CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 291, 8 September 1928, Page 25

CRICKET

THE GAME IN WELLINGTON ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL REPORT The annual report of the Wellington Cricket Association states that the number of clubs affiliated to the association is 20, and these entered 79 teams, as follows:—Senior 10, junior A 10, junior B 12, junior C 12, junior D 12, third grade A 11, third grade B 12. In addition, 14 teams played in the City and Suburban League, IS in the Boys’ Cricket League, 27 in the intermediate grade (comprised of secondary schools and institutional teams), and 48 in the public schools* competition, making a total of 186 teams. The City and Suburban Association and the Public Schools’ Cricket Association were affiliated to the association during the season, thus bringing under either direct or indirect control of the management committee practically every cricketer in Wellington. Too Many Senior Teams. A reduction in the number of senior teams is urged by the senior championship committee. “The cricket ability of some of the lower teams in the championship contest,” states the report ot the committee,” is not in the committee's opinion up to what is required to maintain a reasonably good standard of senior cricket in Wellington. This is a matter that should be dealt with immediately, so that steps can be taken to raise the standard, A matter that the committee would like to emphasise is the generally unsatisfactory attendance at the practice nets on the part of members of affiliated clubs. This is an important matter, and club officials should be seized with the fact thiit the work that is put into practice wickets does not achieve the results it should if there are not full musters ol each and every club on the evenings when practice wickets are available. It is by their attendance at practice that players improve in their play, and loyalty to their clubs should be the first consideration of all players. The committee goes to a lot of trouble to see that things are made comfortable for the players, and if the attendances at the nets are not ui> to standard, it' stands to reason that any arguments for increased facilities are defeated before they are even given expression to. If it should be found during the incoming season that clutys practising on the Basin Reserve are not taking full advantage of the facilities offered, the committee recommends that they be given power to re-allot the wickets,” Representative Games. The committee, after congratulating the Wellington representative team on again bringing the I’lunket Shield to Wellington, records- its appreciation of outstanding performances in batting by K. C. James, T. C. Lowrv, H. M. McGirr, H. Foley, and C. S. Dempster; and in bowling by W. S. Brice and H. JI. McGirr. C. S. Dempster deserves special commendation for excellent batting performances' in both representative and club cricket, and he thoroughly earned the distinction awarded him by the New Zealand Cricket Council, that of holder Of the. Redpath Cup as the post outstanding New Zealand cricketer of the year. T|ie Plunket Shield matches against Auckland, Canterbury and Otago resulted in victories for Wellington, and the shield is now in the possession of the association. The Wellington team maintained a high standard of play in all departments of the game. The Wellington Plunket Shield district, proceeds the report, is a' comprehensive one, and the Management Committie considers it as its boiinden duty to give the players outside the . jurisdiction of the Wellington Association an opportunity of taking part in these games, and they are prepared to go to any lengths to bring this about. The co-operation of the country associations, however, is a necessity. Financial Statement. The financial statement shows that it was ' necessary to transfer from the accumulated funds an . amount of £157 4s. Bd.‘ to meet a deficit to that amount in the income and expenditure account. While the deficit was not wholly attributable to the workings of the past season, the following explanation of the position will no doubt be of interest: — “Three main items may be set down as tfie causes which resulted in the rather large reduction in the accumulated fund. These are: (1) Substantial reduction in. gate receipts for both club and interprovincial matches; (2) payment of three years’ rental for use of clubrooms at,the Basin Reserve; (3) an unexpected increase in the charges, by the City Council for junior match wickets. “The firht item is without a doubt due to matches being lacking in interest, patricularly in the Plunket Shield games. The three interprovincigl games did not net this association as much as the Otago match the previous season or the Auckland match in 1920-2 b season, and, in addition, the Town v. Country match was most unsatisfactory trom a financial point of view . The one redeeming match was with Australia, when a net profit of £194 2s. lOd. was made. The second item was the receint ot a belated account from the City Council for three years’ rental of th? Basin Reserve clubrooms. Of the paid under this heading, £75 is on account of the two seasons prior to 1927-2 S. “The third item was by far the most unfortunate as far iis this association was concerned, as it was too late loi adjustment with clubs when advice was given that the. charge for junior wickets was to be the same as that tor senior wickets. It remained, therefore, for the committee to decide either to curtail club cricket or else stand a loss ot approximately £65 in this connection. This latter course was decided upon. The general expenses of the association show a decrease of about £S on the previous year’s figures.