Cricket 1913

J u ly 12, 1913. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 407 North Staffordshire and District League cricketers had a rare afternoon's sport last Saturday— in spite of the dull weather—- and the games produce! some of the heaviest scoring of the season. Attendances at the various grounds during the current campaign would seem to signify th at public interest is on the wane ; but in point of quality the play was never at such a high standard, and matches were never so enjoyable. Up to date the only drawback to the proceedings has been that no club can be found to check the powerful Porthill Park side, who win week after week with the utmost ease. Their latest victims were Fenton, who are usually doughty opponents, but on this occasion surrendered almost without a struggle, though the winners certainly lost more wickets than is their wont. Porthill’s score of 193 for 8 (dec.) was mainly the work of three men, Barnes getting 83*, H. F. Wood 33, and J. S. Heath 31. As usual the England player’s runs were got by artistic cricket, and his principal scoring strokes were eleven 4’s. Fenton commenced badly when Harry Dearing, their best batsman, managed to get run out at 2, and Barnes and H. Eardley caused two more men to go at the same score. These were not the only failures, for eight batsmen only managed half-a-dozen runs among them, and the aggregate was but 56. Barnes had six for 27. J.ardly had 2 for 24, and two men were run out. Burslem, the present champions, had a most exciting match with Longton, who for a long time threatened to either win or draw, but finished by losing their last four wickets in seven minutes— two b y the first two balls of the last over— and were beaten b y 35 runs. The winners had six double figure scores in their total of 199, A . Hollowood 62, and A. Davenport 46, being chief contributors. Each player's score was his highest of the season ; Hollowood had 11 boundaries and his comrade 8. Barber (6 for 89) bowled capitally for Longton. The visitors started fairly well with 43 up for 2, and E. G. B axter and A. Bradbury followed with a stand which promised to win the match, the score being taken to 126 before they were parted. Baxter, the league’s leading left-hander, played glorious cricket for 65, and Bradbury made 45 in less skilful fashion. Longton wanted but 62 with six wickets standing, but Mills brought about a big collapse, his last six overs, plus two balls, getting him five victims for six runs. Stoke were well whacked b y Stone, who had eight wicket in hand when the winning hit was made. Dan Robinson was in fine fettle with the ball for the winners, taking six for 50. Nichols 22 was the best effort by any Stoke player. B. C. Montegnon (49) and Robinson (28) put on 90 for Stone’s opening partnership, and B. Meakin (36) also scored freely. The winners cried content at 165 — 65 ahead— with 6 wickets down. Knypersley were another team to win easily, scoring 141 for 2 as against Crewe A lexandra’s 134. The latter batted first, but the winners had the best of the wicket— the roller did it— and H. E. Bourne 69* did almost as he pleased with the opposi­ tion bowling. His association with Sedgwick (33) gave 82 runs for Knypersley’s first wicket, and E. Mosedale (23) also helped. The Alexandra’s best scorers were the two veterans of the side, George Price— unluckily run out— getting 31 and Edgar Osborn 26. There were no exceptional bowling performances in the game. Heavy scoring characterised the match at Silverdale, Leek declaring at 226 for 6, and the home men responding with 189 5. Leek’s score included 119 (22 four’s) from Harry Ellerton, the biggest innings of the season in First Division games. He was fortunate in having three chances unaccepted, but played bonny cricket for all that. D ay, with 35, was his leading assist­ ant. Silverdale made a weak start, but a third wicket stand of hut a run short of the century altered affairs. The heroes of it were Frank Ellams 60— eleven 4’s, and J. Ankers 64— thirteen 4 ’s. Rungetting at Tunstall was below the average, the home club scoring 127, and Norton's response being 50 less. T. Skel- lam (42), an ex-Nortonian, was chief scorer for the winners and °f the match, and R. Harris (28) helped him to put on 67 for the second wicket. The winners’ innings was summarily terminated by R. Hunt, who in 7 overs had 5 for 11. Norton’s batting cracked up badly before Morgan and H. Downs, and 24 from Levi Evans was top