MERCANTILE LEAGUE'S BRIGHT OUTLOOK

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 90, 13 October 1934, Page 22

MERCANTILE LEAGUE'S BRIGHT OUTLOOK

The popularity.of Mercantile League cricket has been made very evident by the .number of new teams coming forward for this season's play. In two seasons the number of teams has increased from 36 to 67, of which 19 are new this season. With this advance an improvement in the standard of cricket has also been observed. . Many really good criketers are becoming attracted to the one-day matches.- The nature of their employment occasionally necessitates players turning out with new clubs, -but for the most part some of the older clubs have moulded themselves into particularly solid teams/

Of the new clubs, Overseas Shipping, Prestiges, and Woolworths all have players of repute, while . numerous W.C.A. players have joined up with either their own house teams or other clubs. Some from W.C.A. ranks are:— B. Osborn and Williams, from University; Devonport, from Midland; Banks, Oldridge, Aitken,, Calvert, Myers, and T. Tucker, from Institute; W. Reynolds, from Old Boys; Somes and Billings, from Kaiwarra; and the two Lustys from Hutt. There is also Gregory from Wanganui. League players to make transfers are Melville (from Nivens to Jasco), Swain (from Milk Department to B. and G.), Wynne (from Health Department to Customs), J. Brooks (from Celtic to Cowans), and Stephenson (from Health Department to Education). Cowans and Gas Co., who finished first and last respectively in last year's A grade, have both undergone severe changes, the former losing Ogilvie, Hassell, Watson, and Huston, while Gas Co. have lost Cameron, Hutchinson, and Waugh. Cowans, however, have been fortunate in gaining the services of three good men in Brooks, Devonport, and Mills, but Gas Co. have only Meade left of their original mainstays.

Other clubs to lose leading performers are:—Whitcombes, who have lost o'Sullivan; Atlantic Union, who have lost Baker; and Celtic, who have lost Mincham. Baker and Mincham are both out of town, and it appears unlikely at this stage that they will be returning in time for the opening

games. The preparation of the four main wickets at Athletic Park is well under way, ami given normal weather these should be available next Saturday, when the league competitions are to begin. Mr. k G. B. Mann having vacated the secretarial position which he has filled with credit to himself and the league, Mr. W. J. Perkins is now the secre-

tary of the league. All correspondence with the league should be addresed to the new secretary, care of P.O. Box 1381. ' ■