CRICKET IN AUCKLAND.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14275, 10 February 1912, Page 5

CRICKET IN AUCKLAND.

HOW THEY ARE IMPROVING IT

THOROUGH SYSTEM OE COACHING.

In view of the Plunket Shield match between Canterbury and Auckland, which commences this morning ct Lancaster Park, ono of our representatives had an interesting chat ■with Sir Carlton Hay, ono o7 the Auckland selectors, and Mr G. J. Thorny : son, the professional, "with reference to the steps that aro being taken in i Auckland to raise the standard <.f New Zealand cricket. Up North they have been very systematic, and very j thorough in their efforts. While Christchurch struggles hard financially to maintain ono professional, Auck- i land boasts three, all fully employed. Most cricketers in Cliristchuroh know that S. P. Jones, tho ex-Australian Eleven player, has been coaching *'or the schools. Ho was brought over by the Grafton Club some seven years ago, but after a season's work he was taken over by the Association, who gave him three afternoons a week to tho Grammar School, and two afternoons' to King's College, whilst boys from the primary schools wero taken in their dinner liour. After a time, Mr Major, the headmaster of King's, was so impressed with the good work beiug done that he made arrangement* to employ Jones exclusively at tho College. Naturally, the best use is made of his services there/ and thu boys are told off one 01 two at a time during tho daytime to attend coaching, xlorspool, who will be iepresenting Auckland to-day, is looked upon as ono of tho most noteworthy" examples of Jones's skill, though ho has still further improved under Kolf and Thompson. Taylor, who is also down with tho Auckhindcrs, is another biitsman whose play redacts the teaching of the master hand. He was only 13 or 14 when Kolf first went to Auckland. Ho had, therefore, no bad strokes to unlearn, and has been a pupil of Keif's durinc, the whole timo Keif was coaching in Auckland, and ho is considered a strikius example of what efficient coaching will do for a boy who has cricket in him, and is "eauiiht young." There is yet another coacli who spends his time amonjj tho schools. Last year Frank Ward, a Lancashire county man who had settled in Auckland, was engaged by the Auckland Association. Jones having been taken over by King's College, Ward was put to coaching Auckland Grammar School and tho primary schools, the Grammar School finding three-fifths of his pay. He coaches the Grammar School every afternoon, and distributes the remainder of his timo among about twelve primary schools —somo of them from 8 o'clock to 10 in the mornings, and others in tho dinner hour. The masters in the school now givo tho Cricket Association every encouragement and assistanco, and indeed, said Mr Hay, there is now demands for more coaching at'the schools, than tho Cricket Association can supply. Tho schools competitions, which take place on Saturday mornings from 10 o'clock to 1, are another striking example of the enthusiasm displayed in school cricket. There are 25 primary schools taking part in these competitions, and thoy are divided into threo grades accorclmg to tho sizo of the school. Originally they were run by the Association, but are now con trolled by the masters of tho schools. There is also a competition for the secondary schools, four schools competing. This is also run by tho masters, and two Saturdays are allowed for eaoh match.

Asked how the wherewithal ■;. '.vas found for bo much Hny said that the schools, which had always regarded cricket as one of the most important of the school games, now recognised that if the game -was -north playing it was worth playing well. Tlw expense of the school coaches was paid partly by the- Governors of the school, the balance being made up from tho Sports Fund; It thus left the Association only one to provide for, and that one at the present time was Thompson. "Whilst speaking of the professional, Mr Hay said there seemed to be an impression that ATickland had paid a fancy price to secure Thompson's services. "That is quite a mistaken idea," said lie, "we left the selection of a coach, as we always do, with Lord Hawke telling him what wo were prepared to pay, and asking him to get the best man he can for tho money. As a matter of fact, Thompson's services will cost us less than we paid Pearson last year, and we should hove taken the latter without demur, had lie again been selected by Lord Hawke." *

Mr Thompson himself was much impressed with the great improvement made in Auckland cricket sinco he was here in 1903, with Warner's team. He saye the coaching in Auckland i.s carried out on very systematic lines. He coaches every day from 4 o'clock Until dark. There is no time arbitrarily fixed for the different clubs, but the Coach Committee select tho most promising players of about 14 to 17 years of age, and they each go to him at a time shown on a timetable drawn up for the purpose. Three weeks ago he was taken away from his ordinary duties, and has since devoted his tinio to coaching the Plunket Shield team.

From the foregoing it will be seen that Auckland is much ahead of Christchurch in the efforts that are being made to raise tho standard of play. But it seems that cricket in th<» Northern city has some liberal benefactors, for our reporter elicited the fact that among tho subscribers to the Coach Fund, one gentleman subscribed £100, and three others £25 each.