CRICKET AFFAIRS

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1935, Page 13

CRICKET AFFAIRS

NEW PLYMOUTH OLD BOYS CLUB. NEED FOR CONSISTENT PRACTICE. The necessity for more attention to consistent practice was stressed at the annual meeting of the New Plymouth Old Boys Cricket Club last night. Mr. D. E. Doile, president, was in the chair, and more than 20 members were present. The club had had a team in each of the three grades, stated the annual report, and the senior A team, under the leadership of C. Lash, had won the North Taranaki town competition. In the playoff with Tarurutangi the team was defeated. The senior B team, playing sporting cricket, occupied a respectable position on the championship ladder,, while the junior team, captained by K. A. Hajnilton, held second place, equal with the New Plymouth team, to a very strong Waitara eleven. One of the club members, E. Christensen, apart from representing Taranaki, played in the annual town v. country match at Wellington. Christensen did exceptionally well in that game and it was hoped he would experience further success. Club members who gained representative honours were J. H. Birch and E. Christensen (Taranaki and North Taranaki), C. Lash (North Taranaki), A. Petty (senior B), Ray Sole, L. McKoy, R. Plumb and J. Scoble (junior). Mr. J. S. S. Medley’s trophy for the player scoring the highest number of runs in competition was won by L. McKoy and J. H. Birch, who each scored 558 runs, including a century. Both would be presented with a trophy. The credit balance, though not so high as in other years, was satisfactory. It was hoped to expend £l5 on new pads, however, and the surplus was only £7. The subscriptions available each yeax- totalled £29 and as the expenditure over the past yeax- was £44 the position might cause some anxiety.

“It is becoming evident that each year the attendance at practices decreases,” continued the report. “In no other sport is practice more essential than in cricket. It was very noticeable last season that the club supporters left the matches with a feeling of disappointment at the display of cricket. Members are not asked to attend practices to assist in winning matches but to raise the standard of play.” This next season, with the visit of an English team, an intended challenge for the Hawke Cup and the engagement of a coach it was essential that practice should be taken seriously. The report stated that a dance was held which, although enjoyable, was not a financial success. One of the club’s most enthusiastic members, Mr. N. Wright, had obtained a position at Wellington. Mr. W. Maclndoe had been appointed official club scorer, and he had been so enthusiastic that a complete list of averages was available. Donations had been received from Messrs. J. S. S. Medley and J. W. Palmer, Mr. Medley having also given a trophy, and the club was also indebted, concluded the report, to Messrs. V. Parkinson and A. Clarke for their energy in establishing the winter cricket school. Appreciation of the cricket school was expressed by Mr. Doile. He stressed the need for practice and commented on the fact that over a third of the club’s total income went in' capitation and affiliation fees. He thought it might be possible to have those reduced as the association and North Taranaki division had other avenues of income open that V’ere barred to clubs, for which there no revenue from gate money. Praise for the performances' of the members of the junior teain was expressed by Mr. W. J. Moorhead in seconding the motion. Mr. S. F. Fookes drew attention to the credit balance possessed by the association of nearly £4B and suggested that some means be devised of using surplus money to assist clubs.

New elected were: Messrs. W. E. Alexander,/L. W. Louisson, L. Lewis, W. Cobb, R. Clayton and V. Simpson.

The election of officers resulted: Patron, Dr. E./ F. Fookes; president, Mr. D. E. Doile: /six vice-presidents; club captain, Mr.) V. Pruden; secretary, Mr. R. Harris; treasurer, Mr. K. A. Hamilton; practice/ captain, Mr. Harris; practice vice-cslptain, ' Mr. C. Lash; honorary auditor, Mr. K. F. Fookes; delegates to North Taranaki division, Messrs. J. H. Bircp, S. F. Fookes and W. E. Alexander; delegate to Old Boys’ Association, Mr. K./A. Hamilton; executive, Messi’s. C. Stevens, C. Lash, J. H. Birch, E. Christensen, I. Wallace and C. Gilmour; club /scorer, Mr. W. Maclndoe.

Messrs. Birch and McKoy were presented with the trophies won for their total runs during the season. A presentation was also made to Mr. Maclndoe.

The delegates were instructed to ask the managernent committee, to consider ways of assisting the clubs during the season by the reduction of ground fees or capitation and affiliation fees.

It was .decided that Wednesday night should ’be winter school practice night for the Old Boys Club. ' , ' It was decided to give 10s 6d to the funds 6f the Umpires’ Association as a toark of appreciation. 1 '