CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1915, Page 7

CRICKET.

IN SOUTH TARANAKT. The coming season will be a lean time as far as play is concerned. The number of competing clubs has become of late years narrowed down. Last season Eltham dropped out from inability' to put in a team. Kaponga, who in years gone by, used to have a good team and were enthusiastic supporters of the game, have been out several years. Normanby also dropped out after several years of struggle. The competition Ims, therefore, been confined to three clubs, of which Hawera, by a great effort, raised two elevens. Despite the growth of the town, comparatively few new players were available. Practically no boys came from the school, although for several years they have had the freedom of the Hawera Club's nets, material, and ground. When this season's affairs came up for review, Manaia could get no annual meeting, and decided to drop out. Okaiawa were prepared to play, and had a team, but decided at their annual meeting, to do what the Association decided. Hawera have lost several of the leading players, a few have gone to the front, and there appears to be but little interest taken.

Seeing, therefore, thai the competition was narrowed down to two clubs, and at the very outside three teams, though it was not at nil certain that Hawera could put in two elevens, the Association at the annual meeting last Wednesday decided that there would be no Shield Championship. Tt is tfoped a fair number of friendly matches will be played and that the matches with North Taranaki and Wanganui will eventuate. Mention is made in the annual report of the ''meritorious win by Okaiawa of the shield la-st season." Certainly they are entitled to sincere congratulations. They are a lesson to all the other,clubs. Their members are more or less scattered. They have a ground which provides ample room, but their wicket and playing area are not good. For many years they have battled on, with varying auccesa. Sometimes they have had poor seasons and little to hearten the players. Thanks, however, mainly to the energy and enthusiasm of Mr. R. Penny, they have always kept their eii£ra ( genients, and at length they reaped the reward of their, persistence. They are certainly deserving of verv great credit.—Hawera Star.