EIGHT TEAMS ONLY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 795, 16 October 1929, Page 13

EIGHT TEAMS ONLY

A.C.A. REJECTS EDEN CLUB PROPOSAL STANDARD OF CRICKET The Eden Cricket Club’s applij cation for the admission of a second team to the senior grade was rejected by the Management Committee of the Auckland i Cricket Association at its meeting last evening. I It could be seen from the lengthy discussion which followed the application, however, that the composition of the grade is still a problem which will have to be faced sooner or later. While not applying for the admission of a second team, the North Shore Club wrote pointing out that if the committee intended increasing the number of teams, it considered it had a. prior claim, as North Shore was maintaining two powerful teams in the senior B grade. ATr. P. Shaw, the Eden delegate, in supporting the application of his club, pointed out that Eden had a large number of senior players, eight of whom had represented the province at some time or another. Seven of those players were men with 10 years cricket ahead of them. TWO STRONG TEAMS The club. Air. Shaw said, was “suffering” from its policy of bringing on junior players. The only solution for this was for the club to put forward two strong teams. These teams would bo kept at equal strength as far as possible. Air. E. E. Nalder (Chairman); The question is “how many teams are we going to have in the senior grade? Air. G. Jackson (North Shore) moved and Mr. W. Hendy (United Suburbs) seconded a motion that the number of teams be limited to eight. Air. D. V. Aloore (chairman of the Junior Management Committee) said that as far as his committee was concerned, the more teams the association had in its senior grades, the less would be the congestion in the junior ranks. Mr. N. C. Snedden (Ponsonby) pointed out that what had to be considered was the standard of cricket. At the same time it should not be made too hard for players to get into senior ranks, he said. Air. Nalder; The standard of cricket is everything. That the committee was up against a big problem was the opinion of Air. E. C. Beale, vice-president, and former Eden delegate. He did not want the standard of cricket lowered. Air. Beale traced the growth of the game since 1911, and considered that there must inevitably be more players wanting to get t 5 the top. The association was growing every day in every way. ENCOURAGING AMBITION “It seems to me that we ought to encourage ambition in cricket,” Air. Beale said, when suggesting that the senior grade should consist of 10 teams divided into two sections. He gave it as his opinion that it would kill the club spirit if a young player was told to go away and join another club, which might not be as well managed as the Eden Club. Mr. Jackson said that North Shore considered that in the interests of the standard of cricket the number of teams should not be increased. The standard of play had not been made any higher by the raising of the number of teams from six to eight. On the request of Air. J. H. Watts, treasurer, All*. Shaw tabled the team lists of his club’s proposed two senior teams. All*. Snedden said that, under Air. Beale’s proposition, there would really bo three senior sections. “Let us say now we are going to have six senior teams and call the other four the first grade B.” “JOIN OTHER CLUBS” Air. Nalder: If all these boys are wanting to play senior cricket, there are plenty of other clubs willing to have them. Air. Snedden wondered whether the committee would be justified in help-, ing one or two clubs out of a temporary difficulty and so put out old- . established organisations. Mr. J. H. Miller (Y.M.C.A.), had never seen a club in cricket

or football permanently successful in running two teams in the highest grade. Air. W. J. Smeeton (University) considered there was a lot in what Air. Beale had put forward. But the time was not ripe to increase the number of teams, and so weaken the standard of play. The motion limiting the number of teams in the grade was then put and carried unanimously. The committee then set about deciding which were to be the eight teams. After the process of gradual elimination had proceeded half-way down the grade, a motion by Air. Smeeton that the grade be composed as it was last year was carried without dissent. LOST—A COACH! A.C.A. HAS NO WORD OF WENSLEY BUT PARNELL GETS HIM The Auckland Cricket Association’s newly-engaged professional playercoach, A. F. Wensley, must have gone a missing. At least, his employers have no word of his whereabouts. Wensley, of the Sussex Countv XI., was engaged recently for the season bv the management committee of the Auckland Cricket Association, acting on the advice of Lord Hawke. Wensley was later informed, through Lord Hawke, that the Auckland season would commence on October 19. and that his services would be appreciated as soon thereafter as possible. No word has yet come to hand as to when or on what boat Wensley has sailed for Auckland. A suggestion was made at the meeting of the management committee of the Auckland Cricket Association last night that the coach would most likelv be travelling with the AI.C.C. team, at present en route to Australia and New Zealand. . At that rate he should arrive here in three weeks or so now. The committee, despite the absence of word from the coach, decided last evening that he will be played with the Parnell Club during the season. University and United Suburbs also made application for his services, but were unsuccessful in the ballot.