TARANAKI CRICKET

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 27 September 1933, Page 3

TARANAKI CRICKET

PAST SEASON’S DEVELOPMENT.

VERY FEW OUTSIDE MATCHES

QUEST FOR THE HAWKE OUP.

Representative cricket an Taranaki during the past season and some of the problems with which cricket is faced to-day are reviewed in the following annual report of the Taranaki Cricket Association.

“As' far as representative matches I are concerned the past season in Taranaki lias been a comparatively quiet one,” says the report. “Two representative matches were played, one against South Auckland for the Hawlce > Gup and the other against Wanganui. In the Hawke Cup challenge at Hamilton South Auckland made 243 and lOC. Taranaki made 134 in the first innings and requiring 216 to win was all out for 128 leaving South Auckland the winners by 87 runs. Birch (40 in the first innings) and Dormer (58 in the second innings) were the best performers for Taranaki with the hat. Christensen ,wit-h five wickets for 41 runs', was the most successful Tara-1 naki howler. Against Wanganui at| New Plymouth Taranaki gained a de- : eisivo victory by an innings and. 32 runs. Wanganui made 106 and 175, E'ggleton taking four wickets for 27 in the first innings and Nasmith five for 35. In the second innings Barker took three wickets for 19 runs and Larkin three for 20- Taranaki made the substantial score of 313, Nasmith making 1 155 not out and Norman Giddy 50. “In addition to these matches a Victoria University College touring team played enjoyable holiday matches against a South Taranaki team at Hawera and against a North Taranaki team at New Plymouth. “The annual match between North, Taranaki and South Taranaki for the Graham Cup had to he abandoned on account of rain. South hatted first! for 181, S'. Betts making 57 and North had four wickets down for 163 (Norman Giddy 40 not out) when stumps were drawn. North Taranaki thus 1 retained the cup. EFFORTS’ TO ARRANGE GAMES. I “Efforts were made at the commencement of the season to arrange further matches with outside associations, hut these were unsuccessful. The chief difficulty with all associations last season was the expense involved in sending teams' on tour, and owing to the economic conditions the Taranaki Association deemed it advisable to pursue more or less a policy of mark time. It is to be hoped, however, that this will not always he the case.

“As the Taranaki Association lias practically no finance and is to a large extent merely an executive committee, of the north, south and country divisions for the purpose of arranging and controlling representative fixtures it has very little scope for carrying into effect any considered policy of development as far. as cricket within the province is concerned, and this is a matter in which the respective divisions are vitally interested. For that reason a few comments are offered on recent developments in cricket, and the suggestion is riutdc that the management committees of the respective'divisions give consideration to the points raised. “The Hawke Cup competition has again been under review by other associations. Wanganui has decided to come hack into the competition, but there is still disagreement over the method of playing for the trophy. Some associations favour direct challenges, as with the Ranfurly Shield in Rushy, others the grouping of associations under various (schemes. The

Wellington Association lias objected to minor associations in its district xetaining players foil* Miahvke Cap matches when they '<iro wanted 101 PI u like t Shield fixtures. These are points worthy of consideration, as a delegate has "been appointed to represent Taranaki at the annual conference in Christchurch in November, and it would be helpful to him to know the feeling in this province. BRIGHTENING OP CRICKET’. •‘The question of brightening cricket to make it more attractive to both players and public has been seriously debated bv several associations. Ihe fact must be faced that spectacular cricket and mateh-whinfng cricket are by no means synonymous, even m Taranaki, and the suggestion lias been made that in order to make the gam© more, popular a bold campaign should, be waged against dull defensive cricket. Mr W. H. Winsor, secretary of the New Zealand Cricket Council, has even suggested that the opposing side be awarded one run, or perhaps more, for, every maiden over played Anothersuggestion made by Mr W msor with the object of brightening the game is that inter-club matches he restricted to one day, as in South Taranaki, the North Country, and all the North junior grades. These suggestions have their disadvantages' as well as their advantages, but they could profitably be debated. . . “In cricket administration, as m everything else, to mark tune is fata , and * the suggestion is made that the controlling committee of each division five serious consideration to the drav - inf up of a definite scheme of development in their respective districts, ex - tending say over several years, r inane© is, of course, one of the first essentials. Possibly such -schemes couldbest he evolved along the following broad lines: (1) Finance; (2) extension of the game, particularly by giving assistance and encouragement to schools I and voung player-s leaving school; (d) ! improvement- of grounds and. wickets ; 1(4) brightening and popularising the( game for both players and onlookers; (5) systematic coaching where such is possible. “Tlie importance of establishing a fund to give effect to any scheme or development cannot he stressed too much. If, for instance, the Taranaki Association hack such a fund from which to subsidise the travelling expenses of players engaged .in representative t matches it would enable the province to put much stronger teams in the field, because players are often debarred from taking part in such matches owing to the expense involved. “This brief report would not be complete without reference to the fact that the opening of the Stratford-Main Trunk -railway has brought a- hitherto isolated portion of Taranaki into close touch with’ the rest of the province. It is to he hoped that before long an annual interchange of matches will lie arranged between Oliura, and a- team from North or South Taranaki.”