LANCASTER PARK MEMORIES—V English Professionals Had Beneficial Effect On N.Z. Cricket

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30128, 11 May 1963, Page 9

LANCASTER PARK MEMORIES—V English Professionals Had Beneficial Effect On N.Z. Cricket

This is the fifth of six article! by J. K. MOLONEft on his recollections of sport ana sportsmen at Lancaster Park.

rpHE influence of the SusA sex professional, A. E. Relf, on Auckland cricket cannot be over-estimated. It is doubtful whether any other individual has made a comparable impact on the game in New Zealand. It was generally agreed that the institution of the Plunket Shield was going to do much for cricket, and people agreed with Relf when he said he hoped it would not long remain in Auckland, because a series of successive challenges for its possession v'ould stimulate cricket all over the Dominion.

This was immediately borne out Interest and enthusiasm for the game mounted sharply. Canterbury saw the light and immediately took action. So far as young talent was concerned it was a highwater mark in the province’s history. In the seventies Canterbury cricket was very strong; now it was again to field teams of strength. E. Humphreys, of Kent, a professional who had been specially selected by Lord Hawke was engaged. He arrived on November 8. 1908 and immediately went into action at the nets at Hagley Park. The next day he played with a colts team against a Canterbury eleven. Thia colts team contained many players

who afterwards became household names’ in Christchurch. They included F. C. Fryer, E. E. Crawshaw, E. R. Caygill, H. Watson, J. H. Bruges, H. M. Chrystall, L. Gordon, W. Hayes, A. Norman and H. M. MacFarlane.

Under Humphrey’s influence Canterbury cricket sprang to life. In club cricket everyone began to hit out. A. Ridley made 217 for Linwood against Riccarton. A Saturday or so later, E. Harper scored 102 for Riccarton and Fryer, 63.

The Plunket Shield match played at Auckland, with Canterbury as challengers on January 2,1909 was a close game. L. G. Hemus and Relf made a promising start and then V. Sale came to the assistance of Relf and a big score was in prospect until K. Ollivier made a sensational catch in deep field to dismiss Relf. The other wickets fell cheaply and Auckland made 230. On a bowlers’ wicket, Canterbury stonewalled, but failed against Relf who took seven wickets for 42. Humphreys, however, batted freely for 43 and Canterbury finished 127 runs behind.

Auckland, too, failed in its second innings. Humph-

reys was practically unplayable taking six for 23 and Auckland was all out for 92. Canterbury needed 219 runs but was out for 187.

Humphreys continued to play well for Canterbury and in the Otago match his bowling figures were nine for 82. He came to Christchurch when there was an unprecedented number of promising cricketers starting their careers. Although he was only in Christchurch for one season I believe he exerted a powerful influence on the futures of numbers of players who afterwards did well for the province. When about to take his departure he said: “Cricket will fly along in New Zealand. It only requires a bit of a start.”

It got a start all right, but after the first World War it seemed to lose its

momentum. One thing that Humphreys did say was that when first he began coaching he found that the batsmen inclined to a bad style and some time was taken correcting that. There was too much flourish about their batting—the bat being brought up from the offside too much. For years, visiting Australians used to say that New Zealanders played back on their wicket too much. S. T. Callaway, who had unique opportunity to assess New Zealand’s pday said that the chief fault was that New Zealanders did not concentrate. The Canterbury Cricket Association thought that

when Hu.nphreys left he would return to Christchurch at the end of the English season and they were astonished when he said that he was not coming. Instead, C. P. Buckenham, an Essex professional was suggested but he did not accept the association's offer. The Canterbury committee then asked H. Trumble, the Australian test player to suggest someone and his selection was W. Carlton, of North Melbourne. Carlton was a champion baseball player and an outstanding sprinter. When he came to

take up his appointment, he was, like Humphreys, included fa the colts team to meet Canterbury. Carlton took four for 42 and scored 59. He was a right-hand spinner with an easy delivery and batted very correctly.

This was the stage when the diecnct scheme begaa to function really well Each club seemed to have a leavening of the good players. Riccarton had E. R. Caygill, Fryer, Harper, H. B. Whitta. J. Bain. K. E. Williams, C. Rix and H. Lawrence. W. Carlton was with East Christchurch with A. Sims, C BoxshaU, A. E. Ward, E. Willsteed. Linwood (the old Lancaster Park Club', had the three Ridleys, H. M. Taylor. S. Orchard, A. W. Thomas and W. King. T. W. Reese was one of the

mainstays of St. Albans with E. E Crawshaw, G. T. Weston. C. W. Allard. D. M. Sandman and H. A. Bishop. A. T. Donnelly played for West Christchurch. Others in the side were H. Tattersail. A. C. Fuller, W. L Jennings. T. J. Malone, H. M. Chrystall and D. Reese. Sydenham had a steady combination with H. Watson. J. Gray, T. W. Jacobs. W. Hayes. J. N. Fowke and J. S. Bruges Many thought that the end of the cricket world would come with the introduction of the district scheme. They were proved entirely wrong. If anything, the game went on better than before.