CRICKET

Northland Age, Volume 25, Issue 30, 13 November 1925, Page 6

CRICKET

. « NEW COUNTRY TROPHY. AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL TEAM. The Whangarei Cricket Assocation has received a letter from Mr. E. Stallworthy, secretary of the Auckland Suburban Cricket tssociation, relative to the Walker Shield. The trophy, which was placed temporarily with the Association for test matches, has been withdrawn, and, as was ’riginaily intended, it has now become the inter-provincial tropiv. Consequently it cannot be ompeted for by the associations n any one province.

It is not' the desire of the Auckand Suburban Cricket .Associaion to cut out the country osociation competitions, but rather to encourage them. With that object.in view it is intended 10 procure a permanent trophy to be competed for between the country associations in Auckland province affiliated to the Suburban Association. Proposed conlitions arc somewhat different as t will not be possible for the suburban representatives to compete for the new trophy. It has been considered that with the superior facilities for cricket and greater numbers of players ’to chose from near the city, it would be unfair to place such a strong nmbir.ation as could be got together in the city against less fortunate country associations’ representatives. In order that a

close relationship between counry and city may be maintained it is proposed to provide for any individual club competing in the suburban competitions to be eligible to challenge for the new cup. It is considered that this scheme will give greater encouragement to country associations to endeavour to gain the honours and that it will mean more likelihood of city clubs visiting the country districts. As circumstances permit a suburban representative team will visit the country districts, but such matches will not i be for the Country Cup. It was asked whether the Whangarei Association approved a suggestion that the Suburban Association should run a tournament in Auckland at Easter to decide the holders of the trophy for the first year. The Dominion Suburban Executive is now linked up and a Dominion tournament will take place in Christchurch at Christmas. Names of local players to be considered for inclusion in the Auckland provincial team were sought. The Suburban Association proposed to assist any country players selected, but a tarpaulin muster was suggested as a means of augumenting the fund.