CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2357, 25 November 1908, Page 3

CRICKET.

A private letter received by a member of the “Times” staff from a Dunedin pressman contains the pleasing intelligence that the Otago representative team which plays Auckland for the Plunket Shield at the end of December is desirous of playing a match against Poverty Bay. The Otago team this season is a strong one, and if the full strenght of the provincecome north they should give Auckland a stern fight- for the shield. Now that Poverty Bay is affiliated to the New Zealand Cricket Council, there should be reasonable expectations of arranging matches with all the leading associations which send teams north to Auckland. Nothing would do more to raise the standard of play in this district thaii the visits pf such teams as Otago, Canterbury, Wellington, and Auckland can send on tour, and every local player will fervently hope that the Otago eleven may be seen performing on a Gisborne ground at th New Year. The Poverty Bay Cricket Association will do, doubtless’ all in its power to induce Otago to include Gisborne in the list of matches for their northern tour.

Owing to tire heavy rain yesterday all matches arranged for the day had to be postponed. A commencement was made yesterday morning with the cutting of the grass on Victoria Domain, but the work had to be abandoned owing to the rain. The work will be completed to-day if weather permits.