CENTENNIAL CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 80, 5 April 1939, Page 24

CENTENNIAL CUP.

A NEW COMPETITION.

AUCKLAND AND WELLINGTON.

"VABSITY BEST FIELDING SIDE,

At the last weekly meeting of the executive committee of the Auckland Cricket Association held last night, a proposal was tabled to inaugurate a cup to be competed for by the Auckland-Wellington Provinces irrespective of the Plunket Shield. It is suggested that the cup be named the Centennial Cup and that it be initially played for in 1940. The Wellington C ricket Association its to be asked to collaborate. Members agreed that, although the 1 liinket Shield may have been won or lost before Auckland-Wellington have played their annual match, interest would j still be maintained by the fact that the Centennial Cup will be at stake. (An analogy is the Calcutta Cup played by the English and Scottish international XV.'s.) The report of the special committee to adjudge the Grosvenor Cup was presented by Mr. R. Blennerhassett and showed that University had retained their lead and was congratulated on being the first win-; nors of the cup.- Parnell was placed i second, while Xorth Shore and Eden were I equal third. These teams were reported' by Mr. Blennerhassett to have shown a ' consistently high standard during the concluding matches of the senior championship. The final points were: —University 181, Parnell 170, Xorth Shore and Eden 175. W. NT. Carson, by virtue of his innings of 130 against Wellington in the Plunket Shield, was awarded Mr. A. T. Batger's bat for the Auckland player making the highest score in Plunket Shield matches. A sub-committee comprising Messrs. H. Duncan. A. J. Postles aiid H. E. Warneford was appointed to consider the- award of the, Riddalls Memorial Cup for the most improved senior player of the year. The Xew Zealand Cricket Council's decision to award the Redpath Cup and the Winsor Cup to W. M. Wallace and J. Cowie respectively was received with pleasure by members of the committee, who decided to send letters of congratulation to the recipients. Appreciation was exprocssed at the work ] performed by honorary coaches who gave up their lunch hours visiting schools to instil the rudiments of cricket into the youngest of players. Tn granting permission to club teams to j travel round the Auckland Province and further, the chairman. Mr. E. Xaldcr. commented on the valuable work being done by such tours. Apart from supplying semi-match atmosphere for younger players, they were a great help in stimulating cricket in the country. The clulis granted permission to travel were: — Parnell. Xorth Shore. Graft on. Eden. Middlemore. Panatoetoe. Ponsonby, Y.M.C.A. and Auckland Colts. Tt was decided to forward letters of thanks to Messrs. J. Anderson and H. P. Hinton, who generously made donations of five guineas and three guineas to the association's capital endowment fund.

The committee decided to donate five guineas to Mr. S. Matthews, who is retiring after lo years as custodian of the domain in recognition of hie services to cricket.