CRICKET

Southland Times, Issue 23942, 7 October 1939, Page 9

CRICKET

STEADY PROGRESS OF GAME ENTHUSIASM SHOWN IN EASTERN SOUTHLAND “The steady progress of cricket throughout the district governed by the sub-association was again maintained last season, and the keenness and enthusiasm displayed augurs well for the future of the game, which is now firmly established,” states the annual report of the Eastern Southland Cricket Sub-Association to be presented’at the annual meeting of the association tonight. The report stated that the attendance of the public was again not large and the sub-association felt that increased public support would do a great deal to aid the sport in Eastern Southland. “Two competitions, senior and junior, were again conducted by the subassociation,” stated the report. “The senior competition was won by the Gore Club for the second successive year, and the Mataura Club filled second place. The junior competition was won by the Gore High School first XI, which developed into a sound combination. During the school holidays the subassociation conducted a subsidiary junior competition, which was won by the Celtic junior team. To the winners of the three competitions the subassociation exterids its congratulations. “During the year a third wicket was laid down on the hostel area, the Gore, Celtic and High School clubs sharing the cost, and the extra wicket assisted considerably in overcoming the shortage of grounds. “A club was formed at Knapdale at the beginning of the season, and a team competed in the junior grade. The sub-association extends a welcome to the Knapdale Club, and trusts that it will continue to cater for those desirous of playing cricket in that district.

“The representative fixtures played during the year were not as numerous as in former seasons, due to various reasons over which ’ the subassociation 1 had no control. The Southland Cricket Association arranged a Country Day on two occasions during the year, but inclement weather resulted in the fixtures being abandoned. Much keenness was evinced on the first occasion, when players from all parts of the province were assembled at Invercargill, and disappointment was felt by many cricketers at the abandonment of the games. The annual representative fixture between Eastern Southland and South Otago was played at Gore on April 1, the visiting team winning by 95 runs. In the junior match Eastern Southland won narrowly by 108 runs to 105. The senior representatives also played Northern at Riversdale, the game resulting in a draw. Eastern scored 126 in the first innings and lost seven for 48 in the second, and Northern compiled 125 and six for 53.”