SPORT ON THE PLAINS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4769, 29 October 1924, Page 1

SPORT ON THE PLAINS.

TENNIS ANO CRICKET. OPENING OF SEASON. The season of summer sports opened on the Plains during last week-end, despite the unsummer-like weather. On Saturday the oHpfti tennis courts were opened in the presence of a representative gathering of Plains tennis enthusiasts, and cricket practices were held at Waitakaruru, Pipiroa, and Kopuarahi. Tennis players were also to be seen playing or preparing the courts at various centres. On Sunday and on Labour Day a cricket match was to have been played at Kopuarahi between teams representing' Kopuarahi and Thames, but unfortunately the ground proved too wet and practice matches were held. OPENING OF TURUA COURTS. Abount 120 tennis players and their friends were present at the opening of the Turua Tennis Club’s new courts on Monday. Not only were practically all the Plains clubs iepresented, but there were also present many players from Thames and Hikutaia. Since last season the Turujt cluo has disposed o£ its old courts and acquired two sections of land hand to the township, but where there is more room for expansion. With commendable enterprise and thought for the future three concrete courts have been laid down. Some work remains to be done in the way of completing the pavilion, planting shelter trees, and improving the turf and the area at the ends of the courts. When this is completed the club will have a playing area which any club would be proud to own. The courts were formally opened by the president, Mr A. H. Rogers, who congratulated the club on the enterprise it had shown in providing what would prove a great acquisition to the township, the value o£ which would be hard to estimate. One of the great problems of the present age was the drift to the towns, and the provision of such facilities for recreation in the conutry as tennis courts was a factor tending to counteract that drift. Sport and recreation had a great influence on the life and character of the people, and the Hauraki Plains was fortunate in having so many facilities for recreation. The thanks of the district as well as the club were due to all those who had assisted, and particularly to the men who had become guarantors for the bank overdraft and to those ladies who by their efforts at the recent sale of work had been the means of raising funds for, .the erection of the pavilion. The club wished to thank Mr Griffiths for the faithful manner in which he had carried out the work entrusted to him. Numerous difficulties had had to be overcome, anl the result was such that it was a credit to him, the club, and the district. Mr Rogers then extended a welcome to the visitors and the children, and or a ball being driven over the net by Mrs Rogers the courts were declared open. CRICKET ASSOCIATION. The first, annual meeting of the Hauraki Plains Cricket Association was held at Pipiroa on Monday evening, Mi G. Porteous presiding over the following: Messrs J. Porter, S. Kendall, H. L. Berney, R. Green, B. Wallis, J. G. Miller, H. Green, P. Clark (hon. secretary). The annual report and balancesheet, which were adopted, stated that the association’s competition had resulted in a draw, the two Kopuarahi teams securing equal points. A match had been played against Thames and had been lost by a very narrow margin. The credit balance Was £4 8s Bd. A letter was received from Mr H. J. Dare, secretary of a cricket club that had been formed at Kaihere asking for full prticulars of the ssociation’s activities. —Mr J. G. Miller to reply. The election of officers for the ensuing yer resulted as follows: President, Mr D. J. O’Carroll; vice-presi-dents, Messrs G. Porteous, W. Ganley, H. L. Berney, C. W. Parfitt, J. Porter, B. Wallis, J. Danaghy, E. Keane, J. Miller, J. Galvin, W. E. Hale, and H. Green; secretary and treasurer, Mr P. Clark ; auditor, Mr S. W. Ralfe. Affiliation fees were fixed at £1 Is far each senior grade team. The secretary was instructed to notify all clubs that nominations for the association’s competitions must be received by the end of November A meeting will be held on December 1 to settle the dates of the -first round of inter-club matches, all matters in connection with the official opening of the season, and the question of club boundaries. A committee was set up to draw up rules. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the past year’s officers and to the press.