CRICKET

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24052, 14 September 1943, Page 3

CRICKET

SEASON REVIEWED “During what turned out to be the most difficult of the war years to date, club cricket nevertheless was maintained at a fairly good standard," says the sixty-sixth annual report of the Canterbury Cricket Association, which will be considered by delegates next Saturday evening. "Clubs were compelled to amalgamate in order to preserve the*r identity, and it can be said that the difficult situation was very largely overcome by the elastic policies which club committees adopted in an effort to keep the game as near to previous standards as was possible under prevailing conditions. “Teams from the sti vices provided cricket for many newcomers to the province, and although difficulty was naturally experienced through withdrawals ana certain unavoidable defaults, the service teams lent coloiu and interest to the competitions. The last season saw many adjustments In the association’s grade competitions, which were necessitated through war "onditions. Hubs were below a third of their usual strength in playing members, and eventually the committee pu' into operation a plan for the amalgamation, for playing purposes only oi the civilian clubs. This plan worked admirably during the season, and the committee would like to express its appreciation of the spirit shown by the clubs, which contributed greatly to the smooth working of the competition games. “Entries this season totalled 56, as against 59 last season; of these entries, 24 came from teams representing the services.

“It is the earnest desire and belief oi all that the day is not so far distant when the clubs will again receive the support they deserve, when they will welcome back to their ranks those who have temporarily been called into the service teams," concludes the report.

OLD COLLEGIANS’ CLUB

“In view of our small membership it was decided that rather than go into recess we should adopt the Canterbury Cricket Association’s suggestion to amalgamate with another club," states the report of the Christ’s College Old Boys' Cricket Club for the 1942-43 season, which was received at the club’s annual meeting held last evening. “Our amalgamation with Rlccarton proved a very satisfactory arrangement,” the report continues.

“I think we will all agree that the last season has been an extraordinarily successful one.’ said the president. Mr T. W. C. Tothill, commenting on the report. The credit balance of £l2 odd, he said, was very satisfactory in the circumstances.

The election of officers resulted as follows:—patron, Mr R. J. Richards; president, Mr T. W, C. Tothill; vice-presi-dents, Mr W. W. Dunkley, Lieutenant A. I. Cottrell, Mr J. S. Bruges; club captain, Mr C. G. F. C. Hamilton: vice-cap-tain, Mr A. R. Mac Gibbon; secretary, Mr G. M. B. Douglas; assistant secretary, Mr N. L. Macbeth 1 ; treasurer, Mr R. H. T. Hamilton: committee, Messrs C. V. Walter and R. C. Saunders; delegates to the Canterbury Cricket Association, Messrs C V. Walter, R. C. Saunders, C. G. F. C. Hamilton, N. L. Macbeth; nominee for the club’s representative on the management committee of the association, Mr C. V. Walter; honorary auditors, Messrs P, J. Byrne and Company. The state of the practice wickets in Hagley Park and the playing wickets on the Hospital Corner ground came under discussion. Mr G. Hamilton said that the hedge had once run across the part of the field where the practice nets were now, and that the wickets were getting rough. It was decided that the club's delegates to the association should bring the matter before the annual meeting of the association next Saturday evening. SYDENHAM CLUB The amalgamation last year of- the Sydenham Cricket Club and the East Christchurch Cricket Club having proved very satisfactory, it was hoped to continue the arrangement in the coming season, said Mr W. J. V. Hamilton (president of the Sydenham Club), at the annual meeting held last evening. It was expected that the combined clubs would field five sides, of approximately the same standard as last year’s. The return of Mr N. V. Burtt from the Middle East, he felt, would strengthen the senior side. The election of officers for the 1943-44 season resulted as follows:—Patron, Mi C. S. Bellamy: president, Mr W. J. V. Hamilton: vice-presidents, Messrs W. J. Ashby, C. E. Anderson, H. C. Borland, F. M. Brownie. W. L. King. W. H. King, D. Lagan. J. W. Munday, W. J. Oliver, A. Reay, J. A. Taylor, P. T. Wise; club captain, Mr H. L. Jamieson; deputy club captain. Mr W. F. Spong; treasurer, Mr W. B. Doldge; secretary, Mr S. J. Shackel: assistant secretary, Mr R. A. Clarke; delegates to the Canterbury Cricket Association, Messrs L. A. Butterfield, W. J. V. Hamilton. W. F. Spong, F. Woock; committee, Messrs L. A. Butterfield, D.McKnlght. L. Smith. F. Dibden, B.’ Warren, D. Wilson, A. J. Sutherland; honorary auditor, Mr H. L. Jameson. UNIVERSITY TO FIELD TEAM A proposal to field an eleven from Canterbury University College in the coming season was put forward by Mr N. L. Macbeth at the Old Collegians’ Cricket Club meeting held last evening. He had been assured that a team good enough for second grade could be raised from university, and said that these players were willing to join the Old Collegians’ Club to avoid paying affiliation fees. If the team played In the same grade as the schools’ teams, the draw would not be affected when they defaulted in the vacation. The arrangement would be advantageous to both parties, he claimed. The Collegians’ Club would benefit from having a pool of players to draw from In the vacation, and the interest stimulated in cricket at University might lead to the reinstatement of the interuniversity matches. . „ The proposal meeting with the> approval of members, a sub-committee consisting of Mr R. H. T. Hamilton and Mr N. L. Macbeth was set up to go Into the matter.

SUBURBAN UMPIRES’ ASSOCIATION

A short silence was observed at the annual meeting of the Christchurch Suburban Cricket Umpires' Association last evening as a mark of respect for the late Mr C. J. M. Winter, one of the association’s foundation members. It was decided to forgo the umpires levy on clubs for the coming season. Supporters of the association were urged by the secretary, Mr C. M. Cooke, to assist the game by joining the association. , , , , The following officers were elected for the season:—Patron, Mr K. H. Perrin: president, Mr H. R. Miles; vice-presi-dent, Mr J. H. Hocking; secretarytreasurer, Mr C. M. Cooke; examiner, Mr K. H. Perrin; delegate to the Suburban Cricket Association, Mr A. S. Blackwood; committee, Messrs H. C. Moore, F. Miles, A. Sarchett; appointment board Messrs A. S. Blackwood, K. H. Perrin, and H. R. Miles; auditor, Mr D. L. Mitchell. .