score. Morgan had six for 40, and his coadjutor four for 31. A League record was set up in second division games, E. Nichol of Burslem II., scoring 160* against Longton II., his scoring strokes being twenty-six 4’s, a 3, twelve 2’s, and twenty-nine singles. Nichol is a deposed first-teamer, and should now again get promotion. Rain was a spoil-sport in Irish matches on Saturday, more especially in the north. One century was recorded in Dublin, one in Ulster, J . Anderson making 104* for Leicester v. Curragh District, and D. R. T aylcr 106* for Lisburn v. Banbridge (North of Ireland League). Ulster declared at 125 for 7 v. Holywood, who were given only an hour to get the runs in— and got them, thanks mainly to the forcing play of W . Pollock (43) and W. Birch ( 33 *)- The last ball of the game, a fast one to leg, beat batsman and stumper, and went to boundary for 4 byes. J. G. Aston (97, Clontarf v. Pembroke), D . A. Milling (67, Leinster v. Curragh Brigade), W . R. Williams (61, Cork Co. v. Sixth Division), Sergeant-Major Moore (69, Sixth Division v. Cork Co.), W. K eys (53 in total of 88, Co. Carlow v. Castlecomer), H. Dodson (80*, Castlecomer v. Co. Carlow), and J. Curran (77 also for Castlecomer) made scores worth noting in good matches. ----------------------- ---------------------------— Liverpool Jottings. (B y G. A. B ro o k in g ). Calling in at the city office of the Liverpool Club last week, I was fortunate to find Mr. Roper in. In the course of a talk with him I discovered th at he is very desirous that the game should be brightened, and, could he have his way, he would introduce both the League system of point-scoring, and the Time- Lim it arrangement in connection with our local matches. Now Mr. Roper is a great enthusiast, and in his younger days he was a splendid player— representing both Lancashire and Yorkshire — and thoroughly understands the game, so th at it cannot be said he is not practical. Y e t I cannot bring myself to believe th at either of these innovations is required. Here and there, in a few games now and again, slow play is to be met with ; but in the majority of local contests this season, I am confident the reverse is the case. In discussing the League system of point-scoring in last week’s issue, I stated th at it might be tried for a season— if the players would agree— but little would be gained by the change. R e­ garding ‘ ‘ time-limit " cricket, I am dead against this. Mr. Roper on the other hand says we must do something to interest the spectators who have succumbed to the fascination of Association football. To me, this seems like degenerating the game into mere slogging exhibitions, in which most of the fine points would be eliminated. I admit th at it would speed up the play and most probably be very interesting, but don’t— please don't— say this is c ric k e t! Tip and run, a game most of us played before we reached our teens, was fascinating ; but nobody would seriously pretend it was “ the game.” Let the past count for something. Association football is a good game in its place ; but because the rank and file go mad on this easily understood pastime, it is surely no reason why cricket should be altered so radically to tickle the fancy of the crowd who pay little— at some grounds nothing— to view the play. And may not a drawn game be interesting ? I can remember a good many that were. It should be noted th at Mr. Roper does not favour the time-limit in county matches, as he rightly says the conditions are apt to alter much during a three days’ game. A t Sefton Park the home side easily beat New Brighton owing to capital batting by Blease, Miller, and Curtis ; the Leicester­ shire professional was also among the sticks, securing 6 wickets at a low cost. Scores, 247 for 9 to 122. Waterloo Park beat Stanley after a desperate finish, by 5 runs, mainly owing to a splendid not out innings of 38 by J. Wilson. His namesake, T. B. Wilson, for Stanley secured 9 wickets (including the hat trick), so that it was not his fault that his side lost. Bramboro’ Pool and Wallasey drew at Bramboro’. Frank Sugg scored a dashing 102* for Wallasey ; but brother W alter was caught for a cypher. F. Pugh, a really good batsman, hit finely for 88* on behalf of the home side. The additions to the thousand runs list since last week are : — 5— Rhodes (W.), July 3 ; 6— Relf (A. E.), July 4 ; 7— Sey­ mour (Jas.), July 9. Booth (M. W .), July 8, is the first man to qualify for the hundred wickets list.