CRICKET.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8723, 10 November 1908, Page 6

CRICKET.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—At the last meeting of the Manawatu Cricket Association an opinion of the delegates present was | expressed to the effect that* two members of the Terrace End Club, Me&srs Goode and Goldspring, should be-de-barred from playing Wednesday cricket. This opinion was published with the other business of the Association. Their .submitted reason-■ for this action was that/' the admission of. these players to . Wednesday cricket was contrary to the spirit of rule. 11 of the rules of cup matches. -Now, sir rule 11 reads to the effect that no Saturday player be allowed to play Wednesday cricket. As Messrs Good© and Goldspring are not playing on ■Saturdays this season, I am at a Joss to know why the Association members are assuming such a strange attitude. May a critical person ask whether some Association members are fond ot marionette playing? Further, at the annual meeting of the Association, regret wag expressed at the Association losing the services of Goldspring. Now, what a wonderful transformation ! The Terrace End Club, with its characteristic energy for the good of cricket, has'again secured the services of that valuable - playey, who finds it impossible to play on. Saturdays owing to inconveniences. JNow the Association continues to express their regret by debarring him from playing on a. day suitable to his circumstances. Also, Terrace End Club, at present, has no Saturday_team except "juniors; therefore, a body ot men as the Association should have no objection to useful members of a club playing Wednesday cricket. As regards Mr Goode, the other player debarred, I should to know, how the Association are going to apply the rule. Goode has never played cup cricket in New Zealand, and, while •wanting to indulge again in his favourite game, lie finds it more convenient to play on Wednesdays than on Saturdays. How carefully do Association members foster the cause ot cricket! In their intense zeal they apply an imaginary rule in this case. They do, indeed, watch, the interests of clubs, when they see fit to debar certain members of a. club from playing on suitable days. However, since delegates are always specialists, it would be presumptuous, perhaps, to say that they do not specialise. The Terrace End Club were fortunate enough to win the shield last season, and now. when securing good players •to defend their coveted position, they are penalised in an astonishing manner, as described in the report of the last meeting _of the Association. Surely energetic clubs are worthy of fair treatment in matters pertaining to cricket. Perhaps, an enthusiastic, club, fat with its victories of a past season, should hibernate, as the bears do, till the beginning of the next. Now, sir, I must thank you for this valuable space in your paper.—l am, • etC '' TRUE SPORT.