Cricket 1913

352 CR ICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME Jun e 28, 1913. There were two centuries for G. S. & W. Railway v. G.N. Railway of Ireland (see list), and the former side declared at 312 for 4, and then dismissed their opponents for 93. Scoring in Ulster was slightly lower ; but there were several good efforts recorded. In the Ulster League Millership made 97 for North Down v. Ulster, and J. A. Acheson 83* for Down­ patrick v. Cliftonville. Holywood lost for the first time. W. Pollock for them had 5 for 23 ; but his brother, J. Pollock, took 5 for 15 for North of Ireland. The defeat was a narrow one— by 7 runs only— 92 to 85. Wicket queer. Waringstown dismissed Lisburn for 16, McKenzie taking 7 for 8. In South Wales and district the chief game on Saturday was, of course, that between Swansea and District and Mr. C. O. H. Sewell’s XI., the score of which is given elsewhere. Bestwick had a benefit at Neath, where Cardiff met and had to submit to a crushing defeat from the home side. A. E. Freethy (81*), J. D. Davis (58), and J. W. Jones (41) contributed well to Neath's total of 234. Norman Riches alone could do much for the visitors, making 61 in a total of 133. Hacker bowled finely for the winners, and had 6 for 61. St. Fagan’s put out Barry for 80, and ran up 105 for 2 (C. E. Cording 48, V. Vaughan 34). The Hills Plymouth and Briton Ferry game had an unfortunate ending. Briton Ferry made 183 (J. Y. Richards 52*, E. Cooper 39, Webb 38). At the end of the innings an objection was made to the Briton Ferry umpire by the Merthyr men. They alleged that he had been partial and unfair. The Briton Ferry captain refused to have him changed, and thereupon the Merthyr leader withdrew his side from the gafne. Though without Vogler (playing at Swansea) Llanelly had no difficulty in defeating Llandovery-—scores, 292 for 4, dec., and 66. Percy Rees (106), A. R. Trubshaw (57), and W. Davies (56) all scored freely for the winners, and Trubshaw bowled with great effect, taking 7 for 31. Newport (131— E. S. Phillips 40) just managed to beat Clifton (116). Ross (175— H. West 40) beat Chepstow (125—W. Thomas 51, E. T. Hill 35). For their easy victory over Abergavenny (175—Dr. W. S. Tresawna 65, C. W. Wildblood 38), Monmouth Grammar School (230 for 5) were largely indebted to one of their masters, E. P. Wood, who made 130. The Durham League’s matches were played on plumb wickets, and most of them provided plenty of leather-hunting. Boldon easily defeated Whitburn. The latter made 150 (James 52), Boldon 157 for 3 (J. Dowson, quite a veteran. 65*). Durham City, waking up, beat Seaham Harbour in hollow fashion. They declared at 250 (A. P. Ashley 106*, A. F. Maynard 57, W. R. Wilson 55*), and got rid of Seaham for 59, Sorby taking 7 wickets for 36. Dennis Hendren made a magnificent 149 of 288 for 8 com­ piled by Burnmoor v. Henden. A five and twenty-seven 4’s were included. He gave a chance when only 2 ; but this was missed, and he went on for two hours thereafter. No one else made more than 30, at which figure J. Clarke and J. G. Ruther- j ford stopped. Hendon made a plucky reply— 244. V. Marshall j (52) and W. Harrison (50) were chief contributors. Philadel- { phia (136 for 5—R. Hall 53, A. J. Ingram 38*) defeated Eppleton, | still without Cox, by 5 wickets, the Rev. W. L. Law’s 51 being the best performance for the losers. J. R. Harrison (5 for 24) and A. H. Walton (4 for 19) were in good bowling fettle for Philadelphia. At Westoe South Shields won an exciting match v. Chester- le-Street. Harry's 54 was the chief item in the home side’s 165. For Chester F. W. Lennox, a new man this season, had 7 for 30. Shields, by the way, had E. Hain, a Cornwall county player, J out for the first time. Thackeray (75) played up finely for the I visitors ; but the rest found Harry, McAndrew, and Clunie too good for them, and after struggling hard went under by 17 runs, j The great match of the day was at Carley Hill, where Wear­ mouth and Sunderland met. These two clubs are at the top of | the League table. Wearmouth luuL a record gate ; but there was no definite result to the game. Sunderland, after losing their captain early, showed what an excellently balanced side they are by making 237 (J. M. Russell 52, C. Pickersgill 49, E. L. Squance 41). Rothery fell to a fine catch by J._Hopper at 1 square leg when the colliery side batted ; but T. Prince (43) and J. Finch (47) made a stand which rendered defeat unlikely, and at the close the score was 146 for 