SPORTS IN THE OHURA

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1932, Page 13

SPORTS IN THE OHURA

VIRILITY OF COMMUNITY

TENNIS, GOLF AND CRICKET.

DISTRICT WELL PROVIDED FOR.

(By

T.B.R.J.)

Cricket has been played, in the Ohura for the last ten years or more. About 1925 a handsome shield was donated by Mr. Abbot, storekeeper, of Matiere, and was competed, for by the Okahukura, Matiere and. Ohura teams. It was first won by Okahukura, then by Ohura and then by Matiere. The competition then ceased, and the shield is still held, by Matiere. ■ Among the players of these times (round, about 1926-27) were: J. Hollis, captain of Matiere team. A first-class cricketer. Good, medium paced break bowler and. good batsman. R. Alanson. Played for Matiere. Good batsman and medium paced, bowler. Played for Kaiteiki representative team before coming to the Ohura and secured the highest batting average. Still plays for Matiere. . , A. L. Ross. Played for Mauiere. Good batsman. Still keen on cricket and likes to watch his two sons playing for Hori Jones. Played for Ohura. Still going strong for that club. Good bow - er, fairly fast. , Jimmy Jones. Played, for Ohura and also still going strong. Good bowler and good bat. . W. K. Williams. One of the old pioneers of the district. Played for Ohura, and. good with both bat and. ball. • P. Goldfinch. Played for Ohura. Fast bowler. L. S. Fauchelle. Another of the ola pioneers of the district. Played, for Matiere. Good, batsman,and. round, arm bowler. -Still playing for Matiere. is president,, of the Matiere Club. There are at present three cricket teams in the Ohura district, Matiere, Ohura and Heao. Heao is only a recently formed team, but both Matiere and- Ohura have each fileded teams for many years past. Besides inter-clu matches between these three clubs, the teams travel as far afield, as Inglewood, 'Pio Pio, Taumarunui, Ongarue, Tangarakau, Owhanga and. Mananui for mtches, thus showing the keenness of the players. Cricket starts in October and continues until March, so the season is a big one. Present day prominent members of the two clubs include H. Wiggins (M) captain, J. Cox (O) captain and secretary of the club, A. McClure (O) fast bowler, L. Fauchelle (M) president of club and for many years a prominent player, Ward. (O) one of the best bats of the district, A. and J. Ross (M) both good batsmen, K. Julian (M) club secretary, E. Fauchelle (bowler and fair bat), Jones family ( ) there prominent players of the Ohura club, R. Alanson (M) one of the most active supporters of the club, W. McClure (O) good, bat, W- Ritchie (M) good, with both bat and ball.

LAWN TENNIS POPULAR.

Tennis has a firm hold as a summer n-ama in the Ohura district. The Ohura club has three asphalt courts, Ohura Public Works three pumice courts, Heao two clay courts, Niho Niho two asphalt courts and Matiere two asphalt courts, so players of the district are well provided with playing areas. With the exception of Ohura and Public Works courts, the remainder have been formed : only within the last three or four years, so most of the clubs are very young. However each season sees a busy time with inter-club matches, and many interesting and close contests result. The Ohura club is by far the biggest club of the district, and the longest established. Three very pretty courts have been well laid out in the Ohura township, and are always the scene of much activity among young and old after working hours. The finest players of the Ohura district belong to this club, best of all being Mr. C. Nicholls, champion of the club for many seasons. Other prominent men players of this club both past and present are Messrs. W. Wagstaff, McCracken, McLoughlin, Williams and many others. Among the ladies Mrs. Williams is the present champion. The Heao club is a club at the Public Works camp and is much appreciated by the residents of the camp. Best of the men players is Mr. (Lofty) Quintal, closely followed by Maurie Phillips. Miss Oysten has been lady champion. The Niho Niho club has just finished putting down two new asphalt courts, so will be well provided for the future. Prominent in the past in disputing club ch&miponship honours have been Messrs. F. Julian and S. Morgan, while among the ladies Mrs. T. Bell is probably the best. . Th© Ohura. Public Works- club is a large and enthusiastic club, with three pumice courts just behind the Ohura station. Mr. and Mrs. R. Sinclair, Miss McHarrie, Messrs. Harrison, Snow and Graves are prominent members of the club. Matiere possesses two asphalt courts. The most prominent lady member is Miss I. Kelly, closely followed by Miss M. Alanson. Messrs. Wiggins, Watson, J. Turner, D. Morgan and A. Turner are all keen enthusiasts of the club. Mr. S. Thomas was for two seasons club champion. Matches played between the various clubs have been only friendly matches, but last season an unsuccessful effort was made to start a proper inter-elub competition. This will probably eventuate in the near future. TWO GOLF LINKS. There are two golf links in the Ohura district both of nine holes, one being at Matiere and one at Oliura. Many interesting matches have been played between the two clubs. Respective champions for the 1932 golf season are Galloway (Ohura club) and H. Wiggins (Matiere club). In both centres golf is firmly established, and each club has a large membership. Mr. H. Wiggins, of Matiere, with a handicap of three, is undoubtedly the best player seen in the Ohura since golf began there. That all round sportsman C. Nicholls, mentioned prominently in football and tennis notes, was for many years club champion of the Ohura Golf Club. Prior to Mr. Wiggins’ arrival in Matiere Mr. J. Ross was for some seasons club champion.