CRICKET CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 84, 6 October 1920, Page 4

CRICKET CONTROL

QUESTION OF SENIOR TEAMS

DISCUSSED BY MANAGEMENT

COMMITTEE

The Management Committee of the. Wellington Cricket Association met last evening. Mr. C. G. Wilson presided. There were also present : Messrs. R. .). Murphy, X Tucker, W. Hughes, B. L. Salmon, C. Edmonds, J. Fanning, M. J. Crombie, and R. S. Johnston, secretary.

A letter was received From the private secretary of the Governor-General expressing His Excellency's thanks for kind wishes and welcome greetings, and accepting the office of patron to the Wellington Cricket Association. He hoped to play personally, and wished the association success in the season.

It was decided to make arrangements in accordance with the request of tho Executive of the New Zealand Cricket Association for the share of the financia^ guarantee of the proposed Marylebon'e tour.

Messrs. C. G. Wilson, B. L. Salmon, find; C. Edmonds were appointed Senior Championship and Grounds Committee.

In regard to the junior competition, it was decided to have Ist juniors, 2nd juniors, 3rd grade, and 4th grade. Mr. Murphy was appointed convener for the Ist and 2nd junior, Mr. Edmonds for the 3rd grade, and Mr. Salmon for tho 4th grade. The number of teams entered was 53, and there are others in prospect.

Ten entries were announced for the senior competition. The Chairman ventured to say that he did not think there were 110 senior players in Wellington. It would be madness to increase the number of teams to ten.

Mr. Murphy suggested eight senior teams for the first round, and the four best might at the end of the round play off the second round. Enough had been said about his own team last season to justify the proposal. An attempt had been made to get players away from his club to play senior in event of the chib not being able to secure senior status. At present there was a clique among the' senior clubs, which hindered good fellowship among cricketers, and recruits to these clubs were apt to leave them and play for outyide chibs.

Mr Ctombie thought they had encouraged the formation of junior clubs, and it would be better for the game if they had only senior dubs and a few junior clubs from colleges and such institutions.

Mr. Tucker asked if ten junior,players could be named in ten years who had made good in Wellington cricket. Mr. Edmonds thought that, if this was true, it was a reflection on local cricket

Mr. Murphy moved that there- should be eight senior teams in the competition. There had been a recommendation from the general meeting to increase the number- of teams to eight. Many players took up the game for exercise, not with the idea of getting into representative cricket.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Hughes.

Mr. Tucker, seconded by Mr. Crombie, moved as an amendment that the number be the same as last year —six. The ten clubs entered, with number of teams, were :—Thorndon (5). Murphy's (1), Old Boys (2), Victoria College (2); V.M.C.A. (4), Petone (2), East (2), Hutt (4), Marist Old Boys (3), North (3).

The amendment was carried, with two dissentients.

On the motion of Mr. Crombie, it was decided, by four votes to three, that the teams should remain the same tis last season :—Petone. East) North, Hutt, ■ Thorndon, and Old Boys. Mr. Murphy pointed'out the difficulty of his club after what had happened last saason. He felt there was no option but to re?ign, as his club could not be expected to play junior cricket again. Eventually Mr. Murphy was induced to reconsider the matter until next meeting. _ Messrs. Murphy, Edmonds, and Hughes wera appointed a committee to report on the different junior grades. The appointment of a 6ole selector was deferred to the nsxt meeting.