HAS MANAWATU FORFEITED HAWKE CUP?

Chronicle (Levin), 10 April 1947, Page 6

HAS MANAWATU FORFEITED HAWKE CUP?

-Prp.xs A ssnr.iatinn

Tin TpJpnrn/nh _

! ' NEW PLYMOUTH, April 9. The opinion that the Manawatu cricket team which walked olf the field in the liawke Cup niatch with Hawke 's Bay at Napier had forfeited the tropliy by its action was exprossed by tlic president of the newly formed New -Zealand Umpires' Associatxon, Mr. George Glenday, Hawera. In his opinion the Manawatu eleven by its action in leavhig the field showed unwillingncss to continue the match, and the umpire would have no option but to award the gaine ;to Hawke 's' Bay. : « _ j ; Mr.j Glenday ippmtbd- outvtli;^ , iu tehq; 1 AI,C.O; ruiejtjfjf crick(|t| Nio>; 1(3 ; mad e t-lip umpires the sole judges of fair aiid iiii fair play, and rule 45 gave incomiug batsmen two minutes in which to reach the crease. If a batsman did not arrive at the crease in tliat time the umpire was empowered to ' ' cail ' ' play and award the game 'to the ficlding side.

| Asked whether the Hawke 's Bay cap tain took the corrcct course in declining to accept the suggestion by the Mana watu captain that oue of the umpires sliould be replaced, Mr. Glenday said he was not prepared to answer that question without further investigation. Umpires for Hawke Cup fixtures, he said, were appointed by the home association aftcr submitting names to the visiting association. Et was a possible explanation of the Napier incident, Mr. Glenday sugges tcd, that the interpretation of ccrtaiu rules varied froin p}ace to place. Iu his opinion there was a necd to stan dardise ititerpretations, and at presoni the organisation respousible for that was the New Zealand Cricket Councii, which was the ruling body for the sport. His own association was not yet in u positiou to uudertake sueh a responsibility.