, who curiously enough is himself a positively brilliant field at cover-point. G. W. Hammond is another man who is in tip-top form this season. He is doing great work for Hornsey. A vigorous type of batsman, Hammond can hit all round the wicket with wonderful power, while as a bowler he is a master of length and varies his pace very skilfully. A F a s t B o w l e r . Many of my friends regard H. J. Mayes, known at Beckton as “ Sonny,” as the best bowler in London club cricket. We shall be able to see what Mayes can do with