Willowers All,
Two features stand out if one takes a retrospective glance back on the past season. First, the emphasis on family participation and enjoyment at having a picnic day out at the ground has been stronger than ever. To see so many children, parents, wives, girlfriends and cricket lovers in general out there has added that special dimension to the Club. The sight of Paul Rutledge in the Father Christmas role surrounded by children brought special joy to all present at the London NZ fixture. Thanks to Paul for instituting something special that will no doubt become a regular Willows event.
Secondly, on the playing side the dramatic improvement in the speed and bounce of the wicket has brought better play. This is testimony to the work and skill of two men: Vince Cusack and Peter Devlin. Their determination to produce “quality tracks” for us to play on has become a reality. Match statistics bear that out. The average Willows team total of 226 runs per innings for the season is far in excess of anything previous. On three occasions Willows teams exceeded 300 runs in the 50 avers. Also “century-itis” became incurable, with five tons by Willows batsmen, another record. Credit must go to the individual players and to the excellent ground preparation.
While batsmen prospered there was a corresponding increase in the number of plundered, broken down or dejected bowlers at the end of the day. To see bowlers of the calibre of Craig Thiele and others be hit straight into the shelter belt spoke volumes about the calibre of wickets regularly produced by Vince and Peter.•lf that wasn’t enough, the drought conditions suffered out at Loburn, certainly from December on, brought a burnt outfield which exacerbated the plight of all bowlers. Once the ball pierced the ring it was a certain boundary. The lack of youthful legs in some of the sides fielded meant few were going to be cut off!
One novel way around that predicament was adopted by captain of the day Ted Rhodes in having 12 men on the field for a period during the Ohoka game. In true spirit Bob Scott and the Swamphens didn’t complain and there was no talk of forfeiture of the Irrigation Trophy. In fact the phantom extra was none other than Lyn Sparks, who happened to arrive one week ahead of himself for his allotted game – enough said. W[lile on trophies, rumours have telegraphed from Cheviot that Roger MacFarlane won’t bother bringing his Trophy for the match next season. This after a “hat-trick” of Willow scalps taken by his Wanderer’s XI. Such is the confidence Roger feels his 2nd XI will be enough to achieve a fourth – we’ll see about that!
Congratulations also to the Motueka Wekas, Flaxton Wanderers, London New Zealand and Father Brian’s St Bede’s College XI, who all came out in buoyant mood and uplifted silver. Well done to the Valley on their win – in one of our two “away” fixtures. The other saw the first tied match in the Club’s history at John Gardner’s ground where the Diana Trophy is now nailed more firmly to the side-board.
lt has been great to have Sir Richard Hadlee and first class players like Nell Maxwell and David Stead don the Willows colours this season and debut for us. School boys playing alongside such Canterbury “greats” can only view it as a treat and an experience, hopefully, to set them on the right track in their cricket. Thank you to all team captains and managers who have contributed to the playing enjoyment at the Willows.
This is an appropriate time to identify and thank Willows devotees who add enormous value to the Club. Foremost, we treasure continued support and encouragement from our Patron, Mr Waiter Hadlee. When people such as Mr Hadlee and friends of the Club: lain Gallaway, Clive Geary and John Hislop from Dunedin, Don Neely from Wellington, etc join us, we enjoy learning more from them about the special traditions and etiquette of this fine game, cricket.
Acknowledgement also to Eisa Edgar for maintaining the garden throughout extremely dry conditions, to Adrian McFedries for his magnificent contribution in further developing the environment at the Willows and to Peter Dormer for work in excavating and preparing for the new wickets. We thank these people most sincerely.
To individuals from NZ Cricket, Canterbury and North Canterbury Cricket Associations, the Waimakiriri Council and Principals/Rectors of our 1st XI schools, we thank you for the interest shown in the Club. Your endorsement of our endeavours to maintain high standards (both on and off the field) is appreciated. lt is excellent when busy people like Christopher Doig, Dayle Hadlee, Gary MacDonald and John Reid can fit in a Willows game.
Several important donations were able to be made by the Club during the season. Specifically, $1,500 to North Canterbury schoolboys cricket and $1,500 to the Canterbury Umpires’ Association. The Club acknowledges significant support from: Mobil Oil NZ Ltd, Stuart McKinlay of Hirequip NZ Ltd who donated the 3% tonne roller, Warner Mauger of Mauger Construction for assistance with ground development, and Air New Zealand for travel sponsorship of our cricket scholar to Australia.
The catering co-ordinated each week by lan James and Lyn is a huge task. However it is a vital component in the enjoyment of playing cricket at The Willows. On behalf of all visitors and Club members we congratulate them for the high quality of food presentation achieved. Probably for the players that first hour after lunch is the hardest to perform adequately back in the middle. Another who knows all about hospitality is Mr Barry Ellis. Exploits of his playing days are encapsulated in an old Press clipping on the notice board. Today as Proprietor of the Red Lion Hotel in Rangiora, he ensures we get match balls for the season, which after use are circulated amongst schools in North Canterbury and Christchurch. Thank you for that generous donation Barry. We also express our gratitude to David MacKenzie for the hardwood table he made for the pavilion it looks excellent there.
Umpires and scorers are vital for any cricket club. We are particularly well served in these capacities. Eddie Brownlee organises for every match to be covered by official umpires. Doing that for nineteen home games is a huge task and we value your role there Eddie. Reports indicate that umpires, like the players and family members, enjoy their Sunday in the country and look forward to return outings. Long may that be the case. Recently too, the Club presented to