6. Our North Staffordshire Porthill Park still continue to shape like coming champions, their win last Saturday being their eighth of the season, and their seventh in succession— and they have still to find their masters. Norton, their latest victims, were well beaten ; but they had the satisfaction of recording the biggest aggregate scored this season against Porthill’s powerful attack. That they were able to do so was chiefly due to two players— the brothers Smith— one of whom played brilliant cricket, when the other kept up his end. John Smith’s militant 62 included 13 fours, and Arthur saw four men out— including his brother— whilst getting a patiently played 17. Norton’s total was just a gross, but in spite of this fair aggregate Porthill’s two clever bowlers came out with excellent figures, Barnes having six for 35, and H. Eardley four for 42. For a change the All-England player failed with the b a t; but the visitors were winners with six wickets in hand, Fred Heath being again to the fore with 72*, a well-hit but rather fortunate innings. Crewe Alexandria’s experiences have been exactly the reverse of those of the present leaders, for they have not yet gained a vic­ tory. Nor are they likely to do until they can become a more dependable fielding side. Tunstall, their last week’s opponents, passed the Second Century, but their score would probably have been about a third of what it was if the Crewe men had held catches. Morgan, the Tunstall professional, is such a powerful hitter that he only needs a succession of lives to run up a big score quickly, and he had them at Crewe. He batted brilliantly in scoring 109— 16 fours, 3 threes, 7 twos— but three lives were given him, and he should also have been run out. His best helper was R. Harris, who played sound if rather slow cricket in getting 39. The Veteran George Price was Crewe’s most successful bowler, with five for 55. The Alexandra were doleful beginners, their seventh wicket going down with but 23 scored, but F. Fox (29) and A. Cope (30*) made the score into one of respectable proportions, and might have saved the game but for a superb catch by H. Downs which meant the retirement of Fox. Downs was also a successful bowler, with four for 16, and Morgan had the same number of victims for 29. At Leek the home club were beaten for the second week in succession, and Fenton’s victory put them in second place. Lee did well to dispose of the opposition for 124, of which J. G. Drake claimed a fine 70 (10 fours, 9 twos), and they had a bowler who greatly distinguished himself, Day accounting for nine batsmen for 38 runs. But the home club’s prospects of victory were soon upset by Deyes and H. Skellern, who had three of them back in the pavilion before double figures were chronicled, and continued their devastating careers without much opposition. Leek’s batting flickered out at 51, the big Yorkshireman having seven wickets for 24, and Skellern three for 23. Other bowling triumphs occurred at Stoke, where the home team were opposed by Knypersley, Sedgwick having five Stoke wickets for 49, and for the other side Nichols had seven for 19, and H. Burt three for 11. Stoke finished at 125 and Knypersley at 48. The start of this match did not suggest such small scoring, P. Briggs (27) and W. D. Kirkby (48) putting on 70 for Stake’s first wicket; but afterwards the bowlers were irresistible. Heavy scoring caused a drawn game at Longton, the home club counting 188 for four (dec.) and Silverdale 121 for four. The match provided two fine batting efforts, A. G. Baxter getting 77 by finished cricket for the home team, and Frank Ellams 79* for the villagers. Ellams was extraordinarily aggressive at times, hitting every ball of one over to the boundary, and in all 17 fours were included in his scoring strokes. A. Kent 40* and A. Smith 29 were other useful scorers for Longton. Burslem, the champions, have not been defeated since Porthill were their masters on 17th May, and, contrary to expectations, it is their bowling rather than their batting which brings them success. Their fifth victims were Stone, whose batting was of so little account that it only lasted an hour, and Bernard Meakin’s 14* was top score. Albert Cook and Mills were both at their best with the ball, the professional having three for 37 and the captain seven for 27. Stone’s sixth wicket fell at 63, but the whole side were out for 69, solely due to Cook’s fierce onslaught. This speed-merchant finished off the innings in very summary fashion,