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Outdoor:—

Vacation Sports

Cricket Tour 1957/8

This year's cricket tour again took place around Taranaki, five matches being played resulting in four wins and one toss on the first innings. Although the opposition varied in strength they could seldom be taken lightly by the tourists who comprised Senior and Second grade players.

It looked as though the weather was likely to mar the trip—rain was falling as the party left Wellington —but it cleared before Marton was reached and in unaccustomed sunshine Rangitiki were defeated by six wickets in a one-day game. The home side were dismissed for 119 (W. J. Haskell 5-33) and Victoria, thanks to a fluent 67 by D. G. Poulton, were able to pass this figure fairly easily.

On to Stratford with Mt. Egmont towering above us, we continued to enjoy the sun on our backs and defeated the locals by four wickets, but not before they gave us a severe fright. Needing 50 to win in our second innings, a collapse saw five "batsmen" back in the stand with only 20 on the board. However, B. V. Galvin, W. J. Haskell and a few extras saw us through.

The first game at New Plymouth versus North Taranaki was reduced to one day with never ceasing rain on the first day. This enforced stay inside appeared to upset the majority and although the home side could muster only 152 (W. J. Haskell 7-35), this proved too many by 26, with D. M. Boyer at 29 as top scorer.

North Taranaki Country XI were not as strong, and a win by an innings and 14 runs showed our superiority. W. J. Haskell (again), J. H. Zohrab and J. M. Pope were the main wicket takers, while D. G. Poulton and H. R. Carver scored the runs.

And so finally to Cooks Gardens, Wanganui, where a most exciting game resulted in a win for Victoria by one wicket in the last over.

Wanganui scored 265 at their first attempt with J. H. Zohrab enjoying the fast wicket, taking five for 60, and, despite a maiden century by D. M. Boyer, 237 was not enough. After scoring 147 for the loss of 8 wickets, Wanganui declared, setting V.U.W. 176 to win in two hours. A bad start (five for 50) looked ominous, but W. J. Haskell and D. Ward improved matters with a stand of 85. However, when number eleven, Zohrab, joined Galvin, nine runs were still needed. With Zohrab keeping the ball out, the irrepressible Galvin hit two fours, and a quickly taken bye brought the tour to a fitting conclusion.

The team's thanks are due to manager B. F. Hill and secretary J. H. Zohrab for both their capable preliminary and organizing ability and to our various hosts who entertained us well. We look forward to next year with eager anticipation.

—P.T.