CRICKET.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 298, 30 September 1935, Page 2

CRICKET.

THE ASHBURTON ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the Ashburton Cricket Association was held on Saturday evening, when the president (Mr F. Pritchard) presided over a good attendance of delegates. The annual report read as follows : —■ ‘ 'Competitions. —Five teams were entered in the senior competition and eight teams in the junior competition. Owing to the lack of entries the third grade competition was not played. The senior grade was won by Fairfield and the junior grade by Kia Ora. The association .extends its congratulations to these clubs, and also to the Fairfield Club on winning the Bristol Cup. The newly-formed Coldstream Club, while finishing at the bottom of the junior section, was a welcome addition to that grade. There was an increase of 24 players compared with the previous season, the total being 261, against 237. “The season was noticeable for the large number of centuries secured and hat tricks obtained, there being four centuries and! two hat tricks in the senior and 16 centuries and 11 hat tricks in the junior grade. Three of the four centuries in the senior were secured by R. Drennan, while three of * the junior centuries were secured by B. Clothier. Ri. W. Biggar and R. H. Biggar secured two each.' H. Adams must be congratulated on obtaining two hat tricks the same afternoon, in the second case taking four wickets with four consecutive balls. H. Lennon was the only other howler to take two hat tricks during the season, while A. Doig took four wickets with consecutive balls on one occasion. “The hatting averages go to:

“In the senior grade 9543 runs were scored, and 788 byes, an average of 15.2 per wicket. In the junior grade 22,494 runs were scored and 1684 byes, an average of 13.2 runs per wicket. The outstanding performance of the season was the batting of R.. W. Biggar, who headed the aggregates with 972 runs in competition matches, but passed the 1000 mark when his representative scores were included.

“Representative Matches. —The new Minor Associations’ competition was commenced, Ashburton being successful in beating South Canterbury and the West 'Coast, becoming the first holders of the trophy. The junior representative fixtures were played with South Canterbury and Clmstchurch Subur-

ban, Ashburton winning on the first innings against South Canterbury and losing against Christchurch Suburban. These matches were greatly enjoyed by all concerned.

“Finance.—The season opened with a credit balance of £6 9s sd, and closed with a credit balance of £5 10s Bd. There is an item of £3 3s 6d ! for fees outstanding, and £1 for the sale of a ball.

“Valedictory.—The association reports that its junior selector (Mr C. T. Moor) has been transferred to iPareora. We congratulate him on his promotion, thank him for his services, which have been greatly appreciated, and offer him out best wishes for his success. We regret to report that Mr W. B. Thomas, our auditor, has met with an accident, and wish him a speedy recovery. “Thanks.—The thanks of the association are tendered to Mr J. B. Nicoll for representing the association on the New Zealand Cricket Council, to the newspapers for their unfailing courtesy and attention at all times, and also to Mr J. H. Muirhead, who so kindly donated 1 £1 Is to the club whose player headed the senior batting averages last season. In accordance with the wishes of the donor, this sum will be handed to the Methven Club to- provide a trophy in recognition of Mr Cutler heading the averages.’’ The annual report and the balancesheet were adopted. A copy of the itinerary of the M.C.C. team in New Zealand was received from the New Zealand Cricket Council. The Rakaia Club wrote that because of lack of sufficient members, it would not enter a team this year. Some of the members would be playing for the new Old Boys Club. The Marlborough Association wrote inviting the Ashburton Association to send a team to Blenheim this season. Nothing in the way of subsidy on the cost of travelling could be made. The question was referred to the Management Committee. The Canterbury Cricket Association forwarded a copy of the proposed rules for play in the Sub-Association Challenge Cup. It was decided to refer to the Management Committee a request from the Fairfield Club for the regrading of a member, from senior grade to junior grade. The election of officers -resulted : Patron, Mr H. B. Millicliamp; president, Mr F. Pritchard; vice-presidents, Messrs It. H. Bliggar and J. B. Nicoll; secretary and treasurer, Mr N. Hosking; Management Committee, Messrs S. Willis, J. H. Brownie, S. W. Kerr, R. Ross; auditor, Mr W. B. Thomas; representative to the New Zealand. Cricket Council, Mr J. B. Nicoll. It was decided that entries in the competitions should close to-day week and that the competitions should commence on October 12.

The meeting recorded its appreciation of the work of Mr S. M. Cassidy while he was secretary-treasurer to the Association. Mr Cassidy thanked the officers and delegates for the help they had given him during his term of office. The question of arranging a match with a touring team from Southland was left in the hands of the Management Committee. Mr S. Willis said the Fairfield. Club wished it to be a recommendation to the Association that the trophies won during the season should be presented on the field on the days on which they were won. „ The president said that it this could be done the idea might be adopted, but the final matches were not all played at a centre where officials could assemble. It. was agreed that the trophies should be presented at a formal function, the form of the function to be decided upon later in the season. The president handed to Mr \Villis the Studholme Shield which the Fairfield Club won last season. He said! this w-as not the first time the club had held it, and he. hoped it would not be the last time the trophy went to Fairfield.

Senior — Ins. N O. H.S.T1. Ay. F. W. Cutler .. . 13 7 91* 421 70.1 Junior— B. T. Clothier.. . IS 4 116* 863 61,6 “The bowling averages go to: Wkts. Runs. Av.. Senior— J. Varcoe ... ... 29' 242 8.3 Junior— H. Lennon ..., 67 460 6.9