GRANGE CRICKET CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14001, 6 September 1907, Page 7

GRANGE CRICKET CLUB.

The following report will 1» submitted mi ann,la J Meeting on Monday evening:— rto committee, in presenting its thirtieth annual roport, and balajico sheet, congratulate the club 011 the present sound position of the club both financially and othenvise. Starling the season with a large deficiency, wo are pleased to say that the club will start tlio present .season with a credit balance ot i 7. las. The present position of the club can lr,rgely be credited; to the energy of a few members of the'club in obtaining support from honorary' members, cnief amongst whom Mr \V. Beat can easily be singled out for special thanks, ho having obtained 110 less than 31' lion, members, and also to the fact that the committee met ottcner and kept in touch with the position of -the club. Tho season just past was remarkable for the splendid cricket weather experienced, scarcely a Saturday or an evening being lost through rain, which was a imiquo experience for cricketers iu Otago. The fine weather and the visit of the English cricketers tended to create mora than usual interest in cricket. Although not winning any of tho shiolds in tho various competitions, our five elevens, including the Wednesday team, all occupied good positions in . I'iieir respective grades. In representative cricket we were represented by Ifcssrs A. Downcs and C. BeaJ, and both acquitted themselves with great credit, ill also had t-lio honour to repxe* f oa^ the test matches against tho Englishmen, and by his performance in these matches can still claim to bo oho, of the finest all-round players in the colohy. Mosul's AV. M, Heal and W. also played against North Otago, and J. Brydcn played against Canterbury in tho junior representative match, During the ssason we played four teams in Saturday cricket oil© -Wednesday team, and tho Senior Eleven were, up to the last returns sent in, a tio for firs'- place for tho fielding prize presented by Mr J. J. Clark, which fact should be gratifying to our worthy president (Mhr f A. C, Hanlon), who has at our meetings and otherwisa always laid grsafc strers on this department of tlio game Owing to (he number of players falling oft* after ihe season had advanced a little, and tho club only having 0110 maic-h wickot, your committee had great difficulty in keeping the Fourth Grcd'a team together, and would strongly recommend the incoming committee to play only in the first' throe grades. During tho "winter your committee held several meetings, the object being to devise some scheme for tho improvement of the dub, with tho result that a special meeting of the club was oa'llcd on June 24 to consider tho advisability of -laying down a turf wicket, and it was resolved, if sufficient be forthcoming, that turf wickets ba provided for the incoming season. We are now happy to report -that in response to /ho canvass of the committee amongst our supporters and 1 friends we arc able to let a contract for a turf wicket 50ft by 90ft, and also to improve the outfield, and wo trust with this improvement and tho present sound position of the club that members will bo stimulated to do woll in tho incoming sea-son. The First Eleven during last season played- nine mat-ches, winning four and losing five. Mr A. Downes heads both batting and bowling averages with 27.3 and 7.07 for *11 wickets. As it is MrDowues's wish that tho trophies offered for. these averages should go to the runncrs-np, Itr C. Beal with 16.2 takes Mr C. Inverarity's bat, and Mt \V. Davis takes Messrs M'Lean and Co.'s bat with 11.5 for bowling. Mr W. Henderson takes Mr Hanlon's bat for fielding. The Second Eleven (last year's Second Grade premiers) won only throe matches cut of nine. W. Johnston (22.87) heads tho baiting, and H. A. Robinson heads the bowling with 7.4 for 21 wickets, and takes Aft 11. Paton's trophy. J. Drydan takes Mr IlanWs bat for fielding. The Third Eleven won seven hatches and lost six. L. Chadwick, with 10.4, heads the telling, and secures Mr R. Paton's trophy, and H. WeaT the bowling with 8.5 for 55 wickets, and takes llr W. Beal's prize. Tho Fourth Eleven o.lso won seven matches and lost six. V. Perry, with 21.14, heads the batting, and takes Itr O. Brundell's prize, and R. Fogtitty the bawling with 4.38 for 26 wickots the committee's prize. Tho Wednesday team did remarkably well, and were lunners-up in tho Wednesday competition, winning four matches, losing two, and two were unfinished, and'had the honour of heating the winners of tho shield. Batting averages that are worthy of mention in this team are W Ogg 31.5. W. Boal 2S, J. Best 25.5, Peterson 24, F. Anderson 23.2. and A. llestieaux 21, and w. Ogg with 10.75 for 28 wickots heads tho bowling. Among the youn" players, W. Davis, H. Weir, H. Bond. L° Cnadwick, V. Perry, A. Buclian, Stephens, Gslland, niul Graham showed. excellent proliliso of many good ciicketers, and with mere experience una strict attention to praolice they .should be heard of in tho future. In conclusion, tho comrailtca begs to tender its warmest thanks to Messrs Bmndell, W. Best, and A. Robinson for assistance and advice on the Turf Wicket Committee, also to tho numerous hon. members and supporters for assistance during the past «aso»; -to Messrs A. C. Hanlon, C. Inveraritv, R. Brinsley, W. D. Wyatt, R. Paton, G. T. . Race, J. Cummings, W. IT, Benl, A. Downea, M'Lmu and Co., C. E. Bmndell, G. Nelson, and J. Roberts for donations ?nd trophies. Your committee also wish to thank tho Umpires' Association for services rendered,

and would tal:e this opportunity of trying to induce any of our retired players who' ciur eparo l',:o time. to join this body, njid ill this very necessary workholp the gameftlong. Your conrmittc3 also conveys its hearty thanks to the press.for the' insertion ofand reports and'the general pub-' licity given to tho game.