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The Spike or Victoria University College Review September 1927

[introduction]

Patron: Professor Mackenzie; President: Professor Hunter: Club Captain: R. H. C. Mackenzie; Deputy Club Captain: A. M. Hollings; Hon. Secretary: R. E. Tripe; Hon Treasurer: C. H. Hain; Committee: C. H. Arndt. W. J. Hall, J. Greig. and W. Caldwell.

The 1926-27 season was on the whole a very successful one. The first XI, in the Senior Grade, did exceedingly well before Christmas, and although good fortune deserted us later on, there is every promise of a far more successful record this season. The most noteworthy event of the cricketing year was the Wellington provincial record established by Hollings in scoring three successive centuries. Indeed, this player's batting throughout the year was of a particularly high order, and he played regularly in the Wellington representative team, making several good scores.

The lower teams all put up good performances, and the proportion of matches won was very satisfactory. The fielding throughout the Club was in general good, and we hope that the standard may yet be improved upon this season.

During the winter months the Club organised a dance in the 'Varsity Gymnasium, and this achieved the dual feat of being both a financial and a social success. The orchestra provided excellent music, and all those present spent a very enjoyable evening. Had the night not been so wet, it is possible that the dance would have been an even greater success.

The Inter-'Varsity Shield Match—Won by V.U.C. by 71 runs.

As the Tournament was to be held at Auckland this season we arranged with the Aucklanders to play our annual match up there at the same time. Travelling with the various Tournament teams from the New page 59 Zealand 'Varsities was naturally very enjoyable, but hardly conducive to sleep, the inevitable consequence being that we felt more like bed than batting on the Friday afternoon.

How our skipper contrived to win the toss will always remain a mystery. However, keeping his presence of mind admirably, he sent Hollings and Osborne to the wickets. The outfield was very slow and runs were hard to get, and though Hollings tried to open out after a while, unfortunately he only succeeded in getting himself out. Mackenzie and Tripe became associated later and gave a splendid display of batting, both men scoring freely all round the wicket. Tripe kept the fieldsmen on the off always on the alert until a straight-through from Saunders found the wickets. The partnership had put on 100, of which the outgoing batsman had compiled an excellent 50. Mackenzie carried on in good style, and with McDonald improved the score by another thirty until the latter was caught in the long field. Hain was next, and in characteristic fashion provided some of the brightest cricket of the day. but the remainder of our batsmen could not stay, and Mackenzie, attempting to force the pace, was last out with the score board reading 212; our skipper had played a fine innings which was absolutely chanceless. Saunders was easily the best of the Auckland bowlers, keeping a good length and turning the ball considerably both ways.

Williams and Hudson opened to Hollings and Tripe, the latter bowling with eight men on the on. Hudson became desperate when ball after ball swerved away past his legs, but Mackenzie did not give him a chance; the first time he left his crease he heard "How's that?" and Hudson retired stumped. He was not the only batsman to fall to Tripe's leg theory, however. Garrard and Saunders both batted well, the latter being run out at 48 when well set. For us Tripe and Hollings bowled steadily, and were backed up by very good ground fielding, Hughes, at cover, being especially prominent. Cormack proved an excellent partnership breaker. Mackenzie gave a fine exhibition behind the stumps, several spectators remarking that he was on a par with Wellington's brilliant young 'keeper, Ken James.

Thirty behind on the first innings Hollings and Osborne gave us a great start, putting on 96 for the first wicket. Osborne played a very Sound innings, scoring well all round the wicket. Mackenzie was the next to get going, and he and Hollings, batting beautifully, took the score along in leans and bounds till the latter was bowled by a typical Eden Park submarine two short of the century. Hollings played his usual polished innings scoring off anything at all loose; the slow outfield alone prevented his score from being much larger. After he was out no one stayed long with Mackenzie, who played his best knock of the season without doubt, following his first innings with one even sounder and more brilliant.

With 160 to get on a fairly good wicket. Auckland were soon in difficulties. Both Hollings and Tripe bagged a wicket early and from then on Auckland were always fighting. Saunders was again their best batsman, and with Hudson nearly saved the game, but thanks to our fielding, which was really brilliant for the first time for many seasons, we managed either to run our opponents out or catch 'em. Hain and Cormack, as well as taking great catches, proved more than useful change bowlers. The brunt of the attack fell on Tripe and Hollings again, but this time their work was a real pleasure on account of the fine fielding. Mackenzie once more was a "Strudwick" in disguise behind the wickets.

Details follow:—Victoria University College.

First Innings. Second Innings.
A. M. Holligs, c J. McDougall, b Saunders 26 b Garrard 98
R. W. Osborne, b Smih 6 b Saunders 33
A. C. Tripe, b Saunders 50 b Knowles Smith 1
H. E. Moore, l.b.w. b Saunders 1 b Saunders 0
H. W. Cormack, run out 7 l.b.w. b Saunders 0
R. H. C. MacKenzie, c and b Saunders 66 c Binmore, b Garrard 36
J. Macdonald, c Yates, b Saunders 14 b Garrard 10
T M. Hughes, b Saunders 4 st. Wilson, b Saunders 0
C. H. Arndt, l.b.w. b Garrard 12 not out 2
C. H. Hain, c Rix-Trott, b Garrard 12 b Garrard 7
M. P. Robinson, not out 0 l.b.w. b Saunders 1
Extras 22 Extras 14
Total 212 Total 202
page 60
First Innings. Second Innings.
Bowling: Saunders, G wickets for 91 5 for 32
Garrard. 2 wickets for 50 4 for 41
K. Smith, 1 wicket for 28 1 for 38
Bannister 0 for 26
Binmore, no wickets for 16 0 for 20