FIELD OF SPORT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIII, Issue 9749, 14 December 1922, Page 7

FIELD OF SPORT

NOTES AND COMMENT.

THE M.C.C. TEAM

(By “Onlooker.”)

Owing to the shipping hold-up in Australia, the New Zealand Cricket Council has found it necessary to alter the itinerary of the M.C.C. team’s New Zealand tour. The team arrived in Auckland yesterday, so the New Zealand fixtures will be as follow:

Friday, Saturday, and Monday, December 15, 16, and v Auckland, at Auckland. Tuesday and Wednesday, December 19 I and 20, v.' Thirteen from North and South Taranaki, Wanganui, and Waikato Associations, at Wanganui. Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday, December 23, 25 x and 26, v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. Saturday, December 30, Monday and Tuesday, January 1 and 2, 1923First Test v. New Zealand, at Wellington. Friday, Saturday, and Monday, January 5w 6, and B—Second Test v. New Zealand, at Christchurch. I Tuesday and Wednesday, January 9 and 10, v. Thirteen from Ashburton, ! South Canterbury, and North Otago Associations, at Temuka, Friday, Saturday, and Monday, January 12, 13, and 15, v. Otago, at Dunedin. Saturday and Monday, January 20 and 22, v. Southland, at Invercargill. Friday, Saturday, and Monday, January 26, 27, and 29, v. Wellington, at Wellington. Tuesday and Wednesday, January 30 and 31, v. Thirteen from West Coast, Nelson, and Marlborough Associations, at Nelson. Friday, Saturday, and Monday, February 2,3, and s—Third Test v. New Zealand, at Wellington. Tuesday and Wednesday, February 6 and 7, v. Thirteen from Rangitikei, Manawatu, and Wairarapa Associations, at Palmerston North. Friday and Saturday, February 9 and 10, v. Thirteen 'from Wairoa, I Poverty Bay, and Hawke’s Bay Associations, at Napier. Friday, Saturday, and Monday, February 16, 17, and 19, v. Auckland, I atj Auckland. Replying to the welcome extended to him, the captain (Mr A. C. Maelaren) expressed the hope that the visit of his team will give a fillip to New Zealand cricket and improve the standard of play here. The tour will also, he says, improve the play of most of the young men in his own team, of whom no fewer than nine come from Oxford and Cambridge, j “I think you will find,” he said tola reporter, “that this side will give you a good game. You will probably find that we won’t be so difficult to get out, but we will bo difficult to get runs against. In Gibson, Calthorpe, and Brand we have three really good, high-class amateur bowlers, and then we also have Tyldesley and Freeman. When I can see the strength of your side, I may prefer to leave the professionals out of our side, and so make it purely amateur; but that all depends on how you shape against us. If you commence to hit us about, then we willhave to keep our professionals.”

A point stressed by Mr Maelaren was that the side was unable to get the amount of practice that was desirable. Without giving 1 any offence to the parties responsible, he felt that they had rather “killed the goose bofore it had laid the golden egg” in putting the team into the field too quickly. “You must give the boys time to practise. They need time to get accustomed to the conditions. We have to obtain our practice in the games, and those who do not get runs do not get practice. Only about three of our fellows wore in any form at all in Australia. We all lacked confidence. Although I got a few runs against New South Wales. I never timed a ball all through my innings.”

He could not say what the strength of his team was compared with that of Wvnyard’s team which toured the Dominion a number of years ago. .He thought, however, that in bowling the present side was much Jbetter, but not so good in batting. Mention was 'also made by Mr Maelaren that lie had with him a gra’nhoscope for the purpose of taking pictures of the matches. He pronosed to use the pictures in giving demonstrations and lectures in aid of the funds for disabled soldiers.

Ashburton Rop. Team, An Ashburton representative cricket team has been chosen to play against the North Otago hep. team at Temuka on Monday next. The team picked is not a thoroughly representative one, as four likely players who would otherwise have been considered by the selectors, were not available, for private reasons. These four were J. Willis and Rasmussen (Fan-field C.C.), and S. Revelly and Hedley Watson (Mayfield C.C.).

The following is the team—E. Burns, T. Hanley, A. M. Keeley (Ashburton A), H. J. Chapman, V. McNicoll, H. Maples, J. B. Nicoll (Ashburton B), T. Jamieson (Methven), N. Tasker, W. Thomas (Tin-w-ald), and N. Walls (Lauriston). Mr H. J. Chapman has been appointed captain of the team.

