VISIT BY WELLINGTON?

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1935, Page 4

VISIT BY WELLINGTON?

HOPE OF CRICKET MATCH TARANAKI NEGOTIATIONS BEGUN. PLUNKET SHIELD TEAM ON TOUR. CALL ON WAY FROM AUCKLAND. If all goes well, the Wellington Plunket Shield cricket team will play the Taranaki eleven at New Plymouth on January 24 and 25. Negotiations are at present being carried out by the TaranakP* Cricket Association for the > arrangement of the match. The loss of the Hawke Cup to Manawatu a fortnight ago left Taranaki with a season empty of further representative matches, the arrangement of which has been made difficult by the fact that the. other minor associations, upon which Taranaki relies for matches, will all probably be concentrating on Hawke. Cup 7 challenges. The Taranaki association, in view of the certain amount of dissatisfaction existing regarding Wellington’s alleged non-recognition of the capabilities of minor association players under its jurisdiction, has been casting round for an opportunity to play the Plunket Shield team. That opportunity has now presented itself. Wellington has to visit Auckland next week for a Plunket Shield match, and it was thought that Wellington might be induced to play Taranaki bn the way home. Accordingly a telegram has been sent to the Wellington association asking if the team will play at Pukekura Park on Thursday and Friday, January 24 and 25. It is expected that , the only difficulties in the way will be the extra leave required by Wellington players and the guaranteeing of the extra expense, the amount of which has been inquired by Taranaki. The Taranaki association has been actuated by a desire to show that the form displayed by Taranaki in the Hawke Cup match was not in keeping with the true capabilities of the team and also to show that it is alive to the necessity of providing interesting fare both for players and. the public. Wellington selectors, if the match eventuates, will also be given tin opportunity of comparing the standard of present members of the shield team with that of Taranaki players in the running for selection.