NEW OVAL WICKET

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20002, 29 July 1939, Page 4

NEW OVAL WICKET

ALTERED LAY-OUT HAWKE CUP CHALLENGE NEW YEAR FIXTURE SOUTH AUCKLAND CAME For the 1939-40 cricket season the Poverty Bay Cricket Association lias arranged to have an additional wicket, on the Oval and, to provide for this, the present lay-out of the existing wickets will be slightly altered. A decision to this effect was reached at a meeting of the management committee of the association, at which Mr. J. do V. W. Blathwayt presided over the following: Messrs G. A. Revel 1, R. A. Cook, P. 11. Dow, W. J. Wilkie, J. Crawford-Smith, and D. A, Wells, lion, secretary. To provide for the extra wicket the existing No. 4 club wicket is to be eliminated and two new wickets laid down, this making a total of live club and one representative wickets on the Oval. Plans of the new ground layout were submitted by Messrs Revel! and Cook and the secretary was instructed to ascertain the cost of the necessary foundation and soil and make a report on the subject to a further meeting of the association. Subject to the approval of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union, the work will be commenced a.s soon as the football season ends and .it is hoped to have the new wicket ready for plav towards the end of the season. Until then, the No. 4 wicket will continue in use. * Hawke Cup Dates. The New Zealand Cricket Council advised that the association’s application for the New Year Hawke Cup dates had gone before the Hawke Cup sub-committee for consideration. Endeavours were being made to obtain the New Year dates as the provincial tournament is to be held in Hamilton this year, and should South Auckland still be the holders of the Hawke Cup at that time it would ensure that Poverty Bay would be able to .have its best team out for the Cup challenge match.

Mr. Charles Whitelev tendered his resignation as groundsman at the Oval and the appointment of his successor was deferred in the meantime. The association decided to offer for sale sections near the Oval, one in Stanley road and seven others in Anzac street.