CRICKET.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 43, 30 November 1937, Page 2

CRICKET.

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETS. A FIRM STAND TAKEN. "That the Domain Board be advised that, owing to there being no other grounds available, the Ashburton County Cricket Association and the Ashburton Cricket Club regret that they cannot vacate the Domain Oval on December 4 and 11 to enable it to be made free for visiting picnics; and they respectfully suggest that the Domain Board advise the picnic parties concerned that the Oval will be required for cricket from 1.45 p.m. onwards on those days.” This resolution was carried unanimously at the meeting of the Management Committee of the Ashburton County Cricket Association last evening, as a .result of a letter from the Town Clerk (Mr R. C. Major), advising that the Oval would be required for picnics on the above mentioned dates. Present were the president (Mr F. Pritchard) and Messrs J. B. Nicoll, R H. Biggar, R, G. Ross, E. T. Kensington, A. A. Todd and S. AV. Kerr. The president said that the Cricket Association paid a substantial rent for the Oval, but had to give it up if required to do so. "AA r e do not want to block the picnics,” he said, "but there are two other grounds in the Domain which would suit them just as well. It is surely the first duty of the Borough Council and the Domain Board in this respect to provide sport for local residents. Over the recent period of years the cricketers have spent somewhere in the neighbourhood of £IOOO on the Oval—hut they have no option over it whatever, and can be kicked off at any time by the Borough Council or the Domain Board.” "It is time we took a firm stand,” said Air Nicoll, in moving the resolution. "To agree to this would mean abandoning two games. I think we should just carry on and play on the ground.” He said that it would be utterly impossible to rearrange the games, and that the draw would bo disorganised.

Mr Bigga.r, seconding the motion, said that no other town ground was available on either date. He emphasised that other grounds would suit the picnics quite as well as the Oval. In reply to a letter from the Southland Cricket Association, it was decided to accept with pleasure the sug-

gested game with the Southland touring team on December 30. The Canterbury Cricket Association wrote inviting the Ashburton Association to take part in the Minor Associations v. Canterbury match at Hagley Park, Christchurch, on December 16, and advising it to get in touch with the South Canterbury and West Coast Associations regarding the selection of the team. Members,agreed that the game should be accepted, provided the principal players from each association were available. It was decided to recommend to the other associations that the five best players who were definitely available from each association should be nominated, and that the final selection should be left to selectors from Ashburton and South Canterbury. C. Horsburgh, E. Jones and C. Samuels (Kia Ora) were regraded from senior to junior.

COUNTY UMPIRES’ ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the Ashburton County Cricket Umpires’ Committee was held last evening, when the president (Mr It. H. Biggar) presided. It was decided to draw the attention of the Ashburton Cricket Association to the unsatisfactory conditions regarding umpires travelling to grounds, umpires in many cases having to get in touch with the clubs to find out what time and where the teams were leaving. It "was felt that tins was not as it should be, and it was decided to request the Association to instruct the clubs to notify the umpires as early as possible in the week, making definite arrangements for them. It was further decided to draw the Association’s attention to the unsatisfactory manner in which several of the grounds were marked out, particularly regarding the return crease. It was suggested that the Association ask all clubs to have the return crease marked out distinctly. Many other questions concerning umpiring were discussed. At the conclusion of the meeting the Umpires’ Appointment Committee made the following appointments for next Saturday Senior Grade. Kia Ora v. Public Works Irrigation, at Kia Ora, Messrs C. Frew and S. McElhinney; Ashburton v. Old Boys, on Oval, Messrs W. Barrett and C. G. C. Harper; Technical v. Fairfield, at Fairfield:, Messrs J. Price and It. A. Johnston, Junior Grade. Public Works Irrigation v. Technical, at Technical, Messrs E. L. Kerr and It. H. Biggar; Coldstream v. Kia Ora, at Old Boys, Messrs A. E. Harvey and C. Butterworth; Old Boys v. Methven, at Methven, Messrs H. Funge and W. J. Owen; Tinwald v. Lauriston, at Lauriston, Messrs C. V. MeNicol and F. Kennedy.