Sportsman’s Notebook CANTERBURY AND OTAGO OLD RIVALS AT CRICKET

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28776, 23 December 1958, Page 6

Sportsman’s Notebook CANTERBURY AND OTAGO OLD RIVALS AT CRICKET

Canterbury’s Plunket Shield match with Otago at Dunedin beginning on Christmas Day is the ninety-eighth in a series which began in 1864. In addition, there have been three second-class games between the provinces. Canterbury has won 49 matches to Otago’s 36, with 12 drawn, but it has some scores to settle for the events of the last few years. Canterbury won by 10 wickets in the 1948-49 match, but in the last nine seasons Canterbury has had only one win: Otago has won three matches outright and five on the first innings. It is remarkable that after 94 years, the mathematics of the series show remarkably little difference between the provinces. This applies also to the Plunket Shield matches they have played since the shield was presented in 1907. In the intervening years Otago has scored 16,411 runs to Canterbury’s 15,409; but Canterbury’s wicket average is 25.9 to Otago’s 25.3. The teams for this season’s game seem evenly matched. Canterbury has bowling worries, and will go to Dunedin conscious of B. Sutcliffe’s recent good form. The Canterbury batting looks strong, but the combination of the spin bowlers, A. M. Moir and J. C. Alabaster, will probably test it thoroughly. * * * Tennis Dates The Canterbury lawn tennis championships, which were to have been played on December 25, 26, 27, and 29, will not now begin till Boxing Day. Under the original dates play was to be optional on Christmas Day but the association has found that few players wish to play that day. Therefore, play will now be held on the Sunday, making the new dates, December 26, 27, 28 and 29. $ ♦ #

Floodlit Soccer The North Shore Soccer Club (Auckland) is planning to introduce soccer under floodlights on

Onewa Domain, near Takapuna, next season. The club hopes to be the firnt in the promotion of night football. in Auckland. It is also the club’s intention to lay a cinder track for the benefit of athletics on the North Shore. By putting on mid-week floodlit matches the club hopes that finance will be raised to pay for a stand. A large stand, with gymnasium and social amenities underneath, is planned. « # #

Auckland League Thirty senior and senior reserve members of the Ponsonby Rugby League Club have reaffirmed their decision to stay with the club. The Ponsonby senior team has been dropped from the top grade by the Auckland Rugby League as the result of Ponsonby’s refusal to amalgamate with Richmond in the league’s district scheme. Ponsonby seniors may have to play in the second grade competition next season. Ponsonby has five New Zealand players—J. Ratima, W. Sorenson, R. Percy, K. Bell and L. Eriksen—and five other Auckland representatives, W. Snowden, E. Johnson, L. Cherrie, J. Cole and M. Barber. * # V Long Jump Record The Victoria University athlete, L. J. Croxson, became, the tenth New Zealander to jump 23ft when he set a new Wellington record of 23ft 3in ’at Wellington on Saturday. Only four o£ the other nine who have jumped 23ft have bettered this distance. His mark was exactly Ift better than the previous record jump of J. G. Hawkes and B. H. Squire.