NORTH DIVISION CRICKET

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1934, Page 3

NORTH DIVISION CRICKET

REVIEW OF THE PAST SEASON SUGGESTED RULE AMENDMENTS, LIMIT TO MATCHES; REGRADING. The financial position of the Northeim Division of the Taranaki Cricket Association show-ed a further improvement last season, according to the annual report released for publication at a meeting of the management committee at New Plymouth last night. The actual profit on the year’s working was £37, while the assets now exceeded liabilities by £5B; £4O of this excess was represented by plant and £l6 by liquid assets. Having wiped off all the old debts the division could by continued careful management look forward with equanimity to the future. In reviewing the past season it could be fairly said that the cricket played was both enterprising and interesting. The senior competition games opened on October 14 and the junior grades a week later. The Weather was kind throughout the season, very few playing days being lost on account of rain. The senior competition was won by Western Park, which also defeated the country club champions (Tarurutangi), but was defeated by Hawera Old Boys for the provincial championship. In the game against Tarurutangi the Park team won in an exciting finish against time. Park made 81 in their first knock. Tarurutangi replying made 13 (Parkinson seven wickets for eight runs). Western Park’s second innings produced 113. Tarurutangi put on 162 in its last innings, the last wicket falling three minutes from stumps, enabling Park to win by 19 runs. In the match against Hawera Old Boys, the Park team was defeated by 124 runs. An outstanding bowling performance in the senior competition was Christensen’s 10 wickets for 21 runs in the Old BoysNew Plymouth match. In batting A. O. Biggar made 141 not out, and G. Stapleton made 110 not out. SENIOR B COMPETITION. Six teams took part in the senior B competition and some interesting games took place. The New Plymouth Club proved the winner, Old Boys being the runner-up. Playing for New Plymouth K. O’Donnell’s average was 59 when he was transferred to the senior grade. N. Kinsella topped the bowling averages with 5.02. For Western Park B S. O. Jones made 102 not out.

The junior competition comprised six teams. Waitara was the winner, with New Plymouth in second place. N. Bowen (New Plymouth Club) put up a very good all-round performance, his batting average being 42.02, including one innings of 108 not out, and one of 104, while his bowling average was 6.50. A special meeting of the management committee was held in April, when the president (Mr. J. Brown) presented the trophies as under:—Senior, Robertson Cup, Western Park (V. Parkinson); senior B, Pruden Cup, New Plymouth (P. Sheppard); junior, Whittle Cup, Waitara (H. Soffe); Country v. Town,,Mason Cup, Town (J. Brown). The North v. South match for the Graham Cup was contested at Hawera in November. The game ended in a draw, North retaining the cup. The honours of the draw were, however, with South, which was undoubtedly the better’ side on the day’s play. A feature of the game was a century partnership for the South by the Barker brothers. The weather was showery. The Town and Country game was played on March 1 and resulted in a win for Town, which was thus the first holder of the Mason Cup, presented by Mr. E. L. Mason for annual competition between Town and Country. North Taranaki played Victoria College, the game ending in a draw, the scores being: North, first innings 284, second innings 177 for seven wickets; Varsity, 299 and 101 for six wickets. Wilson (Varsity) scored 124, while N. Giddy' (80) and J. Birch were top scorers for North Taranaki. HAWKE CUP SUCCESS. Cricket in Taranaki was given a big stimulus through the provincial team’s success in wresting the Hawke Cup from Nelson at the commencement of the season and retaining it throughout the season against the challenges of Poverty Bay, Rangitikei and Southern Hawke’s Bay. The revival of the North Taranaki Umpires’ Association was welcomed by the association and all cricketers. Its resuscitation materially helped in the conduct of the competitions. Thanks were freely given to the umpires who discharged their duties so well. During the season the Umpires’ Association appointed members to all games on each Saturday. The membership (20) was hardly sufficient to meet needs, the junior teams having from time to time to supply their own umpires. The association was hoping for increased membership this year. All the playing areas were in very good order last season. With the new tractor and mower in use Sanders’ Park was a big improvement on the previous year. Seats had been erected by the sportsground committee adjacent to the four pitches and were much appreciated by players arid onlookers. The fences and turnstyles were also improved, while the trees on the western side were growing well and would afford much better shelter from the wind. Only one wicket v/as played on at Western Park. Thanks were due to Mr. Harry Sole for the care he exercised and the success he achieved on Sanders’ Park, and on Western Park, to Mr. Horton, Pukekura Park, for his kindnesses, and to Mr. G. Findlay for his painstaking care in preparing the wickets on the sportsground. Messrs H. J. Larkin and P. S. Carroll, selectors, had carried out their duties conscientiously and well. The report concluded with the usual acknowledgments, including Mr. W. Beard for the use of his premises for committee meetings. The committee decided to submit to the annual meeting, which will be held on September 20, a notice of motion suggesting the substitution of rule 24 by a rule to the following effect: For first grade matches two Saturdays only shall be allotted and for junior grades one Saturday only, play in all such matches to be limited to the days allotted, even though from any cause whatever no play takes place on any such days. All grade matches shall if not completed within the time, be decided on the first innings, but no win shall be recorded unless each side shall have completed an innings, or the side not having completed an innings shall have exceeded the score of the other side; provided always that the management committee shall have power to vary the number of days to be allotted to matches should it deem it necessary to suit the circumstances, and that the committee may order deciding matches to be played ..out. The championship points shall count as follows: Outright win, 6; win on first innings, 4; loss on first innings, 1; outright loss, 0; tie on either innings, 3; draw, where no result on first innings, 2; win by‘default to be counted an outright win, and a loss by default as an outright loss. The substitution of the following was suggested for rule 29: No player having played two games in succession or three games at intervals in one grade shall be allowed to play in a lower grade unless with the consent of the management committee. (Note: Regrading will be en-

tertained only where a refusal would involve an obvious injustice to the players and/or the clubs concerned.) A further notice of motion was to the effect that one representative of the Umpires’ Association should sit on the association.

It was decided to recommend the incoming committee that.ground fees be reduced to 10s a team.

Appreciation of the work of Mr. H.- G. Sole as groundsman at Sanders Park and Western Park last season was expressed. He was voted an honorarium. Those present at the meeting were Messrs. S. O. Jones (chairman), H. J., Larkin, R. Short. H. W. Brown, P. S. Carroll. W., Beard, R. Sarten, H. Soffe and H. J. Abram (honorary secretary).