SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8099, 30 September 1904, Page 4

SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

[By "AH-Round.l ["All Round" would be glad if Secretaries of clubs of various kinds ;n; n the district would send short notes of matters suitable for this column.J

CRICKET. The annual meeting of the two cricket clubs is to be held to-night, and it is to be hoped that there will be a large attendance, and the game given the push for- 1 ward which it has badly needed the last 1 two or three years.

The crux of cricket in Hawera is the upk«ep of the ground. It always was a troublesome matter, but up till the last season or two was successfully overcome. Now the difficulty should be very much loss, for the ground with grandstand, etc., have been given free of rent to cricketers, practically as long as they like to use them.

The "working bee" has been tried, but for one reason or another is not successful. The work ia done— sometimes, but always by the same few willing ones. Speaking generally these are not the young members who should be coming on to Uko up the place of members unable to ttive so much time as formerly to the game. » M • •

A great effort should be, and I hope will be made by the meeting which takes place to-night to settle on some scheme for successfully arranging for preparing wickets and keeping the outfield in good order.

A feature that is perhaps of almost as much importance as any, is tho practice wickets. It is, lam afraid, considered by many that any wicket will do for practice. This is a very great mistake for no player can make use of a good match wicket unless he has had a chance of practice, regular and careful, on a decent wicket. In fact a good deal— l might nven say most of the dissatisfaction felt last year was due to this cause. If, therefore, it is found impossible to make arrangements for a man to put in his whole time, perhaps the clubs would see their way to get a man just to prepare practice wickets and probably the match wicket could be got ready by members. i It will certainly mean that if some arrangement is not made, cricket will cease to be played and it would be a lasting reproach to the clubs if such a thing should by any chance happen. Cricketers have a great opportunity and I feel sure that when the matter has been fully discussed they will seize it, and by working together for the good of the grand old game, conquer the difficulties and thus enable Hawera to 'keep up the reputation it has always had for enthusiasm in this branch of sport.

A new club has been formed at Manaia and thp Kaponga, Normanby and Patea clubs have been resuscitated. Waverley will possibly enter the lists for the championship contest. These with the four present clubs (viz., Hawera, ■ Star, Opunake, and Eltham), should afford a great number of games for the ensuing season. It is to be hoped that competing clubs will use their best endeavors to complete the whole round of fixtures and not allow

matches to go by default -when their chances of winning the championship arc f;onc. Cricketers generally should be oyal to their clubs, and thus enable them to enter teams for every match.

Clubs competing for championship honors should try to give visiting teams a decent wicket to play on. If it is impossible to get a good turf wicket, clubs would do well to have a clay wicket, covered with matting. This class of wicket is most easily kept in order and if well laid is very true and fast. ■ • • •

Last year it sometimes happened that a visiting team was kept waiting while the ground was put in order. Endeavors should be made to have grounds prepared the day before a match. « • •

I have frequently heard the complaint that sufficient members do not take an active interest in cricket. This position is, in -my opinion, entirely due to the bad grounds, and this concerns not only Hawera, but all the clubs in the district.

Provide a good wickeb — a really good one — and there will be any number of players. The majority of young fellows, I believe, have not the time — and certainly not cue inclinaton — to roll up to prepare good wickets, but if they were sure of a good strike on a good pitch that did not make the ball a menace to their lives, in practically no time there would be strikers, bowlers, and fielders too, for that is one of the most important parts, who would turn up regularly every evfiiing.

An Eltham correspondent writes: — As the local club hold the Southern Association Shield, they will make vigorous efforts to keep it from being wrested from them during the matches. The asphalt pitch laid down last year should also help to keep the club together. The chief weakness which can be discerned a f > present which is liable to affect the club is the want of a good Secretary. Such a man is badly needed here. The annual meeting is to be held early next month, after which it will be easier to form an idea as to how the game is likely to prosper in local circles this season.

The Opunake players want a bit of shaking up. An attempt was made to hars a meeting some time ago, but fell through for want of attendance. There is not much interest taken as yet. Another meeting is to be held shortly, when it is hoped there will be a large attendance. The club has a small credit balance in hand. The chief trouble is the want of a- few men to take the initiative.

As regards a pitch, a fair one could could be made with very little trouble in the Recreation, but this ground most people would like to see moved up to the centre of the town, or else an electric

trnmway taken out to it. It is about half a mile from the town. What a long way! In Wellington and other centres men travel miles to play the various games.

The Normanby Club is likely to have a very good year. A meeting has already been held. Mr C. Paine was elected Secretary, and has: undertaken to keep the ground in order. He has been hard at work, and has a bit of ground prepared 50 feet square. This lias been thoroughly rolled and cut, and should form good wickets. • • •

The club showed a good credit financially, and about 40 or 50 members. L. and E. Cole are spoken of as probable players. Normanby should go a fair distance towards beating Eltham for the Championship Shield. At. Mangatoki a great deal of interest is usually taken in cricket, and I should s.ggest that some- attempt shlould be made to get them to jpin the Association. Of course, being # land of butter- , fat, it may be, impossible for them to I be away from home after four, but were the Cup matches to start after Christmai this difficulty might be got over. ' Last year there "was a suggestion made S' f one of the country dabs that the up matches should be started after Christmas, and I certainly tfaink the matter is worth 'the consideration of the Association in i these parts. • • •

Jt is to be regretted that Taranaki cricket is controHed by twp Associations, o*3 at each end of the province, ft is quit© patent to all lovers of the g«ni« that at present, at all events, with only half the available strength of the" district, each district cannot, compete with other provinces not so sittote^. Indeed, it will be difficult to secure rep. matches At all.