LOCAL ACTIVITIES

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 64, 12 September 1924, Page 8

LOCAL ACTIVITIES

ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL

REPORT,

An interesting review of Wellington's part in cricket during last season, and matters relating to the future advancement of the game are set out in the annual report of the Wellington Cricket Association, to be presented to the annual meeting of delegates on the 26th inst. _ ; References to the financial position 'of the association, the proposed improvement of the wickets and the engagement of a coach have already been made in "The Poet." Dealing generally with the past season's activities, the report states :— :

'."Though wet weather was met with at the; beginning', of. last season, and the same cause brought play to a premature end early in March, the season from every point! of view was liighjy successful, a very gratifying feature be- ! I ing- the regaining of the Plunket Shield by your representatives with three out-' I right wins. : Two of the three Plunket Shield matches were remarkable for the | high scoring recorded. In the match against Auckland played ;on the Wellington College ground, the . aggregate of the four innings was 1531 runs. This large total was, however, completely dwarfed in the match against Otago, played on the Carisbrook ground; where the phenomenal total of 1905 runs was ecored. 'This,is understood to be the second; highest on record in -first-class . matches. .. , Great interest ■ was created through the tour: of the'N.S.W. XL, under the captaincy of C. Q. Macartney the fine showing put up by the Wellington XI. being particular!v pleasing.". .■■;•-; •;.■■ ..- - r It- is; pointed out that the number of clubs showed -r..- decrease, last-- season, but there was an increase in the number of teams. ■• ■ ■ The report adds : "As a matter ,of .fact, your committee views ■with'satisfaction .-the tendency to lessen the number of clubs, and thus' to promote the existence of clubs fewer in number- but considerably stronger in membership and: organisation,"- ■■• "The tour of.the New South, Wales XI brought home to all cricketers the. fait for*\rt°£°■■. II"Pce™tl yevc steps were called foi, if the game m New Zealand was to progress. Two obvious courses suggest-' ti I f thems, elyf~the .improvement of wickets and ,the engaging of a suitable coach, to take : young players in hand. X our. committee decided if possible to Keep both objects in view. Through the good of Mr. H. W. Berry and Mr. Golhngwpod, of . Henry Berry and bo , the services of Captain F: T. BadWellington College), as coach were secured, for. a term of two years. Cap. tain £adcock.comes with the special recommendation of the M.C.C., and will arrive in New Zealand before the season commences..... . The committee wishes to place on record its. appreciation of the good work done last season by Messrs .B. J. Kortlang and H. M. M birr, who spent considerable time in coaching a number of young players." A_ reference to the new scheme adopted m connection' with the senior championship ; competition is. made, as follows: At the beginning of the season your committee decided to try an innovation ':£- the. l' unning' °f the senior championship with a view to securing a knock-out decision, and after inquiry, had been made as to the method followed in Melbourne,, it was resolved that after the termination. of the seventh round the four .leading teams should play off, one playing: three . and two playing foureach winner to meet in the final. Simil larly, of the last four teams, five should j play seven and six play eight. As has ! been already indicated, rain prevented this scheme being carried out in its entirety, but your committee feels confident, that it was. on the right lines a distinct improvement on the haphazard method that has hitherto been followed, and well worth further trial in the future. .... With regard to sources of revenue for the coming season, the report states': — "During the coming season our representative teani will: have to travel both to Auckland and Christchurch, so that unless a team from overseas visits U3 there will"'be only- one hdW match. This means that representative matches cannot be looked to as a considerable source of revenue, as was the case during the past season, and that therefore income under other heads should bo increased and the expenditure kept down as low as is consistent with progressive management if a profit on the" year is to be obtained." :. Individual and team performances, are referred to in the' report, and congratulations 'are extended to those teams and players who played a part in making the season a notable one from the point of view of performance. ' ■•