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Adventures on the Cricket Tour

No Games Lost.

Tindill's Great Performance.

During Christmas and New Year the annual country tour was made, five matches being played. As far as results are concerned the tour was not quite as successful, as in the previous year, but no matches were lost. The first game resulted in a win over a weak Wanganui eleven by an innings and 232 runs. H. W. Osborn and E. Tindill made a century each, and B. A. Paetz collected 76.

The Hawera and New Plymouth games were both drawn, the latter match rousing the ire of the local Press owing to our slow scoring in the second innings, when "Stonewall" Bailey batted for an hour and a half for 7 runs, He forced the pace in the first half hour, in which He amassed 5 runs, but during the remainder of his innings he was somewhat restrained.

In the next game at Marlon the team achieved its main object of the tour by defeating Rangitikei by the large margin of nine wickets. The game against Manawatu was also drawn, but was notable for an extremely fine performance on the part of P. Wilson and E. Tindill in our second innings. This pair put on 307 runs, taking our score from two wickets for 6 runs to three wickets for 313 runs. Wilson made 196, and Tindill was unbeaten with 144.

Tindill, who was invited to join the team on account of no 'Varsity wicket-keeper being available, was easily the best batsman, scoring 511 runs in all at an average of 85. 16. Bailey also was very consistent. J. White, after a good start in Wanganui, was unfortunate in being the repeated victim of some incredible decisions. The bowling was entrusted mainly to H. Osborn and W. Dormer, supported by K. Struthers and P. Wilson. Bailey also bowled on occasions, but desisted after repeatedly injuring his toe with his stock ball.

Social activities were not neglected, and some of the team proved more conspicuous in these than on the cricket field. Our manager (R Osborn) made gallant but futile effort to restrain the said activities in New Plymouth. His action was not popular, but doubtless he was endeavouring to reinstate himself in the eyes of the Wellington Cricket Association.

From the start it was obvious that Bailey's mentality was not all it might be, and this was fully borne out in Wanganui by his vain effort's to use a telephone in an intelligent manner.

The party which travelled in the Essex were frequently a source of irritation to others, owing to their habit of arriving at a destination in an extemely flushed and loud-voiced manner, obviously duo Jo the internal application of Highland dew.

In Hawera there was a sick bank manager staying at the same hotel as the team, and it gratifying to know that he survived the experience. Once again B. A. Paetz seemed to consider the tour at an end tm reaching Hawera, and he bolted back there on the first opportunity.

At the conclusion of the game at New Plymouth a boat race was hold oil the lake at Pukekura Park, which resulted in an easy win for the crew of Maud, this crew was also successful in winning by a large margin the subsequent splashing competition.

In Marton, while some of the teams were constructing a minute examination of the hotel piano's interior, an apoplectic proprietor appeared on the scene without knocking, but fortunately no deaths resulted. Another regrettable feature of the tour was the lack of restraint of a certain player when visiting a brewer friend in Palmerston North. Those interested in the posibilities of these tours are invited to read the log compiled by J. C. White, in which all events of note are recorded. An expurgated edition is now available.

We have to again thank Mr. S. Harcourt for kindly lending Maud to us. She gave her crew many a thrill, but under Kirk's careful handling no serious mishaps occurred, though she was once mistaken for a hearse on the Wangaehu Hill. Her unladylike habit of spitting oil is, however, to be deprecated.

In conclusion, the committee would like to see more interest taken in these tours by club members, particularly young players. In a club as large as ours there should be no need to invite outside players to accompany the team.