RUGBY AT THE OVAL

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29068, 3 December 1959, Page 6

RUGBY AT THE OVAL

Lions’ Tour Film Shown By Club (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, Dec. 2. Rugby football came to the Oval, headquarters of the Surrey Cricket Club, after the London New Zealand Cricket Club held its annual meeting there. Members and their guests watched “The Kiwi and the Lion,” the hour-long film giving the highlights of the British Lions’ recent tour of New Zealand, and there frequently were full-blooded cheers—rather different from the usual plaudits of cricket crowds at the Oval—when exciting tries were scored. The president (Mr E. R. T. Holmes) was in the chair for the annual meeting. The stated membership was now 279, including 111 overseas, most of whom were in New Zealand. During the last season the club played 20 matches, of which six were won, eight lost, four drawn, and two rained off. Top scorers included Bryan Ashbridge (96) and A. R. MacGibbon, now back in Christchurch (68). Dr. John Heslop, during a short visit from Dunedin, took four for 21 against the Royal Navy at Greenwich. The winners of tankards were: batting, A. T. Campbell; bowling. J. P. Haynes: fielding, M. McElroy. The report also said the club had offe»ed to the New Zealand Cricket Council three trophies to encourage cricket in teachers’ training colleges and primary and secondary schools. A feature of next season’s fixture list would be a week-end visit to the West Country, where T. U. Wells had arranged matches against Clifton College and Badminton. Officers elected were:—Patron. Lord Freyberg; vice-patrons, Sir Sidney Holland and the Prime Minister (Mr Nash); president. Mr E. R. T. Holmes; vice-presi-dents, Lord Cobham, Lord Norrie, Lord Newall, Lord Plunket, Sir Arthur Porritt, Sir Arthur Sims. Major-General • W. G. Stevens. Messrs A. H. H. Gilligan, W. A. Hadlee, T. C. Lowry, and J. H. Phillipps; honorary secretary, Mr A. T. Campbell: honorary treasurer, Mr G. L Davies; committee, Messrs R. C. Blunt, H. Bremner, J. V. Brennan, L. E. L. Donne, D. M. Diinnet, J. P. Haynes, J. A. Lewis, H. Nottman, A. W. Mitchell, and C. B. Sharpe.