Memorial Cup For Cricket Competition

Chronicle (Levin), 23 September 1949, Page 4

Memorial Cup For Cricket Competition

To ' pgrpetuate fcrie pi#lriPFy of Mr. Douglas g: Mereer, a well- * kqowri district cnckecer in prewar years, a haridsjme silver cup was Offered to trie Horowhenua Crjgkefc* Association at its annuai. uaeetjng in Levin on Tuesday nighc. The tropny, which was donated by Mr. G. Hampsqn, an uncie of the late . Mr. Mercer, was grafefuLy accepted. The meeting decide'd that it be a challepge cup for senior competriion to be defehded by the ho.ders each xime they are.piayed on their home ground. The-HorO"

whenua College team were dec.ared fo be the first holders, In presenting the trophy on behaif of thp donor, . Mr. T. Roach (Snannqn) tpld the meeting that che cup had originally been given to Mr, Mercer to mark his e^traordinary 1 feat in capturing six wickets in a six-ball oyer piaying for Shannon against a Hawke Cup representaave team. Mr. Mer*cer had paifi the supreme sacrifice in the war and his uncle now wished the association to have the cup for any purpose which it thought would foster interest in senior cricket. The association would accept the trophy with pleasure, said the president, Mr. G. C.. France. Those who had knpwn the late Mr. Mercer and remembered his bowlihg would attach special slgnificance to the cup. The association was grateful to his reiatives for allowmg the trophy to remain with " the association. Mr. S. NeWth (Foxton) recalled ihe long hours of pi'actice which the late Mr. Mercer had indu ged in as a boy in an endeavour to gain skill as a bowler. He added that it would he a great pleasure to see the cup being competed for.

The cup wlil be known as the Doug Mercer Memorial Chai.enge Cup. ■