CRICKET

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 77, Issue 6568, 20 September 1948, Page 4

CRICKET

WAIPA ASSOCIATION ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING The third annual general meeting of the Waipa Cricket Association was held on Wednesday evening. An enthusiastic meeting of players, supporters and delegates representing eight clubs, was presided over by L. W. Arnold. The election of officers for the coming season resulted as follows: Patron, Mr R. H. Westbrook; president, Mr L. W. Arnold; vicepresident, Messrs R. C. Schofield, H. Rochfort, L. Spiers, J. Tarr, C. Tarr, A. Goodwin, A. B. Oorbett, J. W. Edwards and Dr J. D. Hunter; secretary, Mr J. White; treasurer, Mr D. G. Barton; auditor, Mr B. Malone; selectors, Messrs L. W. Arnold, G. Bainbridge and A. G. Baigent; emergency committee, president, secretary and treasurer ex-officio; delegate to Waikato Management Committee, Mr T. Lyon; Management Committee, president, secretary and treasurer exofficio, Messrs W. Haycock (Frontier Road), J. Tarr (Kaipaki), G. Bainbridge (Paterangi), C. Whittle (Kihikihi), A. E. Wishart (Te Awamutu College), D. Ramsbottom (Te Awamutu Wanderers), E. Campbell (Korakonui), B. Ratcliffe (Tokanui), and J. White. (Te Awamutu Rovers); grounds committee, Messrs L. W. Arnold, G. Bainbridge, N. McMahon, M. Barnett, B. Ratcliffe, and the secretary. The financial statement revealed that the association has improved its position on last season, the credit balance being £l4 15s 9d compared with 2s 3d for the previous season. Prominent items on the receipts side are affiliation fees £lB 18s and ground fees £42 6s 9d. Rent and maintenance of Albert Park £27 3s, tea £l3 ss, and balls, stationery, etc., £l6 19s 9d, dominate the expenditure.

The president (Mr L. W. Arnold) gave an outline of improvements to Albert Park as a playing area for cricket. The Borough Council have given sympathetic consideration to a plan put forward by the cricket association for the laying of three turf wickets at the park. The plan, which was accepted by the Borough Council, is as follows: “That the cricket association raise funds for the laying of three turf (possibly Port Albert soil) wickets, laying water to each wicket and the purchase of one heavy roller. When the association has completed this, the Borough Council then take over to have the wickets watered and rolled in preparation for each week’s play.” The mowing of the grass in the outfields will be proceeded with from the beginning of October. The purchase of a new mower should improve conditions, especially in the early part of the season. The offer of the cricket association to pay £l5 to the Borough Council for the use of Albert Park for the season was accepted. This price is inclusive of rent and mowing. The president voiced his appreciation of the sympathetic hearing given him by the Borough Council when he awaited < them on behalf of the association on the evening of August 16th. The method of running this season’s competitions was given full consideration. Nine teams have so far been nominated (nominations do not close until early in October). These are in order of each team’s place in last season’s competition, which was run in one division with only one round:— Te Awamutu Wanderers 41, Frontier Road 34, Te Awamutu Rovers 34, Paterangi 31, Kaipaki 23, Te Awamutu College 13, Tokanui 10, Korakonui 6, and Kihikihi. This will be Kihikihi’s first venture in the competition. All clubs were well represented with the result that a thorough investigation resulted. It was resolved to divide the teams into two sections, the winning team of each section will meet in the championship final. The five top teams last season will comprise the A Section. The draw will be announced when the Management iCommittee meets early in October. The duration of matches will be slightly altered to fit in with the number of Saturdays available.. A Section will play one round of two-day matches and the second round matches will be of one day’s duration. The B Section will play two-day matches in round 1 and 2 and round 3 will be of I one day’s duration. The rules governing one-day matches are hours 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The batting time is to be equally divided between each team. The championship will take 15 Saturdays to complete with two Saturdays allowed for the final. The season will begin cn October 16 and finish on March 26. The draw is to be advertised m the Wednesday Courier prior to the commencement of each series of matches.

The retiring selector (Mr N. A. McMahon) was thanked for his services during the past season. The representative eleven of which he was also captain, won the Waikato Shield. This was Waipa’s tenth success in 24 years.

A motion of • appreciation was passed to the president (Mr L. W. Arnold) for his efforts and the able way that he has handled the. association’s affairs.