LEAGUE CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 23743, 26 November 1940, Page 5

LEAGUE CRICKET

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By J.V.C.W.)

The sodden state of the Oval and Bathgate Park last Saturday morning was such that the Match Committee decided on a postponement of the playing of the fourth round until the following week. This was unfortunate in a way, as several League players on leave from Burnham were looking forward to a game and meeting old friends on the cricket field. An inspection of the wickets at 2.15 proved the judgment of the committee to be sound. The three wickets at Bathgate Park wo'.dd have cut up to an unplayable condition in a very few overs. * * • * Bay Johnston, a promising left-handed bat, who compiled some good totals for Town Hall last season;..R. Kclrnan (secretary), Tom M’Carten, and C. Vivian (Town Hall players) were here on final leave last, week-end. All looked the picture of health. * * i» • Chief interest in the fourth round of matches centres in the meeting of Logan Park and Glenross, which are equal near the top of the A section table, Two old rivals—Self Help and Gregg’s Red G—will fight it out on No. 8 wicket with the odds favouring Self Help. Town Hall be pitted against a strong R. and G. combination on No. 1, and T. and P. meet Hillside on an Oval wicket. In B section Lakes will be up against the toughest proposition in this section in Burts. The Post OfliceTainui Rovers fixture should be an interesting one, and on the end wicket at Bathgate Park Pride of the Leith, A.0.P., should have stout opposition from Smith and Smith. Standard plays a match against Dunedin Engineering at Bathgate Park, and it looks like another victory for Standard. • • * • There are two teams in both A and B sections which still have to have their colours lowered. Self-Help and Speights head the A section table with three wins, and Burts and Post Office have each 6 cup points. Glenross, Logan Park, and R. and G. have Ipst one mutch; then comes T. and P., Town Hall, and Hillside, with Gregg’s Red G and Telgineers bringing up the rear of A section. Pride of the Leith, Smith and Smith, and Tramways are well up in B section, with a loss apiece. Standard, so far, is the only undefeated team in C section.

Among the contentious matters brought before the last executive meeting was the playing of unregistered players in the first round of matches. The records secretary reported that four teams had infringed Ride 9 The delegates from the respective clubs gave an explanation, and put forward their case. However, the majority of the executive was of the opinion that rule 22 should be enforced. This rule reads: “ Any club infringing any match rule shall forfeit the match, which shall be awarded to the opposing team. In the event of a losing team infringing such rules, such team will be fined the sum of five shillings and net allowed to take part in any further matches till the above fine has been paid.” Tramways forfeited the match to Smith and Smith. It is hard luck for the team, as the losing of this match may mean a good deal later in the season. Dunedin Engineering Company forfeited the match to Donaghy’s Rope Works, and Hospital lost its first match against Roslyn Mills. Sargoods (a losing team) was fined 5s for breaking this rule. • * • * While on the subject of rules perhaps that dealing with another phase of registering of players should he mentioned. Rule 21 reads: “The secretary of any club registering a player from any club in the 0.G.A., or a transfer in the 0.C.L., must produce to the League secretary a clearance from the chib in which such player has played within the last two seasons or present season. The clearance must be submitted to the secretary of the League before such member plays in any match.” The executive takes (he view that if the comparatively few rules governing the competitions are not strictly observed the game would soon lose its popularity. * • * * In the eai’ly part of the season it was announced that the records secretary, Mr J. Inglis, would be leaving, and prevision was made for another assistant to fill the position. Only those who have had to do the work can appreciate what it means to assemble the individual performances of 308 cricketers every playing Saturday, and work out both batting and bowling averages for the season. It is a long and tedious job. The efficient manner in which Mr ,T. Inglis canned out this work last season was referred to by the president cm several occasions. It is good news to know that Mr Inglis is free to carry on the good work. * * • • At the last executive meeting a delegate brought up the matter of having first aid readily available on the Oval for players receiving injuries during the course of a game. It was decided to write to the St. John Ambulance asking for its cooperation.