CRICKET

Grey River Argus, 13 September 1946, Page 3

CRICKET

WEST COAST ASSOCIATION The twenty-fourth annual meeting of the West Coast Cricket Association was l held on Thursday evening. Mr W. Meates presided, and also present were Messrs A. Vaughan (Cobden), J. Knowles, J. Mathews (Marist), W. Blair, L. Dittman (United), L. East, C. Ogilvie, J. Keenan, D. Gillespie (Hokitika), Mollison (Brunner), and G. Sansom, secretary. ..The President's annual report was as follows:— .. .. “The 1945-46 season was the most successful season for many years. This was due mainly to the return of many of our former players from service with the armed forces and their successful blending with so many young players. The revival of cricket in .the Hokitika district, where a really strong competition was conducted by the Sub-Association, and the introduction of Saturday morning matches by business teams were also contributing factors to the success achieved. It is desirable that .these games be encouraged, and your committee would appreciate members giving assistance wherever possible. Early in the season, a team representing this Association visited Christchurch and played a strong Canterbury eleven led by lan Cromb, to whom the thanks of this Association are due for his efforts, in arranging a Sunday game for our players and for a very interesting address and demonstration on the fundamentals of the game. This visit was returned later in the season; the Canterbury Association sending a strong team ably led by George Hamilton. Although our teams were not successful in either of .these games, the experience gained by our players should prove invaluable in the future. We take the opportunity here of extending to the Canterbury Association our thanks for the interest they take in our local cricket, and for the assistance they so willingly give to your Association in an endeavour to encourage and improve the standard of play. Greater success- was achieved, however, in our annual home and home games with the Buller representatives and the Hokitika Sub-As-sociation representatives; these games being a feature of a most successful playing season. “The committee is desirous of seeing in the coming season the introduction of a sound coaching scheme based on, and incorporating the him prepared and developed by the New Zealand Cricket Council. It is desirable also that an attempt be made to secure the services of the Lancaster Park Club’s coach for a short period if this can be arranged. A further attempt should also be made to reintroduce the primary schools’ competition which proved so successful in pre-war years, and it is hoped that clubs' will each ‘adopt’ a school and take an interest in developing schoolboy cricketers.

A strong effort will this year be made to re-form the Umpires’ Association, and clubs and ex-players are asked to nominate members. Prospects for an interesting competition in the new season are enhanced b.v the possibility of an entry from further country clubs”. The secretary stated that the Marist Cricket Club had an overdue account for the purchase of five cricket balls to the value of £1 10s 6d, and the receiving of the balls by the club was still in dispute. Mr Mathews: “Show us what date and at what time we received them” Mr Knowles: l ‘‘We received a bill with a price on it, but no date”. Mr Meates suggested that the matter be left to the management committee to be thrashed out.- —Carried. Mr Sansom moved an amendment on the grounds that the matter should be thrashed out in open committee. He stated that during the war year? clubs temporarily went out of existence, and the clubs’ gear was taken charge of by the Association. “The Marist Club think that they did not need balls, but if they did they felt that they should be I’epaid for the use of the gear”, he stated. Mr Knowles: “I can’t remember playing that season with a new ball. We took care to nurse the few that we had”. It was therefore decided that the discussion close, and that the account be wiped off the books. It was decided that the purchase of a motor mower be made as a recommendation to the management committee. Arrangements for the coaching of schoolboys was also left in the hands of the management committee. It was decided to request the Borough Council to provide more seating accommodation for the Recreation Ground, and also for the use of the ground for the coming season. ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS The election of officers' for the ensuing season resulted as follows: — Patron, Mr T. Mclntosh; president, Mr W. Meates; vice-presidents, Messrs H. N. Pyne, L. P. Coffey, E. Howatt, L. Hunter; secretary, Mr G. Sansom; treasurer, Mr L. F. Coffey; auditor, Mr J. O’Donnell; committee, Messrs D. Gillespie, L. East (Hokitika), A. Vaughan, L. Dittman, A. Knapp, J. Knowles, W. McNeish; postponement committee, D. Dewar, W. Blair; selectors, Messrs W. Meates, A. Thomas (Hokitika), A. Vaughan; delegate to New Zealand Council, Mr I. B. Cromb.

It was decided that a letter of appreciation be sent .to Mr F. M. Dennehy (who declined nomination as an official), for his co-operation as patron, and also sympathy in his illness.