ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1860, 20 September 1913, Page 17

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

CITY CRICKET,

REPORT OP ASSOCIATION,

OUTLOOK THIS YEAR, Tho annual report of tho Wellington Cricket Association states that at a special meeting of delegates held _in Jmy a resolution was carried amending tho rules of tho association in the direction of removing the district qualification. for membership of clubs. "The effect of this resolution," states tho report, "is to open tho doors of the association to all cricket clubs desirous of being affiliated, irrespective of tho residence of their members, and necessarily involves the abolition of the district cricket scheme and tho revival of the elub system." The Set-baolt Last Season. The ieport goes on to state that owing to the Basin Reserve not being available for matches until December last year, and for practico'on, the prepared portion, until Fobruary, tho association was involved in a direct financial loss of about £70. Tho drawback also militated against good cricket. It was unfortunate that an interprovincial match in Wellington was not arranged for during tho year. Outlook for 1913-14. The outlook for tho coming season is satisfactory. Tho New Zealand Council has reported that arrangements have been made for tho visit of a first-class Australian eleven during February and March next year. This will moan at least one representative match in Wellington,- and possibly .a match against New Zealand. Reference is also made to the increase in tho number of honorary .members, which now stands at 16G, ' Club Premiership. Tho senior championship was won by tho Wellington North District Club, after a closo contest in tho last match with the East Club. ■ .Tho junior competition was won by St. Mark's, and tor tho third grade championship Petono and Brooklyn-were bracketed winners with 06.66 per cent, of tho possible points each, Karori being nest with 65 per cent. Season's Big Matches. Four representative matches wero played, one being for tho Plunket Shield against Auckland. It is regretted that no match took placo against Canterbury, owing to the usual Southland dates being occupied bv this South Melbourno fixtures; and it Doing found impossible to get any. dates suitable to the two associations. Tho results of tho various representative matches are as follow: —The match Wellington v. tho Now South Wales teachers resulted in a draw in favour of tho visitors. The South Melbourno Club won their match by 32 runs. The Plunket Shield match against Auckland was lost by nine wickota. Wellington v. Nomads resulted in a draw. Australian Trip. A" Now Zealand team is to tour Australia this season, and tho local association has agreed to givo a guarantee of £75 to tho Now Zealand Cricket Council towards tho expenses of tho trip. Sorvlces Rondered, Tho association rocords its appreciation of tho services of tho Umpires' Association. The roport expresses the liopo that all retiring cricketers will join the Umpires' Association, and - so further the interests of tho game by giving their services as umpires whenever possible. Negotiations have bean entered into with Canterbury for homo-and-home matchos each season, and for annual matches with Otago. In conclusion, the association desires to thank Mossrs. J. H. Williams, A. R. Holdship, and K. S. Williams, who assisted tho association in its work, and also to Mr. J. P, Firth for tho use of a wickot. on the Wellington Collego ground, during the timo tho basin was undergoing repairs..