A request having been made to “Onlooker” for the publication of the bowling analysis for each team in the match on the Oval last Saturday between the Ashburton A and B teams, the required information is given herewith, as several cricket enthusiasts require it for record purposes— A team —R. McGregor took four wickets for 58 runs, E. Burns one for 39, H. Naylor none for 25, C. Judge one for 23. B. team: H. J. Chapman four for 94; C. V. McNicol two for 62- H. A Boddington one for 16, H. Maples none for 12, R. D. Wood one for 9, G. 'L. Nicol none for 17, H. Oekleshaw one for 26.

In future “Onlooker” will make every endeavour to give full details of matches played in the County, but it is obvious that if the scoring books are not made up to date at the. time the results are published all the desired details cannot be given. The cooperation of the score book keepers is therefore essential for an accurate report.

At the last meeting of the New Zealand Boxing Council the Taranaki Association wrote asking for particu-

lars of the council’s proposed amendments to the regulations in connection with that section of the Police Offences Amendment Act relating to the boxing competitions. A reply had been sent to the effect that the council had not submitted any proposals, that the application of the Carter Gymnasium and Amateur Boxing Association for i approval under the Police Offences Act had been withdrawn, as efforts were being made to form a Wairarapa Boxing Association. The report was withdrawn.

!! Correspondence was received from the secretary of the New South Wales Amateur Sports Club relating to the proposed tour of a South African team of amateurs. The correspondence contained a cable message , from South Africa stating that a team would be j sent provided all expenses were paid, j As this was entirely different from the I proposal submitted by the South African representative to the New Zealand Council and the State authorities, it I was decided that the proposed visit was not acceptable unless the original terms were adhered to.

The Otago Association, wrote asking the council to rescind its resolutions declaring the McCleary-McQuarrie bout “no contest,” and giving reasons for its request. It was decided that the council’s ruling should stand; to inform the Otago Association that the council took exception to statements in its letter, and that in due course the Otago Association’s letter and the council’s reply would be handed to the Dunedin and Christchurch papers for publication; and to inform McCleary that as McQuarrie had not consented to the matter being re-opened, McCleary must take such steps as he may be advised.

The South Canterbury Swimming Centre has decided to hold the second race for the Annette Kellerman Cup in the Timaru Harbour on February 1, and entries close on January 16.

The Canterbury, Swimming Centre has ‘decided that the minimum amount of prize money for all inter-club carnivals shall be reduced by 50 per cent., in order to allow more events at interclub meetings.

Mr H. S. Williams, chairman of the Canterbury Centre, has been appointed sole selector of the Canterbury representative team to compete at the New Zeala .d swimming championships to be held at Timaru from January 27 to February 3, 1923.

A return showing the 'decline in outdoor swimming since 1914 was presented to the last meeting of the Canterbury Swimming Centre. The return showed the average entries m inter-club carnivals from 1906 to 1914 and for the year 1922, and was as

A sub-committee set up to deal with the matter recommended: That the present system of clubs be abolished, and that the city and suburban area be divided into districts as recognised by the Education Board, district clubs to be established and to have their headquarters at the local school baths. To provide for cases of sentiment on account of old associations with particular clubs, swimmers who have been members for a period of five years can remain members of those clubs during their pleasure. No mterclub carnival to be held at the lepid Baths by affiliated clubs, only carnivals under the jurisdiction of the Canterbury Centre to be held in the Tepid Baths.” /

As an outcome of the discussion on the point, Mr Atkinson gave notice to move at a subsequent meeting: That all clubs must .have their headquarters at school baths, and no club shall be allowed to conduct or control a carnival at the Tepid Baths. No club to be allowed affiliation that has any specified time set aside for it at the Tepid Baths or any class whatever specifically set aside for it at the Tepid Baths. All new members shall belong to the club that 'is nearest, and in the event of a 'club being formed in a district members shall have the option of naming the club.” It was decided to hold a special meeting of the Centre on January 16 for the purpose of discussing Mr Atkinson’s motion. \

follows: — Relays. Average No. Outdoor Year. entries. of teams. Carnivals 1906 ... 7715 22.5 15 1907 ... 99 22 14 1908 ... 84 .23 15 1909 ... 87.5 21.5 16 1910 ... 90 21 15 1911 ... 86.5 21.5 15 1912 ... 85 22 16 1913 ... 84.5 21 16 1914 ... 87.5 22 17 1992 40.5 17 , 2 The record number of entries _ for inter-club events in 190/ (the best year) was 135, and : for 1922 the total was 58.