CRICKET Junior Competition Is Discussed: No Changes Made

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 October 1948, Page 8

CRICKET Junior Competition Is Discussed: No Changes Made

Although the position is to be reviewed in several weeks’ time, when any desirable changes will be made, the junior cricket competition is to be conducted along the same lines as in previous seasons, with senior reserve players taking part. This decision was reached at a meeting of the West Coast Cricket Association last evening, when a suggestion that permission be granted clubs to include a senior reserve player, who would not- have to be regraded after every second match, in junior teams in order to assist the teams was put forward.

The matter was raised by Mr R. Donaldson, who said that the United Club had 24 boys under the age of 16 years who desired to play junior cricket. He pointed out that the majority of them were Technical School boys who, because of the break in the school’s routine due to the poliomyelitis outbreak, would be unable to play for the school until after the Christmas holidays. Proposal Put Forward “When finally the Technical School does enter its team in the junior competition we are going to lose some of these boys and it means we will be able to field one junior team and the remaining eight or nine boys will have to go without a game because we will be unable to field two full teams,” Mr Donaldson said. “My proposition is that clubs in a similar position be allowed to include a senior player in the team to bring it up to full strength and thus give these boys a game every Saturday.”

Mr Donaldson also stated that many of the junior teams in the competition would consist of grown men and he did not think it a wise policy to allow these boys to play against the more experienced players unless they had an experienced player in their own team to encourage them. “I do not see why a senior player cannot play in the junior competition on Saturdays,” said the chairman, Mr W. Meates.

“Retrograde Step”

Mr R. Lee said that at the moment it was probable that eight junior teams- would be participating this season. “Why not divide the competition to make provision for a third grade team?” he asked. “That would be a retrograde step,” replied the chairman.

Mr Donaldson said that it was to the junior players to whom the association looked for its representative players of the future and he suggested that junior teams be allowed to include a senior player, who would bat last on the list and would not bowl. Mr Lee contended that there would have to be some restrictions on the number of senior players included.

Mr M. Vernon: Yes, the system might otherwise be abused. “The association has the power to award the match otherwise, if the privilege is abused,” Mr Donaldson replied, adding that a check could be kept by means of the score cards, which were examined by the association. He stressed the fact that a senior player would not be included in the team to make a score or to do any bowling—merely to hold the team together and to fill in if the team was short.

Mr Coffey said that if the suggestion was adopted a judicial committee could be set up to keep a check on the teams concerned.

“I can still see no reason why a senior reserve player cannot play in the junior grade,” stated Mr Meates. Further discussion took place on the matter in which it was pointed out by Mr Donaldson that 90 per cent, of the junior teams would consist of grown men. “What are you going to do with the other 10 per cent?” he asked.

Open Grade Suggested

It was pointed out by Mr AV. McNeisji that in past seasons senior reserve players had also played junior cricket on Saturdays, but that the junior representative team had been selected from players under the age of 19 years. A suggestion that the Saturday competition be an open grade one was then put forward. “What are you going to do when it comes to selecting a junior representative team?” Mr D. Gillespie asked.

On the motion of Mr W. McNeish, it was ultimately decided that the junior competition be conducted as it had been in past seasons, with senior reserve players participating in it, and that the position be reviewed in three or four weeks’ time.