CRICWT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13791, 24 October 1908, Page 5

CRICKET.

NOTES.

(By Mid-On.)

The North Taranaki championship matches commence next Thursday. Interest in the game has received a great stimulus locally since the opening of the Sports Ground as a playing field. Members of the Sports Ground Committee, who were responsible for the fine work done, must have viewed with feelings of pride the animated scene the ground presented last Thursday week, when sixty members of various clubs were engaged at net practice. When we remember that this ground has in the short space of two years been transformed from a muddy swamp into its present state, we must recognise that we owe a debt of gratitude to those few enthusiasts who took the work in hand,, and who, with very meagre funds to go upon, .have so successfully carried on the task. The N.T.C.A. is again taking over the control of the ground for the season, and next Thursday will open the season here, Carrington Road playing Inglewood on the Rec. The two senior New Plymouth teams, last season known as East and West, have decided to revert to the old names, and will accordingly be henceforth known as Rovers and Wanderers, the eastern district team becoming N.P. Wanderers arid the western N.P» Rovers.' Both teams play their opening matches away from home, Rovers" meeting Waitara and Wanderers journeying to TJrenui. " Both Ke^ ! PlyMou4h,jiirf Carrington Road Clfifes haYe r putr <rowtt practice pitches in the Sports Ground, using the Longburn soil, which has proved itself suitable for the formation of an almost ideal turf for cricket. It is early yet to for,m a, correct judgment of the relative strength of the town team, but good form has been shown at the nets, and it is safe to say that cricket is likely to prove of a higher standard than usual. The, New Plymouth Club is putting four teams in the field— two senior and one junior Thursday teams and a Saturday team. Several of last year's players have left the district. The Weat End has lost Fewster, Archer, Muldoon, and Gpss. . The two latter are available for the East End this season. Archer is playing for Auckland City Club, and Fewster is in the Hawke's Bay district. E. O. Lightband, for many years a member of the club, and last year's captain of the East End team, has started in business at Ohakune. He received a farewell present from his clubmates. and has been made a life member of the club.

Carrington Road lose the services of Fred Robertson, who will not only be a great loss to the club but to Taranaki. Most of their old members are available again this year, and they have one or two promising recruits. They will no doubt make things interesting for any club that meets them. They were last year's runners-up for the cup, and will make a bold bid for premier honours this season. The country teams are all going strong this year. So we may confidently expect a ding-dong fight for the coVeted trophy, and may the best team win ! It is encouraging to find the Saturday competitions revived this year. A rule prohibiting Thursday players Joining a Saturday club had the. effect of killing the competition two years back. Last Thursday the N.T.C.A. rescinded the objectionable rule, and Saturday cricket bids fair to go ahead with a new lease of life. The Government officers have combined and formed — the United Service Club, with two teams in the field. The N.P.C.C. has one team entered. The High School are playing on Saturdays this year. Altogether six teams will compete. Only one grade will be played, but' l hope that next year it will be possible to have senior and junior competitions. Representative. matches are .being arranged with' "Otago,. Canterbury, Hawke's Bay, and Wanganui. We may hope to see some good cricket here this season.

The meeting to be held on Tuesday evening to consider the question- of raising subscriptions to defray the expenses of a ground-man for the coming season will be held at Messrs Webster and McKellar's offices, and not at the New Plymouth Club rooms, as previously notified. This matter interests all cricketers, and a full attendance is requested.

The nervous strain of household care wears out even the strongest women. Take Steams' Wine, the peerless tonic, which builds up the body and makes the weak strong. Pleasant to the taste. 3