OAMARU CRICKET CLUB.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8079, 18 September 1894, Page 1

OAMARU CRICKET CLUB.

Tho following is the annual report: Your Committee beg to lay before you tho following report of tho Club during tho reason 1893-94. Although the results of matches played wore not quite so satisfactory aa those of tho previous year, still it is a matter for congratulation that an increasingly strongor local interest in tho gamo has arisen, and it seoms prob< able that during tho incoming season wo shall havo more cricket in Oamaru than, we have had for somo timo. Matches Played. — Twenty matches of all kinds wero played — a falling off of six from tho season 1892-93. Foreign Matches. —The first cloven played five matches as follows : 0.0. C, 20 and 14, v. Lancaster Park, 165. 0.0. C. 3G and 3 for 55 v. Carisbrook, 176 (7 wickets). 0.0.0. 51 and 41 (3 wickets) v. Opoho, 208. O.C.C. 57 aud 86 v. Opoho, 147. 0.0.0. 71 v. Timaru, 49. Wo roceived visits from Lancaster Park, Carrisbrook. and Opoho, and although not successful against any of these teams, novorthole3s the matches wero of a very pleasant description. Wo wore also very pleased to again welcomo a Timaru team, after a somewhat lengthened absonco from Oamaru. This game took place on Easter Monday and resulted in a win for Oamaru without anything of special note occurring in tho gamo. At tho Now Year tho first cloven paid its annual visit to Dunedin. Only ono match could be arranged against Opoho, and it ended disastrously to Oiinnru. The second elevon played but ono foreign mateh — against Dunedin first — and although ahead of their opponents on tho Drst innings, they foil to pieces in tho second innings, and allowed Dunedin to win by eight wickets. It will thus be seen that a rather striking contrast is pre* | sented between the above results and those of the provions season. Several other matches wero fully arranged, but our opponents disappointed us at tho last moment. Our projected trip to Chmtehurch, after being arranged, ! had to bo abandoned owing to theinability of several players to get away. I Homo Matches. — Fourteen local matches wore played, and although woll attended at the commencement, a considerable absence of mombers materially affected the final gAtnea o f the Season. I The school matches agaiu proved very interesting. Tho first of theso games was won by tho schools, while the return match resulted in a draw slightly in favor of the Club. Three rory good games wore played with the Grammar School. The first was won by tho School by 39 runs, while the Club won tho second by 38 runs. The third game was the most intoro3ting, and resulted in favor of tho Club, by only G runs. Tho weather interfered with tho Town j and Country matches. Tho only ono played resulted in a win for the Town team, but neither side was by any means fully represented. Those old opponents tho Smokers and Non-Smokers, wore on too friendly torni3 to opposo one another during the season. The second cloven played two matches with the bh'ps in port, losing tho first, but winning tho return game, Two very pleasant games took place with the local Press, both resulting in favor of tho scond eleven. A match betwoon a mixed Oanuru Cricket Club toatn and a Prebs and Telegraph team combined, ended m favor of tho formor. Your comtnitteo would hero like to again bring under the notice of membora, tho necessity of regularly turning up to theso Club matches. Scores, Averages, and Trophies.— Season 1893 94 will be remomborcd as a season of very low scoring. This waa undoubtedly, to a Urge extent, duo to the great amount of wot woithor exporienced. W. M'Donald b again at tho head of tho general batting averages, with a total of 234 runs for 17 innings, giving an average of 10 "7. Tho general bowling average falls to It. Horrat, witli 9"1 runs per wicket. lht Eleven, batting, Pi. T. Earl, average, 12 4. Ist Eleven, bowling, J. A. Fitzgerald, til runs per wicket. 2nd Eloven, bitting, 0. Sumpter, average '26. 2nd Elevon, bowling, 0. iM'Ghic, 6 2 runs per wicket, Greatest number of catchei during sciiion. — 0. I* 1 . X ranch. Highest scoro in foreign matches — X, Hewat. The thanks of tho Club are due to tho following gentlemen who presented trophies tor competition, won as above : Messrs J. S. Holmes, A. A. M'Mastor, G. Proctor, R. A. Chaffoy, J. H. Wood, G. Sumpter, and J. Whyte. It is hero worthy of record, thf»fc Mr W. S. King m.vdo tho first century yot scored on tho ground — 100 (not out) — playing for tho Preto against the Excelsior Club. Ground. — Owing to the wetness of last season your Committee had to givo aa unusually large amount of attention to the ground. This was more especially in. regard to the grass, which seemed to hcive an ovorlasting growth throughout tho season. Through tho kindness oC our President, Mr J. S. Holmes, howovcr, in giving us tho uso of his mower, wo wero able to keep the ground in a very perfect state. It might not bo out of place, hero to remind some members that tho work in connection with tho ground can all tho more easily and effec< tivoly bo done when tho assistance of all is forthcoming. Your Committee regret to report that since giving up the ground last season the grossest negligence and carelessness has been observed in looking after it by those having its uso. Thii want of care has been followed up by nomo of tho most wilful destruction possible, a destruction indeed peculiar to places like Odtnaru. To prevent a re* curronce of this kind of thing gomo arrangement will haro to be mado whereby tho interests of both the Ground Company and Cricket Club will be pry* tected, and the ground instead of being wantonly despoiled bocomo tho best cricket ground in Otago. Your Committee not© pleasure the development of. another club in Oamaru, and trust that its formation will further tend to an activo interest being taken in cricket horo. Finance.— The balance-sheet presented by tho -Treasurer will show a small dobik balance, duo mostly to the unusually heavy expense in the maintenance of tho ground. Thanks.— rhe thanks of the Club are duo to the local press for their constant readiness in publishing tuli reports of thg Club's matches.

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