First grade format and sponsorship

Press, 2 October 1979, Page 10

First grade format and sponsorship

A generous sponsorship from the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) and a revised competition format will considerably boost interest in the Christchurch first grade championship this season. The chairman of the Canterbury association’s management committee (Mr John Knowles) said yesterday that players in all grades had reason to be indebted to ANZ. Of the 83000 provided by the bank, the winning first grade side would receive S5OO, with lesser amounts (possibly $250 and $100) to the minor placegetters. The sucessful teams in lower grades would each earn $5O. Mr Knowles said that the remainder would be retained for administration and promotion purposes. “The publication of our draw will also be supported by ANZ,” Mr Knowles said. “The sponsorship has been a natural progression from the ANZ knock-out tournament of past seasons.”

Cricketers have long been frustrated that, because of the limitations of the playing season, it has not been possible to provide each first grade side with an even balance of

opposition within a season. But that will not occur under the new system. The eight first grade clubs will have a full round-robin before being split into two sections of similar strength for another round of three fixtures. Competition points will end at that stage and the top sides in each division will play off over three days for the provincial title.

Mr Knowles described the format as “exciting, with the championship inevitably still on the line until the last ball of the last game.”

He is confident that a revamped administrative structure and strenuous efforts by the representative selectors in pre-sea-son preparation will lead to a more memorable season than that of 12 months ago.

Naturally, the highlight will be the tour of this country by the West Indies and a special promotions sub-committee has been planning an attractive programme to lead up to the visit

In a bid to lift attendances at Lancaster Park, Mr Knowles said that the sub-committee had recommended generous concession ticket rates — “we are more interested in having greater numbers at the park than making money.” There was also a distinct prospect that Canterbury would have a special preChristmas one-day match against Auckland in a family and picnic atmosphere at Hagley Oval. “We must have larger crowds at our first-class games to be sure that i Lancaster Park remains a j test venue,” Mr Knowles | said. “So far everything j seems to be going our way. The economic downturn and earless days will mean that people will stay closer to home in the holidays.”