FIELD OF SPORT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIII, Issue 9828, 22 March 1923, Page 2

FIELD OF SPORT

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By “ Onlooker.”) The Studholme Shield Cricket Competition has now reached a very interesting stage. If Fairfield beat Lauriston next Saturday, the Ashburton B team will have to play Fairfield for the Shield, as the two teams will tie for points. A .very close and exciting game should result from the meeting of these two leading teams. The ground on which the match is to be played has not yet been decided. The cricket match, Ashburton A v. Ashburton B last Saturday proved an exciting contest. Ashburton B, batting first, compiled 200 for six wickets, and declared. Ashburton A had 126 at a few minutes to 6 p.m. The last men were in, and if not out before 6 'o’clock, the game would be a draw. On the fifth or sixth ball of the last over before time, the last man was out, giving the match to Ashburton B team, which, as leader in the competitions, required that extra point to retain its supremacy. Seldom has a match has such an interesting finish.

The following is the report of the sub-committee appointed by the Ashburton. County Cricket Association foi the purpose of suggesting a scheme for bettering the, conditions under which the Studholme Shield Competition is at present played:— “In approaching the matter, it has been assumed that those clubs playing this season, will also be playing during the coming season. In .the interests of cricket, it is thought essential to do away with the old one-day matches, and in future play two-day matches only. Each match to be played, subject to weather conditions, two successive Saturdays on the one ground, and not home and home. First Scheme. —A rough draw was made for seven two-days’ matches, with the object of ascertaining whether it would be possible to run the present i day competition on a basis of two days instead of one day matches without incurring extra travelling expenses, and we found it quite possible. Secpnd Scheme.—The matter was then approached with a view to finding out if it would be possible to run the competition in two 'sections, namely, Town and Country; the winner of each section to play off for the Shield in a final match. Whilst admitting that this scheme, if if could be carried out with satisfaction to both sections, would be the best way of running the competition, it is felt that it would not be in the interests of the Cricket Association, as it would tend to alienate the sympathy of the country clubs and supporters for at least two reasons: (1) They would feel that they were being cut adrift by the association (2) At no time would they play the town clubs on their own grounds. This scheme was the first discussed, and after going into the matter most thorI oughly, the conclusion was ai’rived at that, while practicable, it was not in the interests of the association. Third Scheme.—This scheme is also based upon the competition being played in two sections, and has the advantage of not being quite so unweildy as the present system. It is proposed that two sections he drawn up at the commencement of the season and the two leading teams in each section play off in a final of two rounds. Whilst not admitting that our grouping of the teams is the best, we suggest the following with a view to having something concrete to work upon— I Section A—Fairfield, Lauriston, Ra<kaia, Methven. Section B—Mayfield, Tinwald, Ashburton A, Ashburton B. To show more clearly how the final matches would work, let it be said that the two leading teams in Section B are Mayfield and Ashburton A, and the I two leading teams in Section A, Fairfield and Methven. Mayfield would play Fairfield, and Ashburton A would play Methven, and the -winning team would be that which won the play off between the winners of these two matches irrespective of points scored. Your sub-committee also decided that in the interests of cricket, it would be most advantageous to play at least two town versus country matches during the season, the first perhaps in November, the second in February. Whilst these matches were in progress, games could be so arranged on some ' other ground as to enable those not playing to take part. “It should be clearly understood that during discussions on this very important matter, rth© committee has always been, guided by the interests of j the Cricket Association as a whole, and, not from any particular club or clubs, and in conclusion it should be stated that in order to arrive at some finality on the question, it is absolutely essential that the views of the country clubs should be heard.”

The golf season in Ashburton will open probably on April 7, when dub will hold its first afternoon games for the season. Enthusiasts have been busily engaged lately in putting the links in order in readiness for the opening. Dr. Manning, a well-known Sydney motorist will leave Sydney at an early date with Mr J. L. Burton, and motor across to Perth, making arrangement en route for their forthcoming attempt to cross Australia from West to East, some 2600 miles., in five days. Dr. Manning will drive a Dunlop-shod Vauxhall. The fastest time for this transcontinental journey is seven days two hours, 30 minutes., by E. W. Burton, of West Australia, in 1918. G. Dempsey, one of the fastest New South Wales amateur sprinters won the Australian 5 miles championship at Brisbane recently. H. Broadbent, ' Victoria, finished second. Only three riders finished owing to a bad smashup towards the end of the race. L. G. Munro, Queensland, showed good form by winning the Mile Championship from H. Broadbent (Victora), and W. Coppins (New South Wale's). This was won by a length in 2mins. 22sec.