Sponsor overruled

Press, 29 November 1978, Page 6

Sponsor overruled

[ Contrary to a recommendation from its competitions 'sub-committee, the Canterbury Cricket Association decided last evening that all club cricket grades would be ; played on the day of the iGillette Cup final, December [23. j Mr N. G. Ockwell, the [convener of the sub-com-mittee, said dial the New Zealand Cricket Council had requested that clashes between club and cup fixtures be avoided so that there be no detrimental effect on gate-takings. Also taken into consideration was the prospect that clubs would have problems fielding teams so close to Christmas, when many people might have left for holidays. The possibility of having a full round on the week-end of December 16 and 17 had been discarded because of a Shell Cup match at Lancaster Park on those dates and the expense of hiring pitches from the City Council on Sundays. However, delegates from

ithe St Albans, Sydenham, Lancaster Park, Old Collegians, East-Shirley. High School Old Boys and Riccarton clubs spoke against the recommendation, some suggesting that grades from first to third be played and the others cancelled Mr A. G. Williams said (that he opposed the intrusions made into club cricket because a sponsoring company wanted television coverage. Other speakers doubted whether the suspension of club play would make a great deal of difference to the attendance at Lancaster Park. It was not relevant to suggest there was any pandering to the sponsors, said the chairman (Mr L. J. Knowles). Cricket authorities were keen to have as much television exposure as possible, and the cup contest was jointly promoted by the sport, the sponsor and T.V.I. The decision to continue with club cricket was carried by 14 votes to six.