CRICKET

Evening Post, Issue 59, 10 March 1924, Page 4

CRICKET

HAWKE CUP

NEW SCHEMES FOR CONTEST

Ways and means of conducting the Hawke Cup competition . along more satisfactory lines for the minor' associations of. New Zealand were discussed at v conference of delegates held at the' Wellington Cricket Association -Rooms last week. Mr. E. Heathcote Williams, president of.-the New Zealand Cricket Council, was in the chair. Others present were: Messrs. J. S\ .Barrett (Is'ew Zealand Management .Committee), W. H. Winsor (New .Zealand Manage-, ment Committee), D. Recce (New Zealand Management Committee), B. R. Macdonald (South Canterbury), W. G. Miller. (Manawatu)/ A. R. Barker (Marlborough and South Westlaud), J. Reid (Waikato), W. A. J. Gibson (Poverty Bay), C. G. Wilson (Southland), G. J. Mahoney (South .Taranaki), J. H. Hayhow (Wauganui), H. Arkwri'ght' (Rangitikei), M. A. Kelly (Ne-kon), -H. Buck (Wellington Association). The president, in dealing -with the present position regarding the competition, stated that there were so many challenges that all matches could not be played. Various.:schemes to overcome the difficulty had been put forward. He suggested that the two Islands :be separated. The Hawe Cup could go to one Island, and he would undertake^ ,to see that a cup was provided for the other Island. ■

lii reply to a delegate who asked what' Lord Hawke would think of that arrangement, the president'said that the . donor of the trophy would . probably I agree if he were advised of the posij tion. . The Southland Association suggested an alteration of the rules so that the associations of the South Island would play 'aniong themselves, the. same with the North Island teams; the Island winners to play off in Wellington and Christchurch in alternate years-; Nelson and Marlborough to be considered as part of the North Island. The idea of including Nnlson and Marlborough in the North.lsland was not favoured, and it was resolved to** delete this portion of the proposal. Wanganui proposed that the minor association be divided into groups as follows:—Group l,Waikato, Kangitikei, Taranaki combined, and Wanganui. Group 2, Manawatu and Waipu. Group1 3, Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast. Group 4, South Canterbury, North Otago, Southland, and, Ashburton j Group winners would play one another, I groups 1 and 2 meeting and groups 3 i.and 4. The winners of these gomes would meet in the final. :. Nelson, Taranaki; and Poverty Bay favoured the present challenge system. Eangitikei propoeed grouping associations and a, scheme similar-to "the r minor counties championship in Eng- ! land. Teams would play a maximum number of mutches or a' minimum, of four. The contest would, be determined on percentages, according.. to the number of matches played. In the event of two teams securing the same numberof points, priority will be determined by averages. This would lie a Dominion championship, although an Island champion would be named. . After further discussion, the Nelson and Waikrito^ delegates suggested that the Bangitikei. scheme be circularised to the minor associations, with an instrucI tion that they submit their views! to, the New Zealand Cricket Council., on the proposal. The suggestion was favourably received. ' ' Eventually it was moved. "That the rules of the Hawks Cup be as nearly' as "possible tlie same as the rules of the English minor counties, and that the .N.Z.C.C. .be therefore requested- tomake rules as follow:—(Then follow-" rules.) That the Management Committee circularise the Ranyitikei, scheme | to minor associations, requesting them to [instruct" their delegate to vote at-the next quarterly meeting of the council with a.view to altering the Hawke Cup rules or otherwise." - ' ■ The motion was lost by 6 votes to 5. lhe conference recommended the Kangitikei delegate to circularise the minor associations regarding the English scheme. • '■ '