.gif)
The Spike or Victoria College Review, June 1908
Cricket Club
Cricket Club.
"A leather ball; a bat; a field whereon is laid a wicket;
With twenty-two poor flannelled fools—that's cricket."
—Willis
.jpg)
We sometimes ponder with vague misgivings over the future of our Cricket Club. It differs so radically form the rest of our Clubs. One has somehow come to regard external failure as the necessary condition of internal prosperity in a College club —such is the result of oft-repeated experience. The Tennis Club loses every match in each of the four grades, yet its membership increases year by year, and the Students Association gives it £80 with its benediction and a cheering word to keep it up.; with the Football Club it is a recognized thing to lose matches and apparently the Club thrives on the experience—the Hockey club likewise.
The Cricket Club, with the usual presumptuousness of youth has broken the fetters of tradition. It wins matches. At the close of last season deputations from the other College Clubs, at least so we are given to understand, waited on the Committee of the offending Club and seriously counseled them to take heed of their goings-in and comings-out. The present state of things was preposterous—they were going to write to The Spike about it. The Chairman of Council also has his fling at us, when under cover of his position as a debate judge he lays particular emphasis on the wholesome conservatism of College institutions. We know he means us. Our vice-presidents have signalised their displeasure financially in true "yout the Twee" style. With exceptions more or less—two more and one less.
These attacks have been directed at our 1st XI. The 2nd XI. Has proved entirely amenable to the established tradition. The degree of enthusiasm which takes them out to Day's Bay, Petone, Johnsonville, Ngahauranga, Karroi, Taihape and some other places on successive Saturdays is worthy of commendation.
In the first XI Niven leads the batting averages with a creditable 17.07, and Miller the bowling with equally creditable figures. Amongst the Thirds Bogle leads in batting with 17.7 and F. A. Wilson has the gratifying record of one wicket for two runs. Many people would make a boast of such performances, but we are modest.
page 64
The first XI has been freely congratulated on its success. Dr. Findlay writes to say he is quite convinced that our defeats were not defeats, enclosing the arguments which have lead him to such an eminently reasonable conclusion. We have written to the Wellington Cricket Association requesting, courteously but firmly, that the Championship be awarded to us without delay.
Application was recently made to the City Council for the use of Kelburne Park as a practice ground, but the Council, we think, with good and sufficient cause, decided that our application was premature and advised us to renew it later on. We shall make over the right of application to our inheriting descendants aas an estate in futuro. Our legal adviser says we can do it. He further suggests that we supplement our finances by applying to the City Sinking Fund Commissioners for an advance on the security of it.
Canterbury Match.
Within a short time the fame of the new Club had reached Canterbury College. The result was a challenge. Preliminary negotiations were somewhat protracted owing to the "leave" difficulty. The question of a suitable date also caused some anxiety—so much so that at one time it seemed probable that the project would fall through. Eventually however Canterbury arrived in Wellington, on Sunday, December 8th, in the year of grace 1907 on a bright, sunny morning. On Monday afternoon this memorable match was begun. We won the toss and went in. Our innings was remarkable fo rteh collapse of our first six batsmen and for the stand by Castle and Broad for seventh wicket. The total amounted to eighty runs. There is a difference of opinion as to whether Reid got nine wickets for thirtyone, or only nine wickets for thirty-two.
Canterbury on going in did much better. McLeod batted solidly for his thirty six as also did Jennings and Atkinson—total 102. Niven's average of seven for thirty-two was well deserved. In the second innings de la Mare, who did not seem so palpably nervous as in his first effort, began promisingly with G. V. Bogle. Our captain and Castle each gave an attraction looked better when the last man departed with the score at 160.
Canterbury's second innings was most eventful. Cook left early, but Mulgan stayed on. McLeod was got rid of cheaply, also Atkinson, Hope, and Jennings. When the last man came
page 65
in, Canterbury had thirty runs to get and with Mulgan scoring steadily it looked as if they might do it. McFarlane with twenty-five to go, put up an easy catch which was easily dropped. Runs came gradually—another catch from McFarlane and another miss. At last Mulgan stepped out to Pope—missed—and the match was over, V. C. winning by eight runs.
This is the first inter-varsity cricket match in the annals of the Dominion and rumour says that the occasion has been deemed sufficiently important to justify a reference in this year's Calendar. Next season we visit Canterbury.
Our warmest thanks are due to those ladies, who so graciously ministered to our thirsts, and to those who so kindly entertained our visitors during their stay.
The Victoria College Cricket Club feels pleased with itself.
Following are the results and some of the averages. (Note:—We cannot give all the averages in this issue. Professor Picken is investigating the second averages with the aid of a telescope and a special logarithmic system, and we hope to print the result of his researches in our next issue.)
First XI.
Matches played—11 Won, 5. Lost, 5. (4 on the first innings) Points for 18, against 12.
Batting averages:—Niven 17.07; Perry 16; O'Leary 15.88; de la Mare 13.25.
Bowling averages:—Miller 40 at 9.22; Niven 48 at 9.65; MacDougall 64 at 13.09.
Second XI.
Batting averages:—Bogle 17.7, Mackay 14.4, King 12.5, Caddick 8.5.
Bowling averages:—Bogle 13 at 10.2; Mackay 17 at 10.8; F. P. Kelly 10 at 13.5; Willis 14 at 13.9.