SPORTS GROUNDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 September 1938, Page 9

SPORTS GROUNDS

LITTLE USED IN SUMMER. POSITION IN WAIRARAPA.’ (“Times-Age” Special.) The announcement was recently made that the Wairarapa Rugby Union, which has leased the Memorial Park grounds for a long term, is willing to consider letting the grounds to the Coursing Club for tin hare racing during the summer months. .This draws attention to the fact that this fine ground is not used by athletes and those indulging in summer sports in the manner in which the donors of the property anticipated, when making over the property to the trustees just after the Great War. Masterton, of course, is fortunate in having the more centrally, situated Masterton Park Oval available for cricket, and the Wairarapa College ground also provides an alternative when the occasion demands. But it does seem regretable that the Memorial Park has only been used in recent years for grazing for half, of the year. It can well be imagined how such an area would be welcomed in Wellington, or even in Petone, where after many years the cricket club players this season are without a ground to play on. This has come about owing to the borough authorities letting the recreation ground to the recently formed Soft Ball Association, which is promoting a game closely resembling the American baseball game. The allowing of sports grounds in the Wairarapa to go back to grazing fields is general in the district, and in Carterton, Carrington Park, where cricket was once, regularly played, is now grazed by sheep after hockey is finished in the winter. The same obtains in Greytown, the recreation ground being merely used for sheep grazing when the football season is over. On this ground before the days of motor cars and modern transport, the cricketers of the town took a pride in its condition and on the occasion of an English cricket team in 1903 playing a Wairarapa 22, the playing area and outfield, was a credit to those responsible for its upkeep. The Wairarapa team for that contest included the late L. T. Cobcroft (Featherston) captain, the late D. K. Logan (Masterton), C. Perry, W. H. Galway, Harry Swan, D. Parton, W. H. Baillie, Rog. Renall (now of Masterton). J. Lamenson. H. Ogier, the late J. M. Bcechey (Carterton), Fred and Harry Hawke, Ticehurst (2), N. Madsen, the late Sid Nicholls, W. Judd (Greytown), W T . Frith, Feast (2), Arch. Cundy (Featherston). The small stand and offices were too, in good order, but they are now merely a shadow of their former glory. The Featherston people do keep the game of cricket going, but with the small population and not a great number playing the game it is difficult for the grounds to be kept up to standard. Even here, sheep have been noticed “keeping down the grass,” and if cricketers in Wellington are short of grounds, they would be astounded if they saw the “wickets” on which their country cousins attempt to carry on the grand old English game.