CRICKET

Southland Times, Issue 23297, 6 September 1937, Page 11

CRICKET

SOUTHLAND UMPIRES’ ASSOCIATION PLEA FOR MORE MEMBERS The annual report of the Southland Cricket Umpires Association states: — “The past season has been unsatisfactory from a cricketer’s point of view. One of the wettest summers experienced in Southland for years affected the enjoyment of the game, match after match having to be postponed or abandoned because of the weather These conditions have been reflected in the experience of the association during the season, quite a few umpires being disinclined to turn out for what matches were played. The Appointment Board had a very anxious time, there being a shortage of about 12 umpires each Saturday. The lack of interest shown extended also to the regular meetings of the association, only two of which were held, both being very poorly attended. Several other attempts to hold meetings for the discussion of important business failed, the attendance being below the necessary quorum. The result has been very disheartening to the few who have endeavoured to carry on the work, and it is to be hoped that with prospects for a more pleasant season in 1937-38 more interest will be taken in the game, and the association will be able to give the services to cricket for which it was formed, A notice of motion appears on the agenda for the annual meeting to reduce the quorum for meetings of the association to five, and it is hoped that this change will enable meetings to be held when necessary. “The new lbw rule has now been officially adopted by the Marylebone Club, and forms part of the Laws of Cricket. It must now, therefore, be adopted in all matches. An amendment to the law dealing with the illegal stopping of the ball by a fieldsman has also been adopted by the Marylebone Club, and five runs are now to be added to whatever runs have been made by the batsmen at the moment of the committing of the offence. “The membership of the association now stands at 24, a number of members having retired for various reasons. As it takes 32 umpires to control the matches played under the auspices of the Southland Cricket Association each Saturday, new recruits to the association’s ranks are urgently required, and any players who are retiring from active participation in matches are earnestly requested to consider keeping in touch with the game through the association.”

MEN’S HOCKEY

WELLINGTON’S FINE GAME AGAINST CANTERBURY (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 5. No fewer than five matches against visiting teams were played by the Wellington hockey representatives on Saturday, who won four of the series. The main event of the day, against Canterbury, provided probably the finest exhibition since the Indians. Wellington did exceedingly well to defeat a brilliant combination by two goals to one, the scorers being Norman for Canterbury, and Wheatley and Dentice for Wellington. The Canterbury junior representatives did well to hold the more experienced Wellingtorf team. They lost by 4 goals to 2, the scorers being Giles (2) and Roberts (2) for Wellington, and Salomen (2) for Canterbury. The results of the other games were: Wellington 2 beat the Napier school boy representatives 1; Nelson 6 beat Wellington secondary school representatives nil; Karori 3 beat Wanganui 2.