DUNEDIN CRICKET CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 60

DUNEDIN CRICKET CLUB.

Following is the report "which will bo presented at the sixteenth annual meeting' of the D>unedin Cricket Club: — It is with much pleasure and satisfaction that your committee presents the sixteenth annual report. The disabilities under which the club laboured two seasons ago have, we are pleased to say, disappeared — an enjoyable season's cricket being- the result. Though the Senior Eleven did no* quite win the First -Grade Shield, they were only one point behind 'the leading ■ team, andl had they shown a little more vim and enterprise in the early port of the season the positions might easily Have been reversed. As it is, they have the satisfaction of having inflicted decisive defeats upon the shield winners (Ca.risbrook A) in both their matches with that team. The losses sustained by the First Eleven were, curiously enough, both at the hands of Opoho, and, although it was perhaps unfortunate that three of the four days' play in the engagements with this team had to take place at Opoho (a ground upon which your seniors rarely shape "well) every credit is due to the hill club for its victories. Only one Second Grade team was put in the field, and this was composed mainly of players who might almost be termed veterans. The performance put up by them, however, was rather disappointing, only two matches (both four point wins) being won of the eight played. But the members thoroughly enjoyed their cricket, and did not take the reverses seriously to heart. The Third Grade team also had a pleasant season, though victories here, too, were very few and fax between. The position of the First Grade team was largely due to the wonderful batting form shown by C. G. Wilson. In club matches, a« in representative cricket, the skipper had a splendid season. Twice for the dub he reached the century (127 against Grange and 127 o.gainst Oariebrook A), and once (against Albion) got within seven runs of the coveted three fig-mree. His average was 47.75, w»hich easily wins him the Maclean cup for the best average in the club. A. Eckhold with 29.30 had th'i3 year to take second place, but his usefulness as a cricketer is little, if anything^ diminished. His scores included one of 115 against Carisbrook A. J. Wilkie (21.90) gained third place by consistent and bright cricket, while W. Mackersy (21.44), as usual, played several useful innings. In bowling R. Torrance leads with really good figures — 40 wickets at an average cost of 10.50. E. Kavanagh (17 wickets at 14.93) and W. Mackersy (27 wickets at 18.11) also put in a lot of £ood work. The fielding of the team was »nly fair, some of the younger members, we regret to say, being the worst performers in this important branch. The batting for the Second Grade was headed by G. Wycherley with an average of 21.83, 3. Eyre (captain of the team) coming next with 14.0, gained by consistent scoring. D. Wilkie (13.36) and the old veteran " Jim " M'Farlane (12.36) being next in. >rder. The bowling: strength was nob rreat, though had W." Latham been always ivailable it would have made the attack nuch stronger. As it was Latham easily leaded the averages with 6.89 for 19 .vickets. J. Whitty took 29 for 11.89, andl lid a lot of work. A. Symonds, a pronotion from Third Grade, flowed promise n both batting- andl bowling. In the Phird Grade there was some promising' naterial, which will soon be seen in ligher grades. The 6maJl club memberhip often caused thi3 team to be- Bhortlanded, and the members thereof are to 3e complimented upon their keenness in he face of this and of repeated defeats. Che baiting average was headed by J5. Sfewton with 14.36. V. C. Hardie and ?. Williams also did useful work. The wwling- honours were well distributed. Your club waa represented in the Otago earn, which performed so well on its nor* hern tour, by C. G. Wilson and R. C Cora-ance. The captain's phenomenal suc*ss is not likely to be forgotten, while' Porrance, as usuaJ, performed creditably vifeh the ball, and" came out on top of the" tverages. In the disappointing match againet Can-erbu-ry, C. G, Wils^-i, A. Eckh<jkL. >j~

