CRICKET IN COSTUME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21919, 1 October 1934, Page 3

CRICKET IN COSTUME

GALA DAY AT MAUKU [fbom our own correspondent] PUKEKOHE, Saturday AH was merry as a marriag€i bell when the cricket season opened to-day at Mauku. It was no ordinary match. A team of young ladies of Mauku and Patumahoe played the Mauku club's eleven. The order for the occasion was fancy costume, vice versa. The ladies took the field looking very attractive in smart male cricketing attire, delightfully uniform. The member of the team with a tiny moustache, Miss Nancy Outfield, was awarded the prize for the most original costume among; *the ladies. As a Maori wahine, complete in every detail of the en-emble, even to the baby on the back and pipe in his mouth, Mr. 0. A. Crispe, captained the men's eleven. The prize for the most original costume went to Mr. C. Goldsworthy, dressed as a. high school girl. For the formal opening of the season, the president of the club, Mr. W. Finlay, took the crease, and the first bail was bowled by one of the pioneer residents, Mr. H„ E. R. L. Wily. The girls' team had the honour of going in first for the match. The men conceded that they would only get them out by bowling—catches were not allowed. So intense did the excitement become that the 200 odd spectators were soon encroaching an the field, and this further militated against brilliant cricket. However, the girls managed to win by 108 runs to 76, and their captain, Miss R. Urquhart, was duly presented with the "ashes" (wood ashes in a sealed bottle). With the presentation went a challenge for the coveted "trophy," to be decided this day 12 months. The afternoon had other side issues. For correctly estimating the length of a string, a cricketer found himself the possessor of a dressed fowl, and there were other rsimilar awards. Special thanks were accorded Mrs. W. Bagshaw for organising the girls' team. The club's fund;: will benefit from the occasion, but the cliief success of the afternoon was the thoroughness with which it was enjoyed by all present.