CRICKET

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 275, 20 October 1937, Page 10

CRICKET

MANAWATU ASSOCIATION. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. Tho management committee of the Manawatu Cricket Association met last evening, Mr A. M. Ongley presiding. Mr 11. Poynter, divisional secretary of the St. John Ambulance Division, advised that members of the division would he available for attendance at games if the times and places were advised. It was decided to invite members to attend matches. Mr J. P. Hornabrook, winner of the open golf championship of New Zealand, and a player in the Cricket Association’s matches, forwarded his thanks for a telegram of congratulation and good wishes on his attainment. He wished the association every success in the forthcoming season. — Received.

The Combined Sendees Club applied for the use of a wicket at Terrace End Park in order to play a match with a team from the permanent staff at Fort Dorset, on Labour Day.—lt was decided to grant the request; tho ground fees for this and all other such special wickets are to be 11s. The South Auckland Cricket Association forwarded a letter of thanks for information as to charges made for cidcket grounds in Palmerston North. Last season the South Auckland Association had had to find £lB6 in maintaining three grass and six matting wickets, which was considered prohibitive. Tlie advice from the Manawatu Association had assisted materially in arriving at a basis of payment for grounds with the Hamilton Domain Board.—Received.

The Combined Services, Palmerston, Optimists and United clubs forwarded lists of players for registration.—Received, and registration effected. The New Zealand Cricket Council advised in a circular letter that entries for Hawke Cup challenges/would close on November 1. Hie association wofild then be grouped for the playing of the elimination matches.—Received!

The Palmerston North City Council advised that the association’s application for the use of the Sportsground, Terrace End, Hokowhitu and North Street Parks on Saturdays, from October 1 to the Saturday after Easter, together with the outer area at the Sportsground for pracices, had been granted, also an option over the Sportsground for representative fixtures on Labour Day. Anniversary Day, Christmas, New Year and the Easter holidays. The conditions were tlie same as last year and subject to the payment of £125 for the current season.

Another letter from the City Council advised that a request for the building of a bank on the river side of the grandstand with spoil from the new area could not be acceded to, as 1500 yards of spoil would be required and only 60 yards were available from the new area.

The Cook’s Club forwarded a protest against the inclusion of a certain player in the City team last Saturday. —lt was decided to write to the City Club asking for an explanation, and also to advise the Cook’s Club that the association’s books sfliowed that one of their members was not eligible to play. The protest was held over until the next meeting.

The chairman mentioned that it was not then known if club fixtures would be played in Wellington on Labour Day. If club games were not played a club team would be invited to meet a Manawatu side at Palmerston North. A colts team was to play at Horowhenua on Labour Day. . The committee decided that if a Wellington team was not playing in Palmerston. North., endeavours be made to arrange for a match with Wanganui, at Wanganui. CROWDING AT PRACTICES.

Comment on crowded conditions at the practice nets was made. The chairman said that there was no doubt that the facilities were quite inadequate. The nets should be doubled and application would have to be made to the City Council for an extension of the practice wickets. He ivas afraid that nothing could he done this season, but more nets would have to be ordered for the next one. The fact remained, however, that the practice wickets were not fulfilling their requirements in Palmerston North. After all, that was what cricket was f or —to get the players outside and for regular attendances there had to be adequate facilities. Enquiries made of the delegates from the clubs showed that the Y.M.0.A., City, Old Boys and United clubs had all experienced overcrowding, and it was pointed out that the batting time had been as low as five minutes, which was not considered long enough. Four clubs required an extra “lane,” and there were only two more nets available, said Mr Ongley, It was eventually decided that the allocation of the extra “lanes” be left to the chairman and secretary. The committee decided to post a list of defaulters —those of whom the association has been advised as not having paid their club dues —to all the clubs. It is the desire of the committee to bring the lists up to date so that all clubs will be on a fair basis. It was pointed out that it was not right for any player to leave one club without meeting his obligations and then play a further season with another club. . ~ The following are the fixtures for the junior B grade games on Saturday:—Y.M.C.A. (m) v. Kia Toa No. 3, North Street; High School (m) v. Cooks No. 1 North Street; United (in) v. City, No. 2 North Street. Club secretaries are notified that all team lists for publication must reach the “Standard” office on Thursday night or certaintly not later than 9 a.m on Friday, otherwise they will not be accepted for publication that day. No team lists will be accepted over the telephone.