OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14002, 7 September 1907, Page 3

OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION

The following report for the season IDOC-7 will be presented to the Otago Cricket Associatiou at®tlie annual meeting:— Your committee in presenting the annual report can look upon tho post season with feelings of pleasure, and also regret. With pleasure in feeling- that tho game is steadily progressing, and from a, weather point of view the past season lias beem one of tho very best experienced in tho history of the association, as we had beautiful weather throughout Me season; in fact, a little rain at timca would have improved our grounds. Our regrets are that, though wo had scone very important fixtures played in Dunedin, including two lnatches with the Marylcbone team, the support we received from the public wag anything but encouraging, and your associa/tiou lost money on these matches. . English Matches.—The visit of an English team, whioli was greatly looked forward to by cricketers, naturally added much interest to the season 1900-7, and on both occasions wo experienced splendid weather; . but in •both matches our players did not play up 1o expectations, and Otago was easily beaten in both engagements. The first match was played at Carisbrook on January 4, 5, and 7, 1!)07. The M.C.C. batted first, and Eoorcd 224. C. Page (GO) and Simpson-Hamrd (4i) did the bulk of tho run-getting for the visitors, and gave a good display, of free and attractive cricket. Dowries ami Fisher, as usual, did all the bowling. Otago responded with 170, 13. Howdcu (45), C. G. Wilson (49), .JI. G. Siedohcrg (27), it. Baker (14), and If. Graham (10) being the only Otago batsmen to make any stand against tho bowling' of P. H. May. The Englishmen in their second inninga scored 278, all the team, with two exceptions, getting into doub'e figures; Downs and. Fisher again securing all the wickets. dago's second innings was a, snrry display, tbe whole side being disposed of for 94. A. H. Fisher (21, not out), C. ,Wilson. (18), and 33. Ackroyd (10) were the only batsmen to shipe at all at th-3 fast bowler—P. K. May, who secured five wickets for 37 urns. The Eccond match against the Englishmen wis played at .Carisbrook on February 8, 9, and 11.- The Englishmen battel first, and put tip lbs formidable score cif 49G, W. P. Harrison playing a- beautiful innings of 105. P. E. Johnson (87), Simpson-Hayward (71), J. W. JI. T, Douglas (67), R. Fo:< (54), and C. C. Page (55) also played good cricket for their run?. A, Downoj did not play in this match, and his presence at the bowling orease to greatly missed. G. G. Austin, who secured five wickets, was the most successful of the Otego bowlers. Otago'in their first innings) totalled 257. G. G. Austin- (42), A. Eckhold (41), E. Ackroyd (31), C. Beale (25), and A. H. Fisher J23) batted beet for Otago in their first innings. The second innings was a very poor display 011 tbe part of the Otago batsmen, the whole fide dismissed for 144 runs. May, Branston, and Douglas all bowled .ex..cfedingly well for the Englishmen; nnd the visit clearly proved 'that our batsmen are quite at sea when opposed to a fast bowler. Canterbury Match.—Tbe annual match with ftantorbuiy was played at Christmas time, Otago winning by .139 runs. E. Howdeffi (02 and 10), E. Ackroyd (42), C. G. Wilson (IS and 25), H. G. Siedebor# (24 and 23), G. G. Austin (15), J. Baker (45). and A. Downos (25) showed good form with the bat, while Downes and Fisher as usual divided the wickets between them. A. Sims, OHivisr, Anthony, and Bennett were the onlv Canterbury batsmen who showed good form with the bat.

Southland Match.—The annual match with Southland was played at Invorcarffill. The OSngo (cam w»s not a thoroughly representative ouo, nnd the match ended in a draw to bad weather, decidedly in favour of Southland, who scored 161 to Otago's 73. North OStgci Match.—A match was played at New Year timo between a second Otago o'.cven and North Ob go, which resulted in ft win for Otagq by 145 mils. Second Grade Matches.—A Sccond Grado representative team journeyed to Christcihurch at Christmas timo and met ft Canterbury team, and wero badiy defeated. At New Year time a. Second Grade team met a Southland team, aud Otago won by eight wickets. Club Cricket.—The various championships wore all keenly contested, the First and Sccond Grades both proving in doubt till tho last match. Tho Dunedin C.C. were successful in winning the Senior Shield, and thoroughly deserved the distinction, ns thoy play consistently throughout tho season. The Itoslyii Club won the Second Grado Championship after a close ?nd interesting contest. The Third Grade Championship was won by tho Star C.C., and the Fourth Grade by tho 'lloslyn C.C. Goners l !. —The Umpires' Association has been doing good work (luring the year, and dssorvos tho l»?t thank? of this association fcr the able manner in which it has carricd out its duties, considering that it lias boon so haiidicappxl for want of members, and. Hiiitl c.lubs make an effort and help the a-ssceiation by securing more members for it t'ley cannot, ospcct to get umpires foT all grades. If oaoli club would induce' one or two of its old membra to join tho Umpires' Association, ev&n though they could only act occasionally, it would bj a big help to this b:dy. AVe have to compliment tho Cricket Club on its endeavours to ijprovide a turf wicket on its ground, and it deserves tho best thanks of all cricketers for its efforts in this direction. Tho Grange Club, wo understand, intends putting down a turf wickot this season, audi we wish it every success in this venture. Messrs A. Downes, A. H. Fisher, and H. G. Siedeberg wcro selected to represent New Zealand against the English toam. Wo regret that sineo last season the Dnnedin Amateur Ground Company has gono out of cxiMencp, and tho mombers of this association, can only ..place on record; 'their, hearty appreciation of tho valuable services rendered most willingly and generously, by tho-e gentlemon who 'liavo so long been identified with the company. They certainly at all times confidorcd the interests of cricket heforo anything clss, and, as proprietors of tho ground, wo shall certainly misa their hearty co-opera-tion in all our affairs. At the same timo your committee has every confidence in the gc-oi faith of tho Rugby Union, and is quite satisfied-, that tho interests-of ; cricket will | loyally regarded aad considered by that boar.

Financial.—Your committee commenced this season ivitilra credit balunco of £79 ISs sd, and tho telance sheet now Eubmittoi shows a. debit balance, This is very disheartening to your committee, which hoped -that the visit of tho English team would have left, ns with a handsome surplus, but' though- wo had splendid weather for tho matches wo did not receivo tho public support, that was anticipated, and instead-of a profit we lost money on t.he visit* Thanks.—The thanks of your association oro duo to Messrs D. H. Thompson and 13. J. Austin, who aetetl as your dolcgates to the Now Zealand Cricket Council, and to' the press for' tho prominonce given t-0 tho affairs of the association and to cricket in general. To Mr J. J. Clark for tho handsome donation of a cup as a fielding trophy, and to the Otago Sports Depot for its kind donation cf trophies in ; connection with tho representative matches.'' Conclusion.—ln retiring from office ,your committee thanks clubs for tho support given in the past BMF.on ; and trusts its successors, will meet will the same generous support.

The following are the batting and bowling awards in tho representative matches:—

Bowling Analysis,

e, £ ♦j ■p d Balsinan. £j CO II rS.S as S.S to j M5 > o g i H 5 •<1 C. E. Hoivdcn .. 4 G2 117 20.2 C. G. Wilson .. 7 i 49 134 22.3 H. G. Siedeberg G _ 27 128 21.3 E. Ackroyd G —' 42 113 18.8 J. -Baker .. .. 7 i 4o» 113 18.8 A. II. 'Fisher .. G ' 2 23 ' GG 1G.3 A. Eekhokl 3 — 41 49 1G.3 C. Beale .. .. 3 — 05 37 12.3 V. Williams 7 3 13 44 11.0 G. G. Austin .. G ■ — 42 G4 10.G \V. Meckcrey .. IS 29 9.0 A. Downes ., .. i — 25 30 9.0 11. Graham G — 37 S.G H. Eckhoff .. i _ 19 34 ... 85 Also batted: H. Har raway l l W. Latham U, P. Courtis 4. I I. Ba nncnn an ?i i. J. Iff mnmr

rf -2 ti Bowlers. ™ 5 2 ■ M 2 W P, ti £ «< A. Downes ,, W. Mnokersj' A. IT. Fisher ., , 33G 15 w 10 10.7 . 218 . 538 4 14 128 329 9 36.6 H. G. Siodoberg.. . 10S 2 3G.0 G. Or.- Austin H. Eokhoff .. ■., . 276 . 54 9 1 190 44 5 1 33.0 44.0