CRICKET GROUNDS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 94, 18 October 1934, Page 5

CRICKET GROUNDS

HUTT VALLEY ASSOCIATION

DRASTIC STEP TAKEN

The state of some of the playing areas and wickets to be used by the Hutt Valley Cricket Association was so unfavourably reported upon at a meeting of the association's management committee last night that the drastic step ■was taken of condemning some of the wickets as being unfit for play. Those preseatat the meeting woro Messrs. H. Webster (chairman), H. Goldic, J. J. Bperfco, J.Boult, Ji. .Baldwin, C. Wrack, W. McLea, N. Berry, and H. N, Jones (secretary). • TEe 'grounds committee ' (Messrs. Wrack, Spcnce, and McLea) roported having inspected all the wickets. At Bell Park the outfield was in good condition, the report stated, but the ■wicket would need to be improved before being used for matches. Both the outfield and the wicket at Waiwhetu School "would have to be greatly improved 'before cricket could bo safely •played;on' that ground. The Trafalgar Park bntfield was in excellent order, and there was every prospect of No. 2 ■wickpt" rolling out as one of the best in the. association. No. 1 wicket, however, would need a lot of working up to approach the standard of No. 2 wicket. Tho association's wickets on Naenae Reserve (No. 1 and No. 3) compared favourably with the best in the association, the outfield also being in good order. After inspecting North Park, the grounds committee agreed that tho outfield was f absolutely unplayable," as wero the wickets, excepting No. 2, and the committee had no hesitation in condemning this ground in its present condition. The outfield at the Pctono Recreation Ground.was in fair condition, but the wicket would need to be improved. There was every indication of the association having two good wickets on McEwen Park this seasou. The .outfield there had been greatly improved. Outfield and wicket at Eandtvick School were in good order. After tho grounds committee's report had been discussed, it was decided to •write to the Petono Borough Council regarding the wickets on North Park. It was also decided that the Waiwhetu School ground and wicket be condemned until such time as it is fit for play, a letter to that effect to be sent to the Waiwhetu School Committee. The Bell Park Club informed the association that it had prepared a wicket alongside the regular wicket to enable the groundsman to get the usual wicket snto good order. As several wickets have been condemned, it has been necessary to amend tho allocation o£ wickets. The fixtures affected are:— A grade: Metters United A v. Empire, to Hutt Park No. 1; General Motors B v. V.M.C.A. A, to Hutt Park No. 2. B grade: General Motors C v. Wills, \o Hutt Park No. 3; Taita A v. Bandwick B, to Hutt Park No. 4. Clubs desiring to practise on reserves under the control of the .association are to apply to the management, committee for a practice wicket.