TAUPO CRICKET CLUB

Taupo Times, Volume III, Issue 140, 1 October 1954, Page 4

TAUPO CRICKET CLUB

REPORT ON PAST SEASON The Annual Report of the Taupo Cricket Club, presented at the Annual General Meeting, states that in the 1953-54 season the Club enjoyed its busiest season, with 27 matches played, 11 against local teams, 13 against outside teams and 3 trial matches. Results were 19 won, 4 lost and 1 abandoned. Teams defeated included the School, Ngakuru, Minginui, United Wanderers, Kaingaroa, Albion (Mangakino), Atiamuri, Boot Hill, Reporoa, English Public Schools Club (Waikato), Tihoi and National Park. The Club's average score per wicket was 16. 7^, whilst they had dismissed their opponents at about about half that cost, 8.45 runs per wicket. These figures showed how necessary it wa^ for the Club to be in a position to invite stronger teams to visit Taupo. They looked forward to the time when adequate facilities would be available at the Domain for that purpose. Although the Club would be inconvenienced during the coming season through having to prepare a temporary wicket, it would be something to look forward to the following year when they had been promised the use of the new Sports Ground. It was hoped that the Domain would be available for play at the beginning of the 1955-56 season. The year had 4 been conspicuous for some meritorious performances, chief being the taking of his hundredth wicket of the season in the last match by A. Forster, and the batting, including two centuries, of Gordon Sutherland. His top score of 139 against Hunterville was particuiarly meritorious. The Club was unfortunate in the loss of wic-ket-keeper Rex Beale, transferred to Hawke's Bay. He had been second in batting averages with over

33 runs per innings. Forster had three fifties to his credit and took third pace in batting as well as inv bowling. The only other player to reach the half-century was Frank McKean. Over 30 players turned out for the Club and at different tinfes Sherwood, Kennedy, Acres, Forster and Woodward filled opening positions. These players, with those already mentioned and skipper Sam McKean supplied the background of batting strength. In bowling Sam McKean and Arthur Kennedy provided variety from the pace of Forster, Fred Stebbing and Jack Smith. Frank McKean bowled well but gravitated to the position behind the stumps on Beale's' depart^ire. Sutherland was a most valuable change and Errol Smith showed a useful knack of breaking up partnerships. Neame bowled steadily without any luck. The team was assisted by a number of non-members who turned out for an occasional game, amongst them being Bruce Kildey, ex-Tas-manian State player, Gerard Ward, Gordon Eyes, Rex Mclsaac, Pat Hoggard, Keith Bogue and Denis Chapman. The latter distinguished himself in the last over of the last match by taking the hat trick and winning the game outright for the Club. Others who came close to the hat trick were Bill Harding, Jack Smith (twice), Colin Dixon, Sam McKean and A. Forster.