Fred Ongley

The state of the match when it was resumed yesterday morning was interesting; Otago had run up 251 for their first innings, and the dismissal of Uttley and Borton for comparatively few caused North Otago's chances to appear anything but promising. M. Ongley placed a more healthy aspect upon matters, however, and when stumps were drawn at the close of the first day's play the score stood at 140 for five wickets. Jones and Uttley, upon resuming yesterday morning, played very quietly, and frequent changes of bowling did not effect a change until 200 runs had been reached. Ongley now arrived within measurable distance of his century, being 92, and it appeared certain that he would attain his ambition. With the exception of Mowberry, however, who spent just a few minutes in making 11, the other batsmen cost the bowlers analysis nothing, and Ongley was still four a three figure score when the innings closed. He was always safe and never looked like getting out throughout his innings of upwards four hours. His play was steady, and he never gave way to temptation to have a go, though at times his strokes were forceful, more particularly his off-driving. The innings was a collapse at the close, and although the local men, with 50 to get of five wickets, looked as though they should have topped their opponents score they finished 42 runs behind. Otago made an excellent start in their second venture, opening with the two Adamses, whose lucky star was apparently in the ascendant, for more gave more than one chance - certainly difficult - early in their innings. T.A. Adams settled down, however, and showed very strong defence, while A Adams never appeared happy in making 39. The North Otago bowlers were starting to tire, and Graham found it easy to force the pace, making 43 in a very short time. T.A. Adams having been told of his proximity to his century, in his anxiety to score fell victim to Jones behind the wickets. With four wickets down Otago declared the innings closed, leaving North Otago two and a half hours in which to score 250 runs. Borton and Uttley opened well, but it was evident that the wicket was wearing, and it commenced to kick. Borton, after getting a good start lifted a fast rising ball to leg, and was caught. Grant ran himself out foolishly; F. Ongley and Jones stayed together for some time, and play was very slow. Jones, after getting knocked about by fast-rising balls, one of which hit him in the throat was pleased to go out, and the others evinced a like disposition. The innings closed 30 minutes before time, with North Otago in a very substantial minority. The causes of the difference in the scores are several. The ground fielding of the local men was not good, but few of them starting after the ball early enough; catches were dropped, but that is always the case in a big innings, and the chief factor in the defeat of the local men as the fact that they went in to bat at the end of a two-days match, very much distressed with the heat and the burden of two days' strenuous wicket. Several batsmen showed good defence, and it was evident that, given such practice as is obtainable on the excellent wickets of the Empire City, North Otago would be little, if anything inferior, to those of Dunedin, from the representative team is exclusively selected. There was certainly not a prouder innings played during the match than that of M. Ongley, his main failing being a marked inability to judge his running between the wickets.

Short Scorecard(s)

Representative - Friendly -

North Otago vs Otago 2nd XI at Carisbrook, Dunedin
Otago 2nd XI 251 ( T.D. Adams 71, C. Beale 27, A Adams 27, P. Courttis 25, J. Graham 22, Kilgour 20, W. Ogg 14no, J. Moore 11, F.W. Ongley 8-121, G. Uttley 2-79 ) & 213-4dec ( T. Adams 83, J. Graham 43no, A Adams 39, C. Beale 21, G. Ongley 2-33 )
North Otago 299 ( M. Ongley 95no, F. Jones 28, F.W. Ongley 23, Hudson 16, I.A. Borton 15, H. Mowberry 11, Cummings 5-44, Courtis 2-40 ) & 106 ( G. Uttley 44, I.A. Borton 13, Ogg 3-14, Beale 3-19, Courtis 2-12 )
Otago 2nd XI won by 49 runs
Full scorecard for the match

Player Pages:
Ivan Borton | C Grant | F Jones | H Mowberry | Fred Ongley | M Ongley | G Uttley |