CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 53, 31 August 1939, Page 6

CRICKET

MERCANTILE LEAGUE

The season under review had for many reasons been an eventful one, states the annual report of the Mercantile Cricket League, v which will be presented to members at the annual meeting on September 4. In the first place, the numerical strength of the affiliations had been maintained, general play showed an improvement in standard, and perhaps, what was most important, the measure of keenness and rivalry displayed in all grades indicated that the popularity of League cricket remained undiminished. Those facts augured well for the future, and in that connection it was well to remember that in two years' time the League was due to celebrate its twenty-first anniversary. There was, therefore, every indication, that the event could be approached with confidence and enthusiasm.

The loss of three wickets on the Lyall Bay Recreation Ground had been a big loss to the League inasmuch as those provided on the Polo Ground had proved very inferior substitutes. While the apparent lack of adequate facilities for summer sport was a matter of concern the committee realised that the solution of the problem was not an easy one for the civic authorities, and therefore required patience.

During the season the Mercantile League co-operated with the Wellington Cricket Association and the Hutt Valley Cricket Association in arranging special matches to raise funds with the object of assisting the Wellington City Council to provide additional playing fields.

Apart from the Polo Ground dissatisfaction was expressed over the state of some wickets on the other reserves which were not up to their usual high standard. The committee was of the opinion that the fallingoff in uniformity was due to the abnormally long dry spell of weather experienced.

The financial statement discloses a satisfactory state of affairs.