SHIELD TEAM RETURNS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27875, 25 January 1956, Page 14

SHIELD TEAM RETURNS

SIDE WELCOMED BY MAYOR

DOWKER’S CAPTAINCY PRAISED

“Very early it was evident that you were a well-knit team,” said the chairman of the management committee of the Canterbury Cricket Association (Mr C. F. Collins), welcoming the Canterbury Plunket Shield team at Harewood Airport yesterday afternoon on its return from Napier. “There have been ‘stars,’ but everyone made his own contribution to the success of the side," he said,

Mr Collins mentioned the play of S. C. Guillen, S. N. Gearry, and M. E. Chapple in particular. He said that the young players had given the side a “freshness and a new look.”

In a tribute to R. T. Dowker’s captaincy, he said that it was a “culmination to a wonderful record in cricket.”

The Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.) congratulated the team on winning the shield and emphasised the merit in gaining four outright wins. “We are now the proud possessors of the Plunket Shield and the Ranfurly Shield,” he said. “You have shown a very fine fighting spirit on occasions and thoroughly deserved to succeed. Well done! A great achievement.”

Mr Macfarlane also paid a tribute to Dowker’s work as captain of the side. “All the boys pulled together to the last,” said Dowker in reply to the welcoming speeches of Messrs Collins and Macfarlane. “Every member of the team has done his job and made it easy for me. We have had a wonderful season and it was a great thrill to win against Central Districts.”

Mr T. W. C. Tothill, the manager of the team, said that the Canterbury team was not a great side in batting or bowling, but that it was a great side in the field.

Mr I. B. Cromb, one of the selectors, said that the selectors knew they were picking a young side, but they had confidence in the young players. “I feel sure that with these young players we will hold the shield for a year or two.” “The last game was the hardest of the lot,” said Dowker later. “They did not catch up with the runs and all we had to do was to keep the game tight. Everybody pulled his weight and each member of the team played a big part. It has been a real thrill.”

Players who had learnt something during the series were J. W. d'Arcy and B. A. Haworth,” Dowker said. “I. McK. Sinclair learned quite a lot on the bowling side.” About 30 persons welcomed the team and many passengers from aircraft at the airport remained to offer their congratulations. One youth showed his enthusiam for cricket by cycling from Christchurch to Harewood in a strong wind, for the purpose of photographing the victorious team.