CRICKET Standard on Coast Discussed

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 January 1947, Page 9

CRICKET Standard on Coast Discussed

Two=day Match Proposal

Defeated

“Either we go back to village cricket standards on the West Coast or else we settle down and do something to improve our game,” said the secretary of the West Coast Cricket Association (Mr. G. Sansom), speaking at a meeting, of the association’s management committee last evening. “The touring.team we sent away was not bur strongest, but even with other players included, we would not have been as strong as a junior team in Canterbury,” he added.

Reporting on the tour of the East Coast by the West Coast team, Mr. Sansom, who was manager, said that, although the results were not flattering, there were several facts which had to be taken into consideration. In the first place the team had to play on turf wickets, which were a novelty to them; secondly, the opposing teams had ail been fortunate in batting on easy wickets; thirdly, the team lacked experience of representative cricket. Mr. Sansom recommended that, in order to compete successfully with outside districts, local cricketers should play on turf, using matting only in an emergency. The association and clubs should pay more attention to coaching, especially in regard to slow bowlers, he said. In the touring team there was no bowler capable of- taking advantage of the conditions encountered. The third point raised by Mr. Sansom was that two-day matches should be played on the West Coast in order to remedy the impetuous batting of players used to matches which were all over in four and a half hours. Previous Failure.

The chairman (Mr. W. Meat.es) said that over many years West Coast representative sides had done well in two-day matches. When two-day dub matches were tried out they did not prove a success. Mr. A. Vaughan: You find only two or three good players in each team and then nothing. It would not work out. , , . Mr. W. McNeish: Two-day matches may raise the standard, but you get brighter cricket under the present system. , , . Mr. Meates said there nad been growing enthusiasm during recent seasons, but the clubs were all against two-day matches. . ‘■Forget the enthusiasm and drive the players on,” said Mr. Sansom. “Let us make rules and force then, to stick to them. Those young players who are keen to improve will want two-day matches. Dump the old players. They are not worth worrying about. Let us, bo moi e serious about our cricket.” Mr. Vaughan: And how will the young players improve if you dump the older players from whom they normally learn? Mr. Sansom then formally moved that the senior A division ol the competition to start during the weekend comprise Marist A and B, United and Cobden, and that the matc.ios m this division be of two diiys’ miration. The motion was seconded by Mr. C. Dillman. When the motion was pul inc mover and seconder and Mr. A. Knapp voted for it. while Messrs. Meates, Vaughan, and McNeish votea against it. Casting Vote. Tn giving his casting vote against the motion, Mr.. Meates said that he did so because of the opposition ol the clubs to such a move. Mr Sansom then moved that the senior A and B divisions be dispensed with and that all the senior teams nlay in a one-round competition. 1 am'not going to waste, my time i. we are not doing anything to improve cricket,” he said. The motion was carried. Referring to Mr. Sansom’s recommendation that more time should be devoted to coaching younger players Mr. Meates said that everyone was keen to play in matches, but it was difficult to get boys to come along for coaching. “The nursery we had in the primary schools competition did much lor ciicket, but now ■we have a set of teachers who won’t help. The Primary School Sports Association appeals to be tn. stumbling block,” he said. After some discussion on cnees for turf or matting wickets, u was resolved that the match at the. Recreation Ground on Sunday played on turf unless the weather W< The Hokitika Cricket Association requested that a junior representative match be arranged between Hokitika and Grey mouth at the Recreation Ground on Saturday 25, the hours of play to be from 10.30 ■i m. to 4.30 p.m. , , „ It was resolved that a team o players under 18 years ol age be chosen to play Hokitika on the suggested date. Messrs. C. Dittman and A. G. Parry were appointed selectors. Competitions Closed. The Feary Cup competition was declared closed, with Marist B the winners. In view of the influx ol new teams it was decided to a^ andon the present junior competition. ““Re secretary was instructed to send a letter ol thanks to Mi. r. . Dennehy for_ his donation of £2/ / Io the association s funds. It was resolved that letters of thanks be sent to the associations and persons who entertained tlw West Coast touring team. It was announced that the return representative match with Bullewould be played next month, and that a team from Canterbury would probably play a friendly match ..t G1 It y was l resolved that, as from next week association meetings would lx held on alternate Tuesdays.

Wellington Plunket Shield Team (P.A.) WELLINGTON, January 15. The following Wellington team will nlav Otago in the final Plunket Shield Satch—E. W. Tindill, S. A. McVicar, R Crawford, R. O’Neill, R. Challies (Midland), C. S. Dempster (Institute), p s. Wilson (Kilbirnie), J. Capstick (Hutt Valley), H. V. Cave (Wanganui). J. A. Ongley (Manawatu), A. M Matheson (Taranaki), and J.- RLamason (Wellington College Old Boys).

Ndw fen Teams in Senior

Competition

As a result of the decision of the management committee of the< West Coast Cricket Association to revert to the principle of an open senior grade there will now be 10 teams in the Sunday senior competition. The nominations of teams from Runanga, Blackball and Kaiata-Omoto combined (to be known as the Kaimoto team) vvere aproved at last evening’s meeting. Two additional teams, Brunner and Runanga, were nominated for the junior competition and it was resolved to start a new competition on Saturday. The draw was arranged as follows: Senior. — Runanga v. Cobden, at Cobden; Brunner v. United A, at Brunner; Marist. Cv. Kaimoto ; at Omoto; United B v. Marist. B, Recreation Ground; Marist A v. Blackball, at Blackball. Junior Cobden A v. Brunner, at Brunner; Cobden B v. Runanga, at Cobden; United v. Marist Old Boys. Recreation Ground; Technical School v. Marist School (to be played later). Women. —United A v. Cobden, Recreation Ground. United B, a bye. Centuries to Two M.C.C. Batsmen LAUNCESTON, January 15. Centuries by Compton and Hardstaff, who added 252 in an unfinished partnership in 160 minutes, were features of the M.C.C.’s match at Launceston against Tasmania. The wicket was excellent, but rain slopped play at 5.25 p.m. for 20 minutes.

Compton was especially brilliant, batting for 160 minutes and hitting 18 fours.

Hardstaff who batted for 187 minutes. scored seven fours and made his first century of the tour. Scores: —

M.C.C. First InningsFishlock, c R. Thomas, b Richardson 20 Hutton, cR. Thomas, b Kidley .. 51 Gibb, st. Gardiner, b Clark .. .. 22 Hardstaff, not out 120 Compton, not out 137 Extras H

‘ Total for three wickets .. 361 Fall of wickets: —One for 39, two for

71, three for 109. Bowli ng W. 0. M. ' R. Murfett .. '15 2 7’7 0 Richardson .. 16 1 89 1 Kidley . . 12 0 67 1 Clark . . 10 0 50 1 Laver . . 11 0 67 0