Early Cricket Incidents Recalled

Chronicle (Levin), 8 October 1949, Page 2

Early Cricket Incidents Recalled

With the 70-year jiibilee .of the: Otaki Cricket Club 'drawingv near; — it is set down , for Saturday, October 15 — Cricketers. 'aind their; supporters are literally "wrapped' up in their subject"* aird alr.eady" tales of the "good old days" are fiowmg freely. Many former club members have advised the jtibilee secretary, Mr. H. F. Rice, of their intention of attending the various funcoions, and indications are that the reunion will be highly successful. - - Mr. W. T. Dodds, who played flrst in- 1880, offers the fohowing interesting reminiscences of Otaki's very early cricket matches: The practice ground was where the business area in Main Street now stands. At the time there was only one shop in the viciniuy, although there were others some distance away, one in Rangiuru Road and one in Te Rauparaha Street. The one shop nearby often suffered a broken window while praictices were being " indulged in. Outstanding feats that Mr. Dodds well remembers are the performance of one Thompson, who, when oatting pn the College grounds one day, sent a ball sailing away to nnish up through the window of Main Street's.soie hotel, the Telegraph. Regretfuhy, Mr. Dodds adds that "he only got four for it." Jeppo Cootes, a huge man, was the "demon bowler" of the day, and bowling "a full piteh often oaffled his opponents, who were never very sure when facing him, A scar on his cheek just below the right eye is a "souvenir" of a game in 1887 carrie'd fby Mr. Dodds to this day. While engaged m conversaoion nearby, he "stopped a beauty." A doctor in attendance commanded him to open his mouth. This Mr. Dodds did quite successfully, thereby convincing the doctor that "no bones were broken." The next order by the doctor was for a. messenger to hasten to the only butcher's shop .he village boasted for a "lump of steak." ' Mr. Dodds further explained that although he figured in a "married" team in 1880, it was because -of the shortage of married prayers, and he was "very much iingle" 69 years ago. He concluded nis reminiscences by expressing che wish that one if not both of his remaining two clubmates of the 1880's, Messrs H. Whitehorn and A. Anderson, both well re.pejnbered locally by virtue ^of .heir long residence here in bygone days, eould be present at the coming jubilee celebrations. When asked j.ocularly if he would be taking part in the match to be played, Old Timers v. Present Day Players, Mr. Dodds replied tnat if asked he would ■'carry the bat" out, but on second Ghoughts he felt that it was more uhan likely that the "bat would years. '