CRICKET CONTROL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 644, 23 September 1933, Page 6

CRICKET CONTROL

THE PAST SEASON REPORT TO BE PRESENTED BY TE ROTORUA EXECUTIVE _____ S ATISFACTORY POSITION The following report on ihe activities of the Rotorua Cricket Associa'tion is to be presented to the annual ' general meeting to take place in the ' Citizens' Cluh on Wednesday evening next, September 27 at 8 p.m.: We have the honour to present for your approval the fourteenth annual report and balance sheet covering the activities of your association for the season just completed. The season, on the whole, may be counted a successful one, the McLean Cup competition (having been well eon'tested, and the interest of the players igienerally having been maintained until its conclusion. Financially the season was also successful, the association's credit balance having been maintained, despite the adverse conditions prevailing. During the season your management committee held fourteen fortnightly meetings, and one emergency meeting. The regular meetings were generally well attended. The committee was given the use of Mr. Musgrave's rooms for its meetings and too high a tri'bute cannot he paid him for his generosity. Your association was unfortunate in losing the services of its ablt secretary (Mir. J. Hinton), 'during the latter part of the season when he left Rotorua to take up an 'appointment in Wanganui. Mr. Hinton's valuable assistance to cricket will be sorely missed by your association, both as a cricketer and a member of the executive. A suitable presentation was made to him on behalf of the association before his departure, and his duties as secretary were taken over by Mr. L. Gresham. McLean Cup Competition Six teams were entered in this competition last season, and many of the matches were keenly contested. The Albion Cluh was decisively beaten in the last game of the season by City, and as a result of this win City had the honour of being bracketed with them as joint holders of the cup. Williams Cup Games Following the drafting of rules to govern a competition of the challenge principle for this trophy, the defence of it was left to the Albion Club. In the first challen'gie, however, from the Old Boys' Club, Albion defaulted. City were successful in their challenge with Old Boys and are the present holders of the trophy. Representative Matches During the season your representatives were engaged in four representative games with the Bay of, Plenty sub-association at Whakatane, with the Tauranga Cricket Club and with the Auckland. City and Suburban Association (two games) at Rotorua. The game with the Bay resulted in our being defeated on the first innings by sixty-three runs while the games with Tauranga and with the suburban association resulted in substantial wins for Rotorua. With regard to the matches with the suburban team, your executive feels that in the future the- interests of this association and of the young players connected with it, that it would be much better served, if some club team of good strength from the Auckland Cricket Association were invited to visit us at Easter, and recommended to the incoming committee that every endeavour be made to secure a. resumption of the games with the Parnell Club which in the past have proved so enjoyable. In adition to these four games a match was played on Anniversary Day between a Bay of Plenty representative team and the South Auckland representatives. This resulted in a severe defeat for the Bay by 200 runs on the first innings, but in spite of -this was a most enjoyable fixture and one which should be strenuously supported as an annual match by this association. Grounds As in past seasons your association was again bountifully served in having for its use, grounds such as those provided in the GovernmentGardens, and at the Rotorua High School. To play cricket on these wickets and in such surroundings is a pleasure and a privilege which we feel the average local cricketer regards too lightly. It would not he fitting at this stage to pass over lightly the very fine work done by Mr. H-esketh in the Government Gardens. He has proved one of the best friends your association could possess and it beh-oves all local cricketers to give close heed to any restrictions which he may place on the use of the grounds as all may be assured that in imposing these restrictions he has in view still better playing facilities for our enjoyment. Thanks are also due to the Rotorua High School for the use of their wickets, mats, gear, etc., which were always provided when club teams played at the school. Assistance such as this has been of great benefit to Rotorua) cricket. Gear Towards the end of the 1931-32 season your executive entered into negotiations with an Indian firm for the supply of a gi'een matting. These negotiations have now been finalised and the matting is ready for use in the coming. season. The narrow green mat possessed by your executive was re-cu-t and bound during the season and should stand up to a considerable amount of wear in the future. The wide hrown mat is beyond repair and cannot he regarded as an asset. Your association possess two match bats in good o'rder and a small quanti-ty of other materiaf outlined and valued in the statement of assets. During the season just closed your executive decided/ to hire its playing material (i.e. mats, stumps, etc.) to private clubs for Sunday and holiday matches. Your executive recommends to the incoming committee that in the event of this practice being continued the revenue thus derived be devoted to a fund for the replacing of this material as such replacement proves necessary. Thanks Your executive desires to tender its very sincere thanks to all those gen-

tlemen who have assisted it in any manner whatever wh'ether by donations or by personal service. In this latter connection the services of Mr. L. Dingle, as auditor, for several seasons past, and of Mir. LoVe, as selector, deserve special mention. Your thanks are also due to those clubs, which, because of their efficient internal organisation assisted your executive by prompt payment of dues and by a ready response to all its necessary demands. We feel that we cannot conclude this report without drawing attention to the lack of interest shown by old cricketers when approached to act as umpires. Many gentlemen who no longer play the game h'ave been of invaluable assistance to cricket in Rotorua but it shows definite apathy towards the game when Saturday after Saturday it is found impossible to appoint umpires for club games. . Concluision In conclusion your executive wishes the incoming committee every good wish for a. very successful and prosperous season and trusts that cricket in Rotorua under its guidance will have a successful future.