CRICKET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21910, 20 September 1934, Page 9

CRICKET

AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION SEASON QF MARKED SUCCESS RESPONSE TO COACH APPEAL One of the most successful seasons ever experienced is recorded in the report to be presented at the annual meeting of delegates to the Auckland £ Cricket Association at the Chamber of Commerce next Thursday. The report states that the association, having on •» October 20, 1933, completed its 50th year of existence, the occasion was - marked by way of a jubiloe da t v on January 6, 1934,' being the, second day of the Auckland v. Canterbury Plunket ~:L Shieid match at Eden Park, to which v* past representative cricketers of all the ••> major provinces of the Dominion and

prominent - present-day supporters of

the game were invited as guests of the

association. A further - function in the

shape of a smoke concert, which took place ' a fortnight later —designed as a gathering of old-timers and players of to-day—was ' largely attended and

proved to be an exceedingly pleasant

reunion. ' To Mr. P. Shaw, chairman ©f the jubilee committee, who organised, this function, and to. those who assisted him, the heart? thanks of the association are due. During the evening members of the 1933-34 representative team, which had bo appropriately won all its Plunket Shield matches, were each presented with a pair of battici gloves, the gift of the patron of the association, Sir James Coates. *

Match With Country Team The managemebt committee introduced for J.ho first time a match, played on December 15 and 16. 1933, between a team selected from promising players outside the ) city and one. from possible provincial repre- • * scntatives, who play retjularly in the association's <:ompetiti6ns.-*The purpose of the match w>B to provide the selectors with iv guide io the. form of the country players. The Country Week tournament was held "' at Eden Park, commencing on December 25 and finishing on December 29. Seven teams entered for the competition, namely, North Auckland, ManukAu, ' Pukekohe, South' Auckland A. South Auckland B, Whakatane and Poverty Bay Colts, South Auckland A played Pukekohe for the premiership, the latter winning by seven wickets and thus becoming the first holders of the ' Country 'Shield. The association ex- " tends its hearty congratulations to the Pujtekohe team on its. success.. It ia hoped .. that the tourney will continue' to-be held annually, as it np doubt,, provides splendid experience fßr the country players. An endeavour was made to arrange a junior tournament at the Domain, to be » played at the same time aa.tfce Hellaby Shield competition, But, as the Rodney . Juniors were the only entrants, they weTe played on four days by Auckland junior, teams.

The country committee successfully carried out the most extensive programme of country tours ever attempted .by the association. , Teams visited many' part* of the province, and, although" soma gomes were either, partly or completely spoiled by rain, all tours were reported to have been enjoyable, and there is a. keenness for • repetition of the programme next Anniversary I Day. Some of the more remote associations which- could not be. visited on Anniversary Pay were' seat teams during the Easter holidays.

Life Members Elected

The management committee feels highly honoured in recording the election if three life members at the last annual general meeting, namely, Messrs. E. C. Beale, F. Earl and J. H. Watta, - -. - The cricketers. o! Auckland, especially those whowiU have the opportunity of receiving 'tuition 'from the professional, are deeply indebted to the firms and sportsmen who so generously supported the coach committee's campaign to raise the necessary -* funds -to engage I*. F» Townaend, a famous Derbyshire cricketer. Those deserving of particular mention are the Auckland (Racing Club, New Zealand Breweries, Limited. ,3 Smith and iCaughey, Limited, New Zealand „ Insurance Company, Limited, and the directors of ■ the South British Insurance Company, Limited. The appeal, has been so generously responded to by all cricket enthu- ~ siasta that .the-financing of-the season's un- * dertaking .is within reacb. So encouraged, the coach committee has undertaken to hold a united Sports carnival: at Alexandra Park on Saturday, December 1, by the gener- - osity of the Auckland Trotting Club. It is gratifying to record the successful outcome of two conferences, between delegates of the Auckland City and Suburban Cricket Association and the Auckland"" Cricket Association. Any misunderstandings .> that existed in the past have now been „ overcome through ah agreement concerning th® transfer of clubs-en- bloc and of players '•* from one association -to another.. A reciprocal arrangement Regarding coaching will be ~ made, > and. the selectors of representative; -=• teams may sail, upon suburban players. , GFIAFTONCLUB'S SEASON Tfie balance-sheet presented at the annual " meeting of the Grafton Cricket Club showed - that, m spite of a strenuous, year there was a fair credit balance. Congratulations were . extended in the report to J. Cowie and C. Burke on gaining representative honours against the country and against Hawke's Bay, and to G. ChildS' and R. Speed on * ml r the junior representatives. -.T ahe following officers' were-elected:—Patr . ron, Mr. S. Hesketh; vice-patron, lifr. A Freeman; president, Mr. H. laherwood; vye-presidenta, same as last year; committee, Messrs. JB. -Horßpool. J. Cowie. G. Ratcliffe,.'J.- Felts; N.\ Hockrn; hon. see're- "~ tary and treasurer,. Mr. F. W. Byerley; - assistant hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. ~ F. Anijusi .hon. auditor, Mr. C. A. Snedden; > club captam.Mr._A. J. Emmens; delegates to tbe Auckland Chcket Association. Messrs. F. W. Byerley, L. Spring, A. J. i OTAHUHU -ASSOCIATION Steady, progress Was shown by the report ' preaeated at. the third annual meeting of , *bel Otahuhu" Crioket! : Association. The report stated that the membership had increased to players in. , the senior and junior tgradeii. During the' past season additional equipment had,been purchased,,two.guineas . - had been donated to the Auckland Cricket A afiociatiofa's coach fund and a credit balance ' of oyer £8 remained. Appreciation ■. wjjs ex- >v.» pressed of the services rendered by members of the local- umpires' , association and the persons who had Assisted in providing clay- - • mg facilities. - ■ ; ' Mr. W. Luke, who represented the Anck- - land Association, presented the senior grade • shield to the Challenge team, last year's winners,-' also caps .fo the -winners of the •- iunu>r grade. Railway, and a bat, donated by Mr. E. E. Nalder, to D. Game for the best batting, 'average during the season. 11 Officers .werq elected as follows:—Patron. - r Mr. H. T. Clements': president, Mr. F. W. Grey; vice-presidents. Messrs. G. Arkinstall/'' W! Cassels-BTown, W. W. Luke, J. Mclvor, ■ R. Rugg: honorary secretary, Mr; W. J. * Jonee; treasurer, Mr. W. Bright;, committee, 1 Messrs. H. Stevens, P. Moore; F. Pierce. F. Best, W. Bright, J. McDowell and G. Web- J ber. ~ * NGATEA CLUB'S YEAR .1 [by telegraph—-own correspondent] " THAMES. Wednesday Thti following officers were elected at the **. annuiil meeting of tbe Ngatea Cricket Club: - —Palron, Mr. H. Dept; president, Mr. E. A. . ; Mahoney; vice-presideflts, Messrs. C. S. " Foster, H. Havward, F." Stimpson, "C; S. ; SchuJtz, J.' Spence : and W. Ratcliffe; secretary. Mr, N. Laurence: captain, Mr. C. Lauronce; vice-captain, Mr. E. Bowman;. .* delegates" to Hauraki Plains Cricket Assosiation, the captain and vice-captain. t Thd annual report stated that from a * financial aspect the club had reason to congiatulate itself. It had been faced with the laying down of a new pitch and the purchase of playing material and matting, * and in'spite of this" had finished the year with a very small deficit. In competition play the senior team had finished well Up on the list. ... .