CRICKET Junior Clubs “Not On Outer” Deputation Told

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30173, 3 July 1963, Page 17

CRICKET Junior Clubs “Not On Outer” Deputation Told

The president of the Canterbury Cricket Association (Mr W. A. Hadlee) assured junior club representatives which waited on the management committee of the association last evening that they were not “on an outer limb" but were regarded very mueh as a part of Canterbury cricket. Mr Hadlee was replying to points raised by a deputation from the Technical Old Boys and Marist clubs, which consisted of Messrs R. Gray (spokesman), W. Metcalfe (Technical Old Boys), M. C. Stonyer, P. Guthrie, and M. Sullivan (Marist). Mr Gray asked what the association’s attitude was to junior clubs and whether it thought that both the Technical Old Boys and Marist clubs were closed clubs which they were not. The chairman of the committee (Mr J. T. Eltoft) said that what views were expressed would be purely private opinions and not repre-

aaotative of the management committee. Therefore, he felt that the question 'could not be answered. Members of the deputation said that although it was compulsory for all eenior clubs to be represented on the association, no provision was made for the junior clubs. Mr Sullivan added that a representative of the club should be on the association and that a change in the constitution making provision tor junior clubs' representatives would be necessary. Mr Gray said there was no definite policy about promo-tion-relegation matches. On this matter the association was “sitting on the fence" and something definite was necessary. Mr Sullivan said that tha bottom team in the senior grade, and the leading teanj in the Second A grade had no incentive to improve their standards. Mr Hadlee asked whether the junior clubs were dissatisfied with what the management comm I‘lee did in tha 1962-63 season. Mr Gray said that what Technical Old Boys got in tha end was a grading match, which it was not happy with. "It was not a fair trial of our strength,” he said. Mr Hadlee said that tha Technical Old Boys club was given what it asked for; but Mr Gray said that it had asked for a chance to enter the senior grade and not a grading match.