Fred Ongley

When the North Otago Cricket Association arranged that a team from this district should visit Dunedin at Christmas time, they stipulated that Otago should put into the field as good a team as was available in order that the local men might have an opportunity to improve their style of play. There was, then, no idea of winning, and not even the most sanguine member of the team anticipated a loss by so comparatively small a margin as four wickets. The weather on Christmas Day was a little showery, though warm, and the rain did not interfere with play at all, although, of course, the bowlers were considerably handicapped. Winning the toss, Uttley, captain the North Otago team, went in to bat, and his team remained at the wickets until 5 o'clock. The batting was for the most part slow, but safe, Uttley and F. Ongley making an excellent stand of 54 and 49 respectively. Curran, however, took only a very few minutes to hit up 21, and the innings closed with the surprisingly good total of 168 against such bowling as that of Reardon, and Eckhoff and Chadwick. But if the North Otago batting was good, their fielding, contrary to expectations, was decidedly bad, for, though the ground fielding was keen, and, for the most part, neat, the catching was execrable, and that among the men who can usually stick to anything. Adams and Henderson contributed 82 and 34 to the total of 187 scored by Otago, but an easy chance from Henderson was missed early in his innings, while Adams was similarly missed, but not before he had made a good part of his score. Adams batted very well, taking no risks what-ever, though he gave one or two chances. The wicket had begun to dry on the second day, and was consequently becoming more difficult. Nineteen behind on the first innings, North Otago went in again, and, if they did not reach quite the same total, their batting showed improved form, and almost all contributed fairly well to the score. Jones took a considerable time to make 28, and a stolid innings was relieved only by a hit of 6 over the fence to square leg. Uttley, M. Ongley, Curran, and Waddell also reached double figures. Otago, left with 97 to make, had lost 5 wickets for 49, when Adams, who once again proved a thorn in the side of the local team, was dropped in the long field. R. Ongley, who bowled very well through-out this innings, disposed of Adams, but Chadwick and Turnbull succeeded in knocking of the required runs, Otago thus winning by 4 wickets. There being still some time to go, the innings finished, the total being 181, or 83 runs ahead on the two innings.

Short Scorecard(s)

Representative - Friendly -

North Otago vs Otago XI at Carisbrook, Dunedin
North Otago 168 ( F.W. Ongley 54no, G. Uttley 49, J. Curran 21, Reardon 6-41 ) & 116 ( F. Jones 28, G. Uttley 15, M. Ongley 15, J. Curran 13, W. Wardle 13no, Eckhoff 6-35, Reardon 4-56 )
Otago XI 187 ( Adams 82no, Henderson 34, Stables 17, Eckhold 16, Chadwick 12, F.W. Ongley 6-47, G. Uttley 2-40 ) & 181-9 ( Chadwick 58, Turnbull 33, Adams 32, Roberts 22, Eckhold 11, F.W. Ongley 3-63, E. Glass 2-0, R. Ongley 2-43 )
Otago XI won by 4 wickets
Full scorecard for the match

Player Pages:
J Curran | Fred Ongley | M Ongley | R Ongley | G Uttley | W Wardle |