OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20828, 21 September 1929, Page 24

OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report of the Otago Cricket Association for the year 1928-20 states, inter alia: — Another year in the history of the Otago Cricket Association having closed, y°** r committee submits its annual report. AH things considered, the period was a satisfactory one, and it is certainly the fact that interest in the game was well maintained. That the battle between Australia and England that was being waged across the Tasman helped to this end must be admitted, but local affairs were also of an interesting nature. PLUNKET SHIELD MATCHES. So far ns the Plunket Shield competitjon in New Zealand was concerned the outcome was scarcely satisfactory owing to the large number of drawn games and the method of deciding, in the circuraetances the winner of the trophy. Each of the three shield matches played by Otago ended in a draw. At new year Auckland was engaged at Carisbrook, and bad weather not only prevented a defin],, , result being arrived at, but also affected the attendance, so that a loss was made on the match. . Nevertheless, some very interesting cricket was witnessed, a feature of the play being the veteran E. Rowntree’s brilliant wicketkeeping. CLUB CEICKET. The feature of the e.enior club competition was the success of the newlypromoted Higk School Old Boys’ team, which carried off the honours at the first attempt. The increase of the number ot senior teams was necessitated by the formation of a Colts’ team, but it has generally been admitted that the constitution of this team was scarcely on the right linos. Some of the boys, however, performed very creditably on this, their ffrst, venture into senior ranks. L. C. dustman was their captain and mentor. e « on B ra J u lations of the association are i 1 Poys’ senior team and to the following winners of the various shields:—North-East Valley (Second X r j c ’ £ section), Kaikorai (Second i B Christian Brothers (Third and Fourth Grades). BOYS’ ASSOCIATION. We have to report having commenced another successful season, inasmuch as we were able to field 12 senior and eight junior/teams, and the competition is at present in an interesting stage as recards both grades. Last season we sent two teams to Christchurch for our annual matches with • this province, but on account of rain only one day’s play was possible, but our teams, both senior and junior, performed creditably, and honours at that stage were fairly even. The association is very fortunate in having a live committee, and looks to the cricketmg tratemity in general for their support and assistance. SCHOOLS’ CRICKET. The Cricket Sub-committee again reports a most successful season, due largely i^nrovii Vo,ir i ab i e weather conditions, to improved wmkots. and to a record number of entries. . A T Pr^? igb Iflte!in:is 1 fl te ! in:is c «“peted as follows: ri , teams, winners Albany ersham B rade ’ 22 teams, winners Cavk, uni >K the latter part of the season the most promising boys were placed under the charge of the O.C.A. coach, Mr Eastmad, from whom they received considerable benefit. This sub-committee exwhwf S \f PP w ec:^ ion u of the manner fn rT.iAil ;„ Ir Eaßt man has carried out hjs X m connection with school cricket, ° ago P ri mary schools’ repr£ sentative teams travelled to Invercargill teamH ay ßi^ oUt y a ,i ■ re P resen tati ves. Both % j cceeded in winning splendidly contend. games, the seniors 8 by 91 runs a i u f mor s b y I!2 runs. Trophies f f r the best hatting average aggregate ecore were won by R J a °™ ards the .. 6 , nd of the season Mr W. sjM snays r%ri OBITUARY. ..Paring the year death removed, verv worhMn thp r ° mment d £V re in the cricket world m the person of Mr J. F. Peake P foca]’ t f WaB identified For ln Dunedin - had been iL of. years secretary of the New Zealand Cricket Council, and had the e game lmm |? fie a* Bood 'w' l for toe game.. He acted as delegate for hk Iwh council for many yfars, and “ tt i h iu m r np " el y regretted. . ■The death of Mr J. A. Fitzgerald has $0 to be regretfully recorded. Mr Fitzgerald was a valued member of the executive ot this association, representhonorary members. His keenu: ji o d Same was undoubted, and his kindly nature endeared him to hie many friends. thanks. , among those who.render eervice to the association regularly each season are its lady friends, and to these thanks are due for their attendance and help at representative fixtures To the Otago Rugby Football Union also are our thanks due. The union has the pleasing habit of coming to the rescue of the association whenever fortune has failed to smile on the latter in connection with its fixtures, and its action in so doing is deeply appreciated. GROUNDS. _ matter for deep satisfaction is the provision of new and excellent wickets at r? gan n Barb i a . nd .in regard to this tho Uty Council is justly entitled to the thanks of players and administrators of the game, •• Praiee for the quality of the senior wickets prepared during last season was consistently voiced by those who used them, while the fact that, additional wfekets were available for junior matches so relieving to an extent the acute shortaee hitherto experienced, was a source of satisfaction, though complaints regarding the roughness and unevenness of some ot these wickets still continue. It is hoped that the reason for these complamts will disappear before very long. ihe North Ground, where cricket has been played for so many seasons, and which had become a popular Saturday afternoon rendezvous for r -rth end sun‘porters of the game, is to nave a “silout season, the ' City Council having ' decided to plough and resow the area. Consequently the Albion and Grange Clubs nave had to move their, headquarters to Jjogan Park, where wickets and accommodation have been found for them. Extensive levelling work is also being carried out on the Oval, and this will reduce the number of available wickets there for the current season. Future im■rovement in the quality, however, will compensate for the temporary inconvenience. . COACHING. The difficulties attending the engagement of a professional coach from England are many, and one serious consideration is the limited time that such coaehas are able to give the associations engag1D two years’ experience ) ,p- Eastman your committee i rmdctaotly to come to the conclusion that the value received in the matter cf time available for coaching purposes was not commensurate with the outlay, especially as your _ association has always stressed the point that the main object in engaging a professional wag for the coaching of the younger players, and not for the purpose of strengthening its representative team.

T^ e ,President of the association (Mr V- load) was asked by your committee, to make inquiries while on his visit to England concerning a coach, and to communicate with us, by cablegram the possibility of securing a suitable man who would permanently reside in Dunedin to be kept in view. At the time, this report was compiled no word had been received from Mr Todd. In the.meantime, and until a thoroughly suitable coach has been secured, the third year donations to c ,° ac ” have been invested, and wul be available _ whenever required. During the winter months arrangements for indoor coaching and practice were made through the efforts of a few enthusiasts, space in the old Brydone Hall being kindly^given by Messrs Waters, Kitchie, and Co. Naturally, the number of players who could be accommodated was limited, and the full quota was always present. Altogether, the innovation was a complete success, and Messrs t 9; A^fln > R- C. Torrance, L. Cameron J. Fraser, and A. Galland, who were m iinly responsible for carrying out the arrangements, deserve the best thanks of the committee and of the players concerned. VISIT OF ENGLISH TEAM. The New Zealand Cricket Council haa arranged for the visit of an English team

to the Dominion during the coming season, and your association was offered a match with the visitors on December and January 1 and 2, on a guarantee of £37 3. In view of the low state of the associations finances, and the fact that previous matches requiring lower guarantees had resulted in a loss, your committee did not feel justified in taking the res possibility of creating still deeper financial embarrassment. At the same time it was felt that, for the reputation of the city, the fixture should not be refused without first giving the citizens an opportuof saying whether they were prepared to guarantee the necessary sum. Numbers of them were, therefore, circuit 1 " i Se , a , nd called upon, with the result tfiat, although the full sum has not yet been guaranteed, a sufficient number of promises have been made to justify the acceptance, of the match. The support accorded by the citizens is deeply appreciated by your committee. In regard to ffc allocation of dates for this tour of the English team, it may be added that those affecting. Otago are considered not at all suitable. At the new year many citizens are out of town, and this fact must seriously affect the attendance at the match. finance. It is unfortunate that in Dunedin cricket does not receive the same support as that given to Rugby football; if anything like that measure of support came to the summer game all financial worry would vanish, and the lot of the cricketer would be considerably improved. Aeom- ,- !V i*' 7 f section of the conimunity is loyal and generous towards cricket but enthusiasm cannot bo aroused in the laass . the public. Consequently. , '" lss 9 Cla tion is engaged in a continue is battle In order to keep its affairs in a solvent state. This year an Otago team be sent to Auckland and Ghristfn,,na means need to he , f ?™J d 1 tile cost of the tour. Welseasom W b ° tbe viß ‘ tin e team this