CRICKET

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11934, 15 September 1924, Page 10

CRICKET

WELUNCTON CLUB THE ANNUAL MEETING. The annual general meeting of the Wellington Cricket Club was held on Thursday, September 11th. at 8 p.m., in Mr Dunbar Sloane’s offices, when Mr M. F. Luckie presided over an attendance of about thirty members. Eleven new members were elected. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year :—President, Sir Francis Bell (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs L. O. H. Tripp, Henry Hall, L. Manning, M. F. Luckie, J. A. Tripe, T. S. Ronaldson, T. J. Martin, C. A_ Richardson, W. E. Pearson, C. A. Knapp, A. H. Miles, Dunbar Sloane, C. P. Skerrett, D. A. Ewen, A. F. Wiren, M. J. Crombie, end Hon. Dr W. E. Collins (re-elected), and Mr C. G. Wilson; club captain, Mr J. S. Hanna; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr J. Bruges; management committee, Messrs W. R. Aitken, A. M. Cousins, H. Evans, J. D. Good, J. McW-hinney, D. W. Virtue, and Captain W. Ivory; senior selection committee, Messrs N. R. Jacobsen, J. 8. Hanna, and J. Bruges; hon. auditor, Mr J. T. Hanson (re-elected); delegates to the Wellington Cricket Association, Messrs C. G. Wilson, J. S. Hanna and J. Bruges. RAILWAY CLUB. At the annual general meeting of. the Wellington Railway Cricket Club, held last week, the following officers for the ensuing season were elected:—'Patron. Hr H. Buxton; president, Mr J. Mason; vicepresident, Messrs J. Pickard, L. Barglay, F. K. Porteous, J. L. Leydon, R’. P. McCracken, G. Matthewßon; management committee, Messrs Dalton, McLeod* Gray, Howell, Emmins, Gill, Finl&yson, Meachen,- Collin; club captain, W. Finlayaon; classification committee, Messrs Gray, Howell, Emmins, and Comfort; delegates to the Wellington Cricket Association, Messrs W. Finlayson and T. J. O'Connor. According to the annual report, the junior team performed quite creditably, being runners-up in their grade of the competition. They played *8 matohes, won 7. and lost only 1. Mention was also made of the fine batting performances of Messrs Thompson and Gray. Winners of trophies were: —Mr J. Leydon's trophy for the best fieldsman* J. Gray; Mr P. J. Wilkinson's trophy for the highest individual Gcore in the junior team, H. Thompson; management committee's trophy for the highest aggregate in bowling, G. J. Clark (38 wickefcg}. BTOP-OUT CLUB. - The fifth annual meeting of the PtopOut Cricket Club was held at the club rooms on Wednesday last. There was a good attendance of members. The annual report showed that of the four teams entered, two won championships and another team, was runner-up. The financial position of the dub was reported to be fairly sound. Officers were elected as follows:-—Vice-presidents, Messrs W. Blundell, C. B. Norwood, H. Amos, W. Bock, A. Varney, C. L. Collins, H. McGinr, and H. Hislop; secretary, Mr D. Golightly; treasurer, Mr J. P. Corder; club captain, Mr G. Jqhnstone; management committee, Messrs Hitchen, Anderson, O'Donnell, R. Dunn, and Mcl*vie. ‘ , A Teams were nominated for the third A. fourth senior boys, and boys’ intermediate grades. It was decided to apply te the Wellington Cricket Association for affiliation. Mr J. F. Corder was appointed delegate to the Cricket Association, end Messrs Hitchen and Corder delegates to the Wellington Boys’ Cricket League. ' LOCAL ACTIVITIES. ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL REPORT. An interesting review of Wellington’s part in cricket during last season,, and matters relating to the future advancement of the game are set out in the annual report of the Wellington Cricket Association, to be presented to the annual meeting of delegates on -the 26th inst. generally with the past season's activities, the report states: — "HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SEASON.” "Though wet weather was met with at the beginning of the. season, and the same cause brought play to a premature end early in March, the season from every point of -view was highly successful, a very gratifying feature being the regaining of the Plunket Shield by your representatives with three outright wins. Two of the three Plunket Shield matches were remarkable for the high scoring recorded. In . the match, against Auckland, played on the Wellington College ground, the aggregate of the four innings was 1531 runs. This large total was, however, completely dwarfed in the match against Otago, played on the Carisbrook ground, where the phenomenal total of 1905 runs was scoped. This is understood to be the

second highest on record in first-class matches. Great interest "was created through the tour of the N-S.W. Xl.* under the captaincy of C. G. Macartney* the fine showing put up by tho Wellington XI. being particularly pleasing." It is -pointed out that the number of clubs snowed a decrease last season* but there was an increase in the number of teams. The report adds: "As a matter of fact, your committee views with satisfaction the tendency to lessen the number of clubs, and thus to promote the existence of clubs fewer in number but considerably stronger In membership and organisation/* TOUR OF N.S.W. ELEVEN. "The tour of the New South Wales XTbrough home to all cricketers the fact that more imperative steps were called for if the game in New Zealand was to progress. Two obvious courses suggested themselves—the improvement of wickets and the engaging of a suitable coach to take young 'players in hand. Yonr committee decided if possible to keep both objects in view. Through the good offices of Mr H. W. Berry and Mr Collingwood, of Henry Berry and Co., the services of Captain F. T. Badcock, Berks* England (at present of Wellington College), as coach were secured for a term of two years. Captain Badcock comes with the special recommendation of the M.C.C.* and will arrive in New Zealand before the season commences. . . The committee wishes to place on record its appreciation of the good work done last season by Messrs B. J. Kortlang and H. M. McGirr* who spent considerable time in coaching a number of young players." SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. A reference to the new scheme adopted in connection with the senior championship competition is made as follows:— "A.fc the beginnig of the season your committee decided to try an innovation in the running of the senior championship with a view to securing & knock-out decision, and after inquiry had been made as to the method followed in Melbourne, it was resolved that after the termination of the seventh round, the four leading teams should play off* one playing three and two playing four; each winner to meet in the final. Similarly, of the last four teams, five should play seveu and six play eight. As has been already indicated, rain prevented this scheme being carried out in its entirety, but your committee feels confident that it was on the right lines, a distinct improvement on the haphazard method that has hitherto been followed, and well worth further trial in the future." FINANCIAL. With regard to sources of revenue for the coming season, the report states:—''During the coming season onr representative team will have to travel both to Auckland and Christchurch, so that unless a team from overseas visits us there will be only one home match. This means that representative matches cannot be looked to as a considerable source of revenue, as was the case daring the past season, and that therefore income under other heads should be increased and the expenditure kept dawn as low as is consistent with progressive management if a profit on the year is to be obtained." Individual and team performances are referred to in the report, and congratulations are extended to those teams and players who played a part in making the Beason a notable one from the point of view of performance.