B. C. Totxance were Included $n the Otego team) while O. G, Wilson. And W. Maekerey represented the club in thenortorious •" kicky-wicket match tX InvefcargilL O. Wycherley was appointed manager of Che Otago Second Grade represeptative team which, visited Chriitohuroh at New iYear, and was afao included in the team, and performed creditably. A mixed team from- the j?hrb jouimeyed to Ranfurly at Bastear, and: experienced an enjoyable time. A match played again & Central Otago team was won lather easily by your representatives. Some mention was made of the possibility of a team from the Central fraying Dunedin a visits This idea should fee encouraged, and, if carried out, visitors anay rely on a hearty welcome from the club, many members of- which have keen leoolfeotion of good .times spent round the eoldfields. Two prizes were presented last season— one by the Dunedin Football Club, which was won by C. G. "Wilson for the best individual performance, and the other by Mr iT. S. Graham, awarded to E.« Newton for fieldiag and general keenness. As beforementioned, C. 'G. Wileop holds the Maclean cup fbor iie year, and wins the medal .which. aJwayß goes with that trophy. Members were pleased^to- wefoome back, an old-timer in ' the .person of" R. Wtlkie, and expected to have bis valuable assistance "during the season.' Unfortunately /n injury to his 'shoulder, sustained* some time ' ago, /r would * not permit Mr Wilkie taking" part' in the game. ' We express a hope/ however,* that he may this year! be able "to assist his old club. -During the season the club placed at the disposal of the O.C.A. two practice wickets for coaching purposes. Use of the ground was also granted for. schools'- matches on Saturday mornings as usual. It "is with deep resrret we have to chronicle the death of Mr J. Aim»e, who was'for some years a vice-president of the club,, and a liberal supporter of cricket and jaU manly sports. Not a small part of the comfort and t pleasure of the past season's cricket is due to the . new caretaker *of the Caledonian Ground (Mr J.* Ross), whose anxiety to please and willingness to do what was asked of him was particularly -. noticeable. The practice and" rrrtrtch wickets prepared by Mr Ross — especially in the second half of t&e season — were undoubtedly the best in town. A continuance of these desirable conditions is confidently, looked* for this season. It is gratifying to be able to report that, financially, the year has been most satisfactory, there bernp. for the first time in -many years,' a credit balance on the season's workings. * The outstanding subscriptions for. last year amount to only £3. This desiralfe state of affairs has been brought about by careful management and a determination to enforce the payment of subscriptions. In this latter connection we •■vould recommends that .it be made clear that "the club does not desire that class of member who might be termed the " chronic non-payer." There are, of course, certain occasions ur>on which leniency mnv be shown, but to those l who can but will not pay th«»ir subscription no consideration should be shown. -The use of the club's dressing room was again granted to the T^medin Football. Club for the winter. The anpeaiance of this room is greatly enhanced by the growing collection of cricket and football pictures, prominent amongst vrhiob are two large sets of photoffrophs of TVmedin teams on tour presented by Mr Alf. Beadle. During thp year presentations were made to Messrs W. Maclnan (on the occasion of -his marriage) and E. S Wilson (on his retirement from the Office of hon. secretary). These two gentlemen hav<» been long connected with the club, and havo rendered services well worthy of recognition. Th<» thanks r( the club are dv« to the Umpires' Association, which is deserving 1 of every support in its efforts to supply umpires lor shield matches. Old cricketers and lovers of the ?ame who can spare the tiny» would do well to assist the body by ffivinsr their services for at least a few Saturdays in each season. Tn conclusion, we wish to thank the members for the confidence shown in us as j a committee. Wp should like, however, to see o great deal more interest shown in thp welfare of th« club by members on--- j side the e\-«c!i f !ve, ond some of the youncer gpn^ration dovploping sufficient ! etj»r»ry to help carry out the necessary work cf management. THE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP. LONDON. September 2. Th-e county championship figures show the following result :' — Kent — 16 wins, 2 loss-es, percentage 77.77; Lancashire, 55.55 ; Yorkshire, 50 : Sussex, 40 ; Surrey, 39.13; then follow Middlesex, Northants. | Hampshire. Worcester. Notts. Somerset, ' Warwick, Leicester, Essex, Derby, and j Gloucester. I Last year Yorkshire secured first place I ■with 16 wdns and 12 draws out of 28 matches and a percentage of 100. Kent finished second with 70 per cent., and Surrey third with 52.94 per cent. Then followed the other counties in the order given : — Middlesex, Sussex, Worcestershire, Lancashire. Notts. Hamoshire, Gloucestershire, Essex. Warwickshire. Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Northants, and Somerset.