CRICKET REPORTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18349, 13 September 1921, Page 3

CRICKET REPORTS

OTAGO ASSOCIATION. The annual report of the Otago Cricket Association states that the year just closed has been one of the most successful experienced in many years. In regard to the local shield competitions it may bo said that interest was well maintained, and that the matches in the various grades were keenly fought. The light for the first grade premiership was particularly interesting, and the Albion Club is to be complimented on the form shown and on its position at the head of the list. The .Grange Club,,, as runners-ifp, also deserves praise. This club has been notably consistent in recent years, and when, not actually winner of the shield is generally close up. The second grade shield was won by the Grange A, the third grade by the Albion-Christian Brothers, and the fourth grade by the Y.M.C.A. 1. It is pleasing t 6 note the keen interest taken in the game by the primary schools, many of the young cricketers showing great promise. It is recognised that the future representative players must come from the schools, and a sound system of coaching should, if possible, be instituted for the purpose of giving tno youngsters a proper start. With that end in view the ’ committee has drawn up a scheme by which the boys will be taken in hand, by old players capable of instructing them, and it is honed by this means to instill the love of the game into the boys more strongly, and to increase the number of young players who join clubs after leaving school. The victory over Canterbury in February was particularly welcome, ae marking a turn in the long and somewhat depressing lane. The match produced some excellent cricket, and’ Otago’s margin at the finish jvas 94runs. A very bright spot was J. Shepherd’s 146 in Otago’s second innings', this being characterised as one of the best displays of batting seen on‘the Carisbrook Ground.

Another notable occasibn Was the visit of an Australian team. This was a strolls' combination, and there is _no doubt whatever that its presence in New Zealand stimulated the same enormously. The committee is emphatic in statins that visits from combined or State teams from Australia, besides involving less expense than that which attaches to the bringing out of an English team of players whose names are unfamiliar to colonials, does infinitely more good to Cricket in the dominion. The action of a number of citizens in guaranteeing the association against financial loss in the fixture is greatly appreciated by the committee and by cricketers generally. The spirit thus shown is another indication of the increasing attention which is being directed by the public towards the game in. Dunedin. "While the match resulted in a comfortable win tor the commonwealth team, the form shown by some of the local was quite good. The consistent form shown by J. Shop herd won him_ a place in the two test matches against the Australians, and his inclusion was thoroughly justified by results. His_ play throughout the season was, in the opinion of most judges, second to no batsman in the dominion. In actual figures he was *=ecc(t]d qn the list in class matches, and was therefore runner-up for the Redpath Cup. Shepherd’s average was 47.5. Tho decision to hold a “Country Week” in Dunedin last season was evidently appreciated by fellow cricketers in the outlying districts, who took up the idea with enthusiasm. Several of the visitors showed that they could play the game and play it well, and it is to be hoped that the stimulus given by town experience will benefit Otago genorally.i Special thanks are offered to Mr C. Todd, who was tho originator of the idea of holding “Country Week,” and who, with tho assistance of a willing committee, carried tho arrangements to such a successful issue. The financial aspect of the year just closed is one that gives the committee perhaps the greatest cause for satisfaction. The debit balance of £261 15s 6d shown on the 1919-20 balance sheet has now been reduced to £7O 13s 6d, and the efforts which the committee is making to wipe off this should, with the hearty co-operation of cricketers as a whole, prove successful. The association is pledged to send a team north as far as Auckland during the coming season, and this will, of course, mean further special expenditure. The question of financing tho tour gave the committee some concern, and it was resolved to endeavour to solve the difficulty "by raising money by the disposal of art union tickets. Tho committee is confident that players and supporters of cricket will bo their very best to assist in placing the association on a sound financial looting. Towards the end ot last season a proposal was placed before the committee, with the object of securing the services of Mr T. Carlton as coach. In view of tho financial position of the association the committee was reluctant to incur any fresh liabilities; but it was subsequently found that the matter could be arranged with a comparatively small outlay by tho association, and an agreement has been entered into under which Mr Carlton is to thoroughly coaah young and promising cricketers Tho engagement was mad'' possible by guarantees by the Otago High Schools’ Board of Governor's, Otago Boys’ High, School Old Boys’ Society, and the senior clubs. It is hoped that the arrangement will bo of great'benefit to the game in Dunedin.

CARISBROOK. CLUB. The annual report of the Carisbrook Club states Uiat the season was marked by an innovation to the extent that a large number of university students were elected to membership,, and' that two teams, comprised entirely of these university members, wore entered in the competition, one in the first grade and the other in the second grade. With a largely increased membership, and with the increase in members’ subscriptions and a certain revival in tne gate money, the club has managed to come through, at least financially successful, a season. which at the outset showed possibilities of being quite the reverse. The A team did not have a very successful season, the cause of most of their lack of success being due to poor fielding, and it is to be hoped that this coming season will show a marked 1 improvement in this respect.' Mr Westbrook was the most consistent performer with the,bat, while the bowling honours were mainly divided between Messrs Ramsden, Cantrell, and Wolstenholme. The first grade university team was more successful and started off well by gaining .a three-point win over the previous season's • premiers. Unfortunately, however, the' holidays weakened the team, and on one or two occasions they had some difficulty in arranging a respectable olevem • ■ A. W. and .0,. Alloo were,.the mainstays of this eleven, both in batting and bowling, and it was largely to their efforts that the team owed the measure of success it attained. In the Second Grade the University Eleven also started off well by gaining four 3-point wins in succession, and, up till Christmas, were leading • thn competition, hut hero again the holidays had an even bigger effect, and resulted in the team having to default one or two .matches. It is doubtful if this eleven should be entered again this season, but this must bo left in the hands of the incoming committee to decide. The C team Cannot ho said to ;have been successful in winning a majority of its matches,, but was somewhat disorganised at times in being called on to fi'l vacancies in the A team. Thbro are a numbe; - of promising juniors in this team, and they should have better luck this year. As regards the juniors of the Third Eleven, your committee is of the opinion they deserve a special word of commendation on- the way they stuck to their engagements. On several occasions they found themselves short at the last minute, and had to fill up the team as well as they could with what substitutes as were on the ground. At Easter, the club sent an eleven to Alexandra to plav two matches, of which they won one and lost the other. The club was represented in the Otago Eleven by A. W. and C. Alloo and R. Westbrook. Mr Rattray president) offered two bats foi» competition during the year, and they were won by Mr C. Alloo and Mr T Martin, in the Senior and Junior Grades respectively.