OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 12305, 21 September 1904, Page 3

OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION

The following is the report to be presented to tho annual meeting of delegates on Saturday evening : Your Committee, in presenting the annual report, congratulate members on the success of the past season. The season from a weather point of view was one of the best we have had for years, and tended in a measure to help on' Che game. The annual fixture with Canterbury was played at Christchurch during Christmas tune, and, though Otago was strongly represented, our men failed badly and were beaten by 169 runs. Our batsmen failed to adapt themselves to the fast wicket at Hagley Park, and bad fieldiii" at one stage of the game proved very costly to Otago. Baker, Howden. Austin, Fisher, and Downes all showed good torni with the bat, the former especially batting m the best of form. Shacklock. who secured twelve wickets in the two innings, bowled really well; while Fisher did likewise in the second innings. The Southland match was plaved at Cansbrook at New Year, and resulted in a win for Otago by ten wickets. In this match Q. G. Austin batted in his true form, and played a beautiful innings of 182. Graham and Baker also showed good form with the bat in this match G. C. Wilson, of Southland, also played a fine innings of 117 (not out). G. Reardon and H. Graham bowled well for Otago in this match. A team went to Balclutha in March and played a match against South Otago, which Otago won by nine wickets. In the North v. South Island match your province was represented by T sak"5 ak "- 9', K Howde ". H. Graham, and r. Shacklock, who worthily upheld the honor of the provmce. The colts' match was played on November 9at Carisbrook. The colts, with the assistance of Shacklock and Graham defeated the Otago team by 25 runs. For the colts, F. Shacklock, R. Torrance, H Graham, and M. Thomson showed form with the bat, while R Torrance, and A. Given bowled well. 'The match, notwithstanding that the weather was not too promising, attracted a fair number of spectators, and this year's success will no doubt lead to its" beinc" an annual fixture. "

The various championships were keenly contested, and the teams were much more even than in past years. The fact of the Carisbrook dividing their A and B teams up lent a great deal more interest to the First Grade championship, which was eventually won by the Carisbrook B with an unbeaten record. The newlyinstituted Second Grade championship proved a most interesting contest, and the Dunedin and Port Chalmers teams lied for pride of place. A plav-off was arranged, but the match was unfinished, so the two teams were bracketed as winners of this championship. The Roslyn Club succeeded in carrying off the Third and Fourth Grade championships. The Association engaged F. Shacklock as professional coach at the beginning of the season to coach the schoolboys and colts from the various clubs, and we hope that some of the young players will show the benefit of this coaching in tire coming season. The High School Club also had the services of H. Graham as coach, and he has made a decided improvement

in the play of the boys. As both of I these players are still being retained in Dunedin, it is hoped that they will] bring some of . our young players to the front. * The thanks of tho Association arc due to Messrs H. A. Boddington and D. H. Thomson, who acted as your delegates to the New Zealand Cricket Council; to | Mr C. R. Smith, for placing his office at the disposal of the Committee; and to the Press, for the prominence given to the affairs of tire Association. There arc prospects of a visit from the Australian Eleven during the coming season, which should help to keep up the interest in the game. Financial.—The Association started the season with a credit balance of £207 3s sd. and the bnluueo.sheet now submitted shows tho Association to have a credit balance of £llO 18s 4d. which cannot but be considered satisfactory. The following are the batting and bowling averages in inlet-provincial matches : "Bs.iimn.

T. N.O. H.S. T.R. Avpr. 1. Austrn 3 1 182* 215 107.5 H. (ira.hn.rn 4 1 64* 129 43 J- Bak>r 4 1 51 . 104 34.6 A. H, Fisher ... 2 1 30* ■ 30 30 A. lloww.s 2 1 19* 22 22 F. Shaddock „. 3 — 27 ' 29 9.6 "R. C. Howdcn ... 3 — 23 28 9.3 H. (!. :-i"flcbarg 3 ' - 14 26 8.6 A. K Grrlri'es ... 3 - 24 . 24 8 (r. Roardrm 3 — 13 13 4.3 William* o — 5 9 3 H. Harraway (one iniiina-s for 4) .and Fer£Usou (one for 0) also baited. Bowi.ixg Balk . Mchis. Runs. Wkts . Aver. H. Graham 132 1 86 6 14.3 I-'. Shmiklock 587 14 220 13 16.9 A. H. Fisher 293 14 124 7 17.7 G. Rcardon 193 9 110 6 18.3 Li. G.Austin 264 14 82 4 20.5 Geddes (two for 67), A. Downcs (oi :ir for 61), Ferguson (none for 36), 11. < U. Sini .lcbci'"(none for 12), and K. G. ilowden (none for 10) also bowled.