PAEROA CRICKET

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 54, Issue 32627, 28 September 1945, Page 6

PAEROA CRICKET

CLUB’S SOUND POSITION GOOD SEASON ENJOYED PROGRESS MADE LAST YEAR “In presenting’ the annual report and balance sheet we have to congratulate the club on having had a first-class season. This was our first officially organised season for some four or five years owing to the exigencies of war curtailing our activities and feel sure that the future seasons of cricket will benefit considerably from the firm foundation laid down in this year, both in the standard of play and the general organisation of the club, and thereby enjoy the increasing .patronage of the public,” states the annual report of the Paeroa Cricket Club. 'The report continued': —

“We wish to extend the club’s deepest sympathy to the relatives of those who have paid the supreme sacrifice in this last great world war and thank Almighty God that peace is again with us. To our members who were on active service we trust that they will have a safe and speedy return and that they will be playing cricket with us this season.

As will be seen by the balance sheet the finances of the club must be considered to be in a very favourable position, and this is due largely to the practice of collecting ground fees before each club game. Representative Fixtures In the representative fixtures we have played in the past season we have had our fair measure of success, more than holding our own with several newly-formed neighbouring clubs. Our representatives won three games, defeating Te Aroha, 'Waihi and Hauraki Plains respectively; drew two with Thames and Waihi and lost against 'Thames, 'Morrinsville and Hauraki Plains (2). In the matches with Thames and Morrinsville we suffered defeat at the hands of two seasoned and long-established teams and our players will greatly benefit from their association with them. The Thames Cricket Association, being the holders of the Court Cup, accepted our challenge and Paeroa was unlucky to be defeated by the small margin of 29 runs after a thrilling and very enjoyable game. iDuring the season the club decided to form a girls’ team if sufficient members were available. When our in tention became known approximately 20 girls came forward and formed' the nucleus of what promises to be a very successful and enterprising branch of our club. The girls played several representative matches

during the year, the most notable of which were two games against a Matamata Senior XI. Matamata won both of these games, the first by a substantial margin while Paeroa put up a very good fight in the second. When it is considered that the Matamata team had in its ranks several Auckland representatives, ; while the majority of our players were playing their first season’s cricket, one realises that Paeroa put up a very meritorious performance and deserves hearty congratulations.

“Interest in club matches was keen right up to the last match of the season and this was in no small measure due to the untiring services of the umpires, ’Messrs Rice, Edwards and Millar who officiated in our games for which we are very grateful and to them the club cannot offer sufficient thanks.- We appeal to all old cricketers who consider that the time has arrived for them to retire from active participation in the game to rally round the club and keep the grand old sport progressing.

“Our special thanks are due also to Mr E. J. Price, secretary to the Auck-

land Cricket Association, who was very considerate and aided us on several occasions during the season, and the late Mr E. E. Nalder, of Auckland, who did much to put us on our feet in the beginning of the season. To the other officials who assisted during the season, especially Mr Ted Ed-

wards, our grateful thanks are extended for their untiring efforts. We convey the club’s appreciation and thanks to the local press, for without its assistance the affairs of the club would not have been so widely known among the public. We are indebted to the Paeroa Borough Council who so kindly granted us the use of the Domain for the season.

“The prospects for the season appear to be very bright and with a more liberal allowance of benzine, a greater number of “home and; away” matches can be arranged. “In conclusion we extend best wishes to the incoming committee for a successful season.”