CRICKET

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 6 October 1928, Page 12

CRICKET

• r THE SEASON OPENED. Hawera has made a rather earlier start than usual in the cricket world, and there is abroad a line spirit of optimism for the season just commenced. There are several youngsters at the Hawera High School showing form that marks them our for prominence this season, and the best boys of last season are again shaping well, Old Boys are confident of doing better this season than last. All their young players have gained advantage from the season’s play of 1927, and should be in great form this year, provided they will get into form and practise consistently. A day, per week in Hawera, with the coach. Mr. B. B. Wilson, would be a great help to our young players, especially at the High School. They are just at the age when good or bad habits of style can so easily be formed. The young players in New Plymouth give evidence of the value- of his coaching, and there should be an all-round raising of standard, 'especially in this, the second year of Mr. Wilson’s work. It is to be hoped that the suggested arrangement _ for South Taranaki will be found feasible. Young, a New Plymouth boy of -’last year, is now in Hawera, and will be a distinct asset to the team to which he is attached. He is a protege of , the eoacli and shows the good effects of the training. - So far there does not appear to be a large number of new players in t-lie other teams, but most of the players of last; year are out once more. If Manaia are not able to get a senior team for Saturday, their Wednesday team looks likely to be much stronger than last year. Mid-week cricket in Hawera was quite alive last season, and looks even ' better for this year. The Executive hopes to be able to have a better oou--1 trol of members and to ensure each man playing for the -same team all the season. This naturally is much better for the. teams. It is to be hoped that the ground committee, will be enabled to enlist the services of a ready team of helpers so as to ensure satisfactory wickets, without which the game cannot progress and develop as it shoxild. Experience, has shown that the* Hawer'a. wickets, equal to any in the province! can be secured by work, water | and care. A lot of joy comes both to ’ batsmani anti to bowler by a-_ wicket where one can play forward with eon--1 fidenee. The outfield on the park is the enw of every visiting team. There 1 is absolutely no ’excuse for poor work in the field and nothing gives more 1 pleasure to the enthusiast than keen work on all sides of the wicket. Cricket looks likely to be good in the Wairarapa. this season. The rep. team should lie strong for it will include D. C. Collins, the ex-Cambridge and New Zealand representative, and the Rev. E. 0. Blamires (Otago and New Zealand), who is now in charge of the Master ton Methodist circuit, in addition to Dr. Tlttley, a former Otago representative footballer and cricketer. Bunny, the Wanganui oolt who did so well in representative cricket last season, and D. Riddiford, another well-known cricketer, who is now resident in Wairarapa.