Vigorous comeback

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34119, 3 April 1976, Page 4

Vigorous comeback

(By

RAY CAIRNS)

It was as recently as 1968 that the Harewood Cricket Club was in danger of falling into recess. Down to one team when half the club left to form a cricket section at the Papanui Workingmen’s Club, Harewood was almost a non-playing member of the Christchurch Suburban Association.

Men such as Derek Case, now the club's president, and Don Syme refused to be beaten, however. They battled on, saw their top team win the junior grade in 1972-73, then the senior B competition in 1973-74 — and had a setback when it was refused entry to the senior A grade the following season.

It was a controversial decision, but Derek Case, very distressed at the time, is much more philosophical now.

“We hold no grudges, and maybe it was a good thing that we had that extra year of development, and we also had extra determination.” That determination was reflected in Harewood winning senior B again in

1974-75, winning senior A status as of right, and underlining its case bywinning the premier competition this season.

Harewood owed its victory — accomplished with a one-day match to be played — to steady allround play, above average fielding, at least for the Suburban competition, and rapid scoring, the likes of which St James Park has not seen since the days of Murray Stanley and Maurie Broadhurst nearly 20 years ago.

John Ruston, a former Canterbury and St Albans player, made the greatest single contribution to the competition victory. Opening against Sumner in the final two-day game, Ruston made 115 not out from 65 balls, and he and MurrayScott made an unbroken 155 in. 45 minutes from 11 overs.

Ruston, the captain, scored more than 200 runs in two innings at -he end of the season, but otherwise, the batting contributions were well spread. lan Ward, Ray Hooper, Scott and Lyn Sparks all scored consistently, and there were useful contributions from Reg Hughes and Jack Goulding. The batting could have been even stronger had Tom Nottingham not returned to Hamilton at Christmas.

Sparks, very fit and with an economical run, carried the bowling; he bowled twice as many overs as Ruston and Brian Peate, and took 61 wickets. But those other two and Michael Dolden had striking rates to match that of Sparks and Scott chimed in consistently to wrap up innings.

Derek Case attributed much of the team’s success to playing in a twilight tournament organised by Sparks in the western part of the city. He also said the club’s strength was based on five schoolboy teams; many of the players who had their first associations with the club on Saturday mornings are now returning as they leave school. Harewood’s future? “We’ll be near the top for a long while to come,” predicted the president who, with Don Syme, has been honoured with life membership.