CRICKETERS STIR

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 773, 20 September 1929, Page 6

CRICKETERS STIR

WELLINGTON PLAYERS CHANGE

(Special to THE SUN) WELLINGTON, Today. j Like the rest of New Zealand, the recent fine weather has turned Wellington's attention to cricket. I Already a number of club meetings > have taken place, and there has \ been talk of quite a number of I changes in the personnel of the I different club teams. Over and above all the club news i is the visit of the English team and i the announcement this week that the first match of the tour is to be played in Wellington has served to stimulate The New Zealand Council has decided that this match shall be of four day-s’ duration, instead of three, as at first arranged. Enthusiasts are somewhat doubtful whether Wellington will be able to prolong the match for that number of days, but there are others who* say that even four days may not be sufficient to settle which side is the winner. There is no doubt that a four days’ match against a team of the calibre of the M.C.C. ! eleven should provide interesting i cricket, especially if Wellington is able j to field a strong side. Turning again to club cricket, it is interesting to note the changes that are already forecast. H. B. Massey I will not be playing for Institute this 1 summer as he has been transferred to ! Masterton, while T. Bryant and R. Crook have decided to transfer their allegiance to another of the city c:lubs. The University team is to lose A. M. Hollings, who has decided to play for the Wellington Club. His advent will replace the loss of H. E. Burton and Clem O’Connor, who are going to Auckland and Gisborne respectively. Wellington is to benefit further by the arrival of Goodwin, who played last summer for the Grafton Club at Auckland. Another Aucklander who should prove useful is Macallan, who has joined up with the University Club. Of the players of past years, it is expected that J. S. Hiddleston will be available more regularly for Wellington, and if he strikes form he should be invaluable as opening batsman, both for club and province. McGirr and Dempster may be expected to take the field again, and James is also turning out. Lamason, Foley, Badcock, Rotherham, Henderson, Lambert, and a number of other leading cricketers are already getting their gear in order and may be expected to strike form quite early in the season. NORTH SHORE’S YEAR Tho annual meeting of the North Shore Cricket Club, presided over by Dr. 11. C. Bennett, last evening, gave promise of an active season. Reference was made to the new agreement between the Devonport Domain Board and the club, whereby the latter undertakes the maintenance of the match pitches; and the hope was expressed that this would obviate any complaints and would prevent any abuse of the turf. This year’s officers are:—President, Dr. Bennett; additional vice-presi-dents, Messrs. Cassells-Brown, Eyre, Coldicutt, W. R. Jaggs, J. Anderson, T. Mackey, H. B. Cooper; secretary, Mr. T. Smith; treasurer, Mr. E. Smith; club captain, Mr. W. J. Coates; delegates to association, Messrs. Coates, Jackson and Saunders; member of the Management Committee, Mr. G. Jackson.

The balance sheet showed that the club assets exceed- the liabilities by £223. The general report referred to tho successful season in 1928-29, especially by tho junior grades, to which much attention had been devoted. The senior A team went through undefeated, and with the B grade competition to its credit, there had been a suggestion that the club could run two senior teams.

An appeal was made for two or three ex-players to help the captains of the junior grades, who do not always have the requisite experience. Mr. Bull, as official scorer, came in for a word of praitle, as well as the women’s committee and the gear stewards.

Tho following trophies were awarded: —President’s bat, for most consistent practice, W. J. Coates; Vercoo Cup, for best bowling performance in senior A team, H. Webb; Mr. YVoolley’s bat for best fielder in senior A team, D. Webb; Mr. Jackson’s bat for bating average, third grade, I. Cleal, average 29.5; A. IST. Howden’s bat for best bowling in third grade, A. Davies; A. M. Beale's bat for best exhibition i of fielding during the tour of E. C. Beale’s Auckland colt team, D. Webb. PONSONBY CLUB At the annual meeting of the Ponsonby Cricket Club last evening there was an attendance of about 40 members. Trophies for the season were won by the following for tho best all-round performance in their respective teams; —Senior Cup, S. G. Smith; Senior Cup (senior B), R. Sellars; Laidlaw Cup (second grade), G. Lendrum; Mr. E. C. Beale took the opportunity on behalf of his brother, Mr. A. M. Beale, of Waipiro Bay, of presenting a bat to L.. T. J. Monteith, as the best batsman in Air. E. C. Beale’s touring team. The following officers were elected: President, Mr. Irving Clark; vice-pre-sidents, last year’s re-elected; secretary. Mr. G. Lendrum; honorary treasurer, Air. N- Lendrum; committee, Alessrs. D. J. Brown, R. Sellars, T. AlcLeod. 11. Warneford, A. Clark, George Piesse and S. G. Smith; dele-] gates to A.C.A., Alessrs. N. C. Sneddon, S. G. Smith and F. S. Taylor; selection committee, Alessrs. II- Warneford, S G. Smith and R. Sellars; club captain, Mr 11. Warneford; honorary auditor. Air. F. S. Taylor. Tho annual report showed that although no team won a championship, all teams did well, the senior team finishing third and the senior B team fourth. A motion was passed expressing the members’ sympathy with Mr. N. C. Snedden in the death of his father. Dissatisfaction was expressed regarding the unsatisfactory drill arrangements when players are called upon throughout the season for halfday parades.

NORTHCOTE CLUB There was a large attendance of members and supporters last evening at the annual meeting of the Northcote Cricket Club. Air. 11. (“Major”) Shaw presiding. The report for the past season showed the club had had a most successful season, the balance carried forward being £2O 7s Bd. The club teams fared well, the second grade team in the Auckland Cricket Association being the runners-up. having plaved 10 matches, winning eight and losing two. Air. P. C. Cross headed the batting average with an average of 35.44. Air. P C. Cross was the recipient of a bat presented by Air. E. A. Craig for the best batting average in the second grade. The following officers were elected for the ensuing season: Patron. Air. H. Cadness; president. Air. H. (“Alajor”) Shaw: vice-presidents, Alessrs. W. AToFetridge, A. E. Greenslado. W. M. Jacks, E. C. Davey, F. Whitehead. R, AlcClymont, F. H. Woodhouse, C. A. Deuxberry. R. Alartin, F. Wilson. H. Crowley, IT. Weaver. S. AlcGill; club captain. Air. C. Isbister; secretary and treasurer. ATr. A. W. Couldrey; assistant-treasurer. Air. H. W. ATillar: committee, Messrs. S. C. Arblaster, C. Isbister. C. H. Colegrave. A. E. Craig, j K. Havill. A. Boswell and J. F. Potter.