The Hawera Star. TUESDAY. JANUARY 18, 1927. THE HAWKE CUP.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 18 January 1927, Page 6

The Hawera Star.

TUESDAY. JANUARY 18, 1927. THE HAWKE CUP.

Delivered every evening by 5 o'clock in Hawcra, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawu. Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Alton. Hurley ville, Patea, Waverley, Moltoin, Whakamara, Ohang-ai, Meremere. Fraser Road and Ararata.

“The, game, not the trophy,’’ was the text of an address given by the president of the Hawke’s Bay Association ut the conclusion of the Hawke Cup match at New Plymouth yesterday, and his words -aroused a response in the hearts of many veterans of the cricket field. Air Heathcote Williams was not chiding the players upon showing too great an interest in obtaining possession of Lord Hawke’s handsome trophy, so much as giving sound counsel to the player whose keenness encourages him to centre his thoughts more upon the “disaster” which will ensue if he does not play well than upon the desire to play to the best of his ability because it is liis chosen game. It is easier, we know, to counsel a player to overcome nervousness than it is to put the precept into practice, and we also realise that when n sport has succeeded in arousing keen competition, public and players must expect that the desire to win will perhaps rob the pastime of its freedom from over-anxiety, but at the same time such advice as that, given yester day by a patron whose interest in cricket is so well known and appreciated, is good for all amateur athletes to note. Lord Hawke, when he gave the fine cup which bears his name, would have coupled with the gift to cricket in the Dominion an injunction to play for the sake of the game, not for possession of the trophy. He was one of the best sportsmen in the history of cricket, a man whose name was as prominent in the playing records as were his sage counsels valuable to the the controlling bodies. There have been few with a longer or more honourable. association with the game. And doubtless it will be welcome news to him to learn that the tour of England is so soon to materialise and that he will soon have the opportunity of seeing men from the Dominion contesting with men of the Old Land on the field of cricket. Taranaki, the smallest of the minor associations, is to be heartily congratulated on its achievement. first of wresting the trophy from a strong district like Wanganui, and then in holding it against the determined challenge of a Hawke ’s Bay team led, as it was, by two redoubtable players, men whose names are writ large in the history of Dominion cricket. It was a. match very closely contested, and a conclusion dear to the heart of every cricketer. When the holders, at the end of the second day, had a. lead which seemed almost unassailable, the challengers fought only the harder and, as the margin narrowed down, it must have been a “nervy’’ time for both, and an anxious time for the spectators. There were many tense moments as one wicket after another fell, and as the hopes of the visitors rose and the fears of the local men increased. It is in such moments as these that games bring out the best in the players; the trophy becomes a secondary consideration; both sides play to win, but it is foT success on the day, rather than the glory which success will earn that fills their minds, and to spectators and players alike the gome becomes indeed the thing.

On Friday the two-day match against Wairarapa for the Hawke Oup begins at, Hawera, affording cricket enthusiasts in the southern portion of the province an opportunity of seeing their representative team in action. Naturally enough the Taranaki team will carry the good wishes and hopes for success of the south, as of all the district, but good wishes are not in themselves enough to ensure the future appearance of Hawke Cup contenders here. It is essential for the future of the game locally that the interest felt in this week’s fixture should be made

manifest by > the presence of a large, number of supporters, A substantial crowd will not only serve the purpose of encouraging both sides by its dis play of interest in their fortunes, but will, by its financial support, bear witness to the wisdom of the authorities in allotting matches to Hawera and if South Taranaki is to produce a reasonable proportion of the province s ropresenative cricketers of the future, the younger players must be given opportunities of seeing the represcntatix e teams of to-day in action.