CRICKET Decision to Divide Seniors: Longer Hours Of Play

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1947, Page 3

CRICKET Decision to Divide Seniors: Longer Hours Of Play

In extending a welcome to the delegates at the annual meeting of the West Coast Cricket Association last evening, Mr W. Meates (president) said it was the largest annual meeting over which he had presided during the last.lo years.

“The association, had a most successful season,” said Mr Meates, in' presenting the annual report. “The 19'46-47 season was the first complete season since the cessation of hostilities It was also the most successful in the history of the association, both in regard to the number of teams and the standard of play. Women’s, cricket was inaugurated and proved most successful. Schoolboys’ cricket was also successful.” Mr Meates said that with careful coaching these younger players would develop' into first-class cricketers.' The annual report and balance sheet were adopted. ,

Election of Officers

The election of officers resulted as follows. —Patron, Mr G. Howes; (reelected); president, Mr W. Meates (re-elected); vice-presidents, four appointed; secretary, Mr G. Sansom (re-elected); treasurer, Mr L. Coffey (re-elected); auditor, Mr E. O’Donnell (re!-elected); committee, Messrs McNeish, Dewar, Donaldson, Knapp, Vernon, Abelson, Lee; delegate to New Zealand Cricket Council, Mr I. Cromb; postponement committee, Messrs Blair and Dewar; selectors, Messrs Vincent, Meates and Cornish.

Senior Competition Divided The Nelson Creek Club was granted affiliation to the association. . The Marist Club was granted permission to use the practice wicket on October 12, the day set for the opening of the club. Following the receipt of a remit from the United Club, it was decided to divide the senior’ competition into two grades, senior and senior reserve, and clubs were requested to forward their nominations to the next meeting of the association.

A notice of motion was also received from, the United Club to alter the rules regarding the hours of play. After a discussion it was decided to start play in the senior grade only at 10.30 a.m. and adjourn for lunch at 12.30 p.rn. Play will be resumed at 1.30 p.m. and conclude at 6.30 p.m. Coaching Film to be Purchased Acting on a ll suggestion from the secretary, the association decided to purchase a copy of the New Zealand Cricket Council’s coaching film, all teams to be levied to assist in covering the cost. In reply to a question, Mr Meates said that all endeavours would be made to revive the umpires’ association. He added that it was mainly up to clubs to get in touch with past members in an attempt to improve the standard of umpiring. No Shortage of Grounds Dealing with the matter of grounds, members reported that all country clubs, with the exception of Runanga, had' their own grounds, so that the acute shortage of wickets which prevailed last season would not be experienced this year. On the motion of Mr B. Rathbun it was decided to allocate the No. 1 wicket on the Recreation Ground to the United Club and the No. 2 wicket to the Marist Club for maintenance.