PLANNING CRICKET SEASON

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1930, Page 5

PLANNING CRICKET SEASON

SIX SENIOR TEAMS 'POSSIBLE NORTH TARANAKI PROPOSALS The proposal for a Country Association team to play in the New Plymouth senior competition was discussed at a meeting of the North Taranaki Cricket Division last night. Mr. C. Foreman represented the'Country Association. There were also present Messrs C. G. Bottrill (chairman), T. H. Bates, A. Jackson, 0. Nasmith, 8. O. Bollon and J. Brodie (honorary secretary). A definite • plan was drawn up that six teams should play in the senior competition, including New Plymouth, Western Park’, Old Boys, School A, School B (strengthened by masters), and Country. The plan will have to be approved by the .annual meetings of th© Country Association and the North Taranaki Division before it is adopted. /' In introducing the matter Mr. Foreman said the Country Association would be able to play. one team in th© town senior competition, but not more than one. Probably Tarurutangi could provide three men and Tikorangi four or five, which would not make it very hard for the other clubs to find the rest. If they were short of a man they might get somebody playing Thursday cricket who could play in the Saturday games as well.

‘‘My idea,” said Mr. Bottrill, “is to cut the town teams down to four, plus a Country team and another team te be raised. With the Country team coming in under the present arrangement there would be New Plymouth, Western Park, School, Old' Boys and the Country team, making five teams altogether, which would be unavoidable. Every Christmas vacation there have been difficulties through the withdrawal of the School team. It is possible, however, for us to enter two School teams. Three or four members of the staff would be willing to play in the second team. In that case both School teams could. drop out during the Christmas vacation.”

There would then be two senior matches being played throughout the season, he said. An arrangement could be made so that no points scored by either of the School teams would count for the competitions. It meant, of couree, that there would be no School team in the senior B competition. The plan liad also the advantage that the lower ground in the School gully was in use. A pavilion was erected there and a Longburn wicket was being laid down. In consequence two matches could be played at th© School grounds each Saturday, leaving Pukekura Park free for the other match.

For the Country men, said Mr. Bottrill, the scheme meant play on turf wickets and good outfields and under the eye of the selectors. The School B team would be helped by three or four masters, old hands at the game, but it would still probably be the weakest team in the competition, though strong enough to play a reasonable game. At times it would mean some sacrifice to get the Country team away, said Mr. Foreman, especially at harvest time. Still, he thought the country members would put up with some inconvenience to carry it through. It would bring about co-operation and fellowship between town and country players. Mr. Bottrill pointed out that. there would be no objection to the personnel of the Country team varying from time to time, as long as th© team was the same on the two days of each match.

At the invitation of Mr. Foreman Messrs Bottrill and Bates were appointed delegates to attend the annual meeting of the Country Association.