The evolvement of a senior cricket team

Press, 9 May 1984, Page 40

The evolvement of a senior cricket team

By

R. T. BRITTENDEN

Marist will be a new team in the senior cricket competition next summer, but its history can be traced back more than 50 years. The Marist club played first in Suburban association cricket, from 1928-29. It won the third grade A competition in its first season, reached senior status (for one season) in 1934-35, and disbanded after the 1940-41 season, because of the Second World War. In 1944-45, the St Bede’s Old Boys club began with only two teams. This grew to three sides a couple of seasons later. In 1947-48, still with three teams, the new club won the second grade B competition. That summer, there was another new club — Cathedral — also with three teams. For the next three seasons, Marist fielded four sides, Cathedral six. During this period St Bede’s Old Boys had some very talented players, but an application for senior status was refused. Inevitably, the club was thereupon weakened by players changing clubs or leaving the game. Among its top players at the time were Bob Stuart, Kevin Stuart, John Mullins, Duncan White, Ray Davey and Dan McCormick. Both the Stuarts and Davey subsequently played senior cricket for other clubs. White had already has a long senior career with East Christchurch. In 1951-52 the two clubs amalgamated and became Marist. It started with six teams, and last season had eight. There were many successes in the lower grades, but Marist’s proudest moment was probably in the winning of the Peterson Shield in 1979-80; this competition takes all clubs’ points in all grades into consideration. There were some difficult times, however. Three times the club was relegated to the second B grade, and had to win this to get back into 2A. So to last summer, and

an easy victory in the 2A championship. There may be more difficult days ahead, but at least Marist now has senior status, and with it an incen-

tive to players who otherwise would join other clubs. Marist has worked hard for promotion, and earned it. There will not be many who do not wish it well.