CRICKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22053, 8 September 1933, Page 12

CRICKET

DUNEDIN CLUB The annual meeting of the Dunedin Cricket Club was held in Mr W. B. Taverner's office last night. The president (Mr J. A. Robson) occupied the chair. The chairman, moving the adoption ot the report and balance sheet, said that a pleasing feature of the past season had been the good weather. Cricket had been infinitely more pleasant than for many seasons past; and the standard of play had improved. The grounds were improving slowly but surely, and he believed that some day, when Tonga Park' was converted into a cricket ground, Dunedin would have cricket areas equal to those of any town in New Zealand. He could assure members that six wickets would be prepared at Logan Park in sufficient time to enable senior matches 10 be started on October 14.—(Applause.) The advantage of an early start last season had been reflected in the standard of representative play. It was even more important to make an early start this season because the Otago team would have to go on tour. Interest in cricket during the past season had been increased by the presence of the English team in Australia. He referred to developments during the tour, stating that every member was interes-ted in the status of the game. They therefore hoped that the games between England and Australia would be resumed on a purely friendly basis. On the occasion of the English team's visit to New Zealand one of the club's members (Mr R. C. Torrance) had been appointed an umpire. They were gratified that Otago had at last won the Plunket Shield. This had been primarily due to the fact that the team had been mainlv composed of young players. If the shield could be retained for a few years the benefit to Otago cricket would be great. One , could not leave the subject without paying a tribute to the efforts of the coach (Mr I<. 1. Badcock). The chairman expressed appreciation of the work done for the club by the secretary (Mr A. G. Valentine). The question of a suitable ground hart occupied the attention of the committee for some time. Unfortunately the Caledonian Ground would be used by the athletic clubs, which would provide the society with more revenue than the club could afford to pay. An assurance had been given, however, that the ground would be given to Dunedin if it were made available to any cricket club, lhe chairman referred to the departure from Dunedin of .Messrs R. W. Coupland and J. De Helin. He asked members not to be discouraged by the fact that members had been lost. The result of the season financially had been gratifying. Mr G. A. Wycherley, seconding the motion, said that the result of the enthusiasm which had been growing in the club in the last two or three years was that it had returned to the social and playing standing that it had enjoyed in former years. Events in Australia last season had dealt almost a death blow to international matches between England and Australia, but he felt that it was being realised at Home that there was something in Australia's protest. Cricket in Otago was now in the position that it should occupy. Tt was only bad weather that had kept the game in the province back. This was shown by the fact that the performances of the representative team and, in fact, the teams generally, improved when there was a good season such as had been enjoyed last year. Referring to the departure of Mr Coupland. Mr Wycherley said that the club was losing not only a fine player but a fine club man. He congratulated the club on possessing .energetic and enthusiastic office-bearers. The secretary said that a member, on finding that the club had a deficit of£l 13s 7d, had offered to make a donation of that amount so that the accounts could be "squared."—(Applause.) The motion was carried. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows:—President, Mr J. A. Robson; vice-presidents—Mrs Blaney, Messrs E. S. Wilson, W. W. Mackersy, A. Grogan, R. White, G. A. Wycherley. C Eyre P W. Shacklock, A. M'Crone, W. B. Taverner, V. Perry, T. Thomson, H C Carter, R. C. Torrance, W. Strang, R. W. Coupland. and B. Petre; club captain, Mr H. J. Rackley; deputy club captain, Mr- A. E. Heather; secretary and treasurer, Mr A. E. Valentine; committee—Messrs C. Claridge, B. .Noble,. W. Ditchfield, T. J. Brooks. R. C. Torrance, jun.. and P. Holdaway; Material Committee—Messrs C. H. Callum, M. Vernon, P. Staples, and C. R. Denham; delegate to Sports Protection Association. Mr A. G. Valentine; delegate to Otaeo Boys Cricket Association, Mr C. Claridge; auditor. Mr C. Eyre; Selection Committee—Messrs Rackley, Robson, and Valentine; delegates to Otago Cricket Association—Messrs Wycherley, Strang, and Torrance, sen. , The matter of nominating office-bearers for the Otago Cticket Association was left to the incoming committee. On the motion of the chairman, it was decided to make the following recommendation to the Otago Cricket Association—" That in one-day matches the team batting first must close its innings not later than 4.50 p.m.. Should there be any interruption due to weather conrtitions the time lost shall be added to the time of closing the innings of the team batting first." . , , v, During a discussion on the clubs ground, Mr Ditchfield urged that the committee should endeavour to obtain practice wickets at Carisbrook. He stated that he did not see why the ground could not be used by more than one club. Eight new members were elected. The opening day was fixed for October 7-__ ... ~, *.: „»„_

Votes of thanks were accorded the secretary, the ficorers, and the umpires. The following trophies won during the past season were presented:--Senior—Batting (MLean Cup), W. (x. Ditchfield; bowline, R. W Couphmd/ Junior A—Batting, B. Noble; bowling, J. Arnold. . . ~ . Junior B—Batting and bowling. A. Anderson. -.«•'* t ~„.i Third A.—Batting, J. Cranston; bowling, C. R. Denholm. . Third B—Batting, W. J. Tomton; bowline, A. Beatson. : _ . , ,„„ Catching trophy, W. J. Tomton (22 catches).