WANGANUI CRICKET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 249, 20 October 1937, Page 4

WANGANUI CRICKET

SEASON OPENING SOON HOPES ARE HIGH (By “Umpire.”) Cooks Gardens are beginning to look in great nick, and with a couple of days rain the wickets should be in first class order. Groundsman Tom Baughan is working hard, getting the ground prepared (top dressed, rolled and cut) and promises good wickets for opening day, October 30. Here’s hoping! On Labour Day, October 25, there are three games to be played on Victoria Park:—Seniors v. Juniors, Juniors v. Boys’ Association and Technical Old Boys v. Hawera. So a good day’s cricket may be seen and enjoyed by taking a walk up to the park. Many Wanganui-ites may be surprised at the appearance and the turf on Victoria Park—a large and pleasant green field, surrounded by huge trees that protect the playing area from the wind—truly an ideal cricket ground and one that Wanganui should be proud of. With Cook’s Gardens and the College grounds Wanganui cricketers have grounds that many other centres would be pleasd to play on.

We know we have the grounds, we are promised sparkling cricket according to all reports. All that is wanted in Wanganui is more public support. The players try hard to help the sport along, the City Council does its best to assist the cricket association. Why not the public help themselves by attending the matches and giving the players and the council some encouragement and help to put Wanganui cricket in a position that befits the sth. city in New Zealand?

Marist Club. The Marist Club this year has once again a very strong membership and will be entering three teams in the competitions, and all three will be fairly strong. Notable absentees among the green seniors will be Jim Oliver, who has joined the ranks of j United; B. Farrel, shifted to Palmerston, and Meaty. Gilbert, who is out of the game for this season owing to ill health. Their places will be taken I by Workman, Crombie and Madden, | promoted from the juniors, who i should make their presence felt in the ■ senior grade. The club also an-1 nounces that it will field the veteran ; of many sports and previous Wanga- j nui rep. player, Mick Darby, who is I hoping to regain some of his old form and he starts solid practice. Cuming, | Anderson, Neale, Dow, Hastings, i Koorey and Hodson are all starters ■ again this season, and with the ( younger players, should once again be a side that is keen in the field, strong in bowling and fairly solid at batting. The junior sides should be strong combinations. The “A” will be strengthened by the inclusion of Croll (slow bowler) and Rose, a Rangitikei player, solid bat and bowler. With veteran Jim Cameron, Puddle, Cronin, Greener, Stewart and Corrigan, the batting should be solid. The junior “B,” with F. White, C. Tuflin, Saunders and Rhodes i.s the older players like O’Grady, Dow, Ahern and McMahon, the side, although young, will be well balanced. All are looking for,va#' to a good season.

Technical Old Boys. This club will be fielding a senior team similar to last year with the exception of C. Fraser, who is playing for the Wanganui Club. The junior' team will be much stronger than pre-1 vious seasons. Barton, Revell, Davidson, Connor, Dark, Spooner, Gilmour, Jones and Hinton will all be turning out for the senior team. Several members will be in the ruhning for a game senior, namely Bergerson, Kidd and L. Thompson. The juniors are a keen team and will field a strong side, including last year’s members; Barnett E.» Guy, Seddon, Welton, Porteous, New members are Gannon, Guthrie, Williams, Flynn, Davis and Cargill. The senior team plays Technical College on Technical ground on Saturday, October 23, and Hawera Old Boys on Victoria Park on Labour Day. Both these games will be good practice for the club, especially the game on Monday, as the visiting side includes several Taranaki reps. The club has been practising for three weeks so many of the members should be ready to start on the right foot. United. The United Cricket Club this season should be fully up to the standard of former years. The players at present “signed on” by the club are: Sewell, L. Wood, Gee, Cottier, MacDougall, Currie, Jacobs, Howden, Dix, Aves, F. Wood, Kauter, Hook, Rich, Oliver and Bullock-Douglas. From this list it will be seen that the club has many of its old players, also one or two from other Wanganui clubs.

The club has been fortunate in securing the services of Glen Hook, from Auckland, and Kauter, a Hawke’s Bay representative. Th club’s loss of players has been small, but rather severe. Petersen, and our wicket-keeper Len Wilson, have both left the district, the latter for Christchurch. Chess Holland, the club’s stalwart for ages past, has retired from the game. His loss will be keenly felt. MacDougall, Oliver, Sewell and Wood appear at present to be the main bowlers for the side, while Sewell, Wood, Gee, Cottier and | Jacobs represent its batting strength. | A successful season is looked forward |to by all the players and hopes are i entertained of capturing the senior championship. * * * * I Wanganui. ! Despite the cloud of pessimism I which surrounded the prospects of I the Wanganui Club at the annual i meeting of the association, it now appears certain that a team will be I fielded under its banner. Only three | stalwarts were left when the first ; stocktaking for the approaching sea--1 son was made—L. R. Spurdie, C. • Byers and C. Stewart. Since then, I however, it has been found that Jim Broad, J. D. Tizard and F. E. Smith are likely starters and by the time the few enthusiasts who are working in the interests of the club have lini ished their activity a team will be I fielded. F. Warnes (gone to golf they Isay), G. A. Bullock-Douglas (joined (United), G. Thrush (not available until after Christmas), M. Gordon : (not playing this year) and W. KilI Patrick and E. H. Thomas (retired) iwill be missed from the wickets this ■ year. The actions of those who are : endeavouring to keep the flag flying jare deserving of full encouragement.