CRICKET

NZ Truth, Issue 932, 6 October 1923, Page 8

CRICKET

LAST YEAR'S CHAMPIONS

Hutt Club's Fine Record

Earlier Days Reviewed.

(By I>. T. Cobcroft.)

Seeing that during tho , lnst . two seasons the Hutt District Cricket Club has come prominently before tho public a few facts relating to Us history should not be out of place. The club was formed on the introduction of tho district scheme In Wellington, the old Waiwetu Club taking over the name of the Hutt District Cricket Club. Tho senior team which represented tho club that season was as follows: — T. H. Wilson (eajrt.), J. V, Judd, J. Rodgers, \j. Climie, A.- Staples, W. A. Aldersley, J. Pilcher. C. H. Matthews, A. 11. Prlnirle. Ci. S. Pringle, J. Brown, J. Putt on, Ci. E. Burton, — Hollls and — Collier. For the first few years tho club wero always at tho tall end of the competition, even when, owing to Petono not having a senior team. It bod the assistance of such well-known players as W. S. Brice, A, Cat© and A. Bennett. When tho district schomo fell through tho personnel of the toam underwent a decided change. First T. H. Wilson, A. H. Pringle. J. Brown, L. Climlo, J. Rodgcrs, A. Staples and

J. F. Judd (the latter having been for years the strong man of the club) dropped out and younger players took their place, chief among whom was W. G. Hughes, the present energetic secretary of the club. Still, from a match-winning point of view the team remained about the same. Then came the Great War, and, m common with others, this club gave of its best, and, m consequence, was classified by the Wellington Association as a junior club. Here the real turning point of its fortunes . took place. The members stuck together and put up a record m winning the junior championship, on only one occasion being required to bat a second time and then to make three runs. The • club's record that year was: Matches played 10, woji 10, championship points 30, highest aggregate score against 135, highest individual score against 35.

The following year the club was reinstated as a senior team, but did not

SHOW THE IMPROVEMENT expected, although at times they exhibited the promising form of the previous season. In 1920 two Wellington, and afterwards New. Zealand, representatives, H. M. McGirr and W- J. Condliffe, joined the -club. The former was elected captain. A decided advance was then made m the championship. In 1920 the committee were enabled to ented a third team m the competition. This team proved a great success, so much so that the following year, 1921, under the leadership of Wally A. Mansell, an old Canterbury representative, it won the championship.

With success attending their efforts the club came to light with five teams for the 1921-22 season. The senior team, after a bad start, •carried air before it and ended the season as run-ners-up to Petone, who suffered defeat at the hands of the Hutt Club. The following season, 1922-23, saw the senior team, which had been reinforced by a Canterbury representative, H. Watson, gain the championship.

This . achievement is, m a great measure, due to H. M. McGirr for the knowledge of the

FINER POINTS OF THE GAME imparted by him to the players, and their strict attention to fielding, which was not excelled m the competition. Of late years the ciub has been e±troihely fortunate m. its live and enthusiastic office bearers. The president of the club, Mr. J. H. Fairburn, has left nothing, to chance m /his efforts to place the club m the position it now occupies and every assistance has been given by the vicepresidents, Messrs V. Riddiford, E. P. Bunny, F. , Kitto, J. H. Gallagher, H. Baldwin, A. Mcßain, A. Jenness, E. Langdon, V. B. Willis, „H. G. Teagle, S. Simpson, E. P. Rishworth and W. J. Cotton. Present officers of the club are Mr. W. H. T. Doig, club captain; senior captain, Mr. H. M. McGirr; hon. sec, Mr. W. G. Hughes; committee, Messrs G. Lusty, W. A, Aldersley, R. Bull, H. S. Dudding, D. J. Neazor, C. Parrant and S. Eggleston. Of the original team Arthur Aldersley is still an active member, having taken part m every match with the exception of one last season, against Institute, when he was a member of the Wellington rep. team touring the South Island. Messrs T. H. Wilson, G. E. Burton and A. H. Pringle have crossed the Great Divide; Messrs G. F. Judd and L. Climie are active golfers; while the remainder still take an interest m the old club and are ''often to be seen as spectators on Saturday afternoons at the Hutt Recreation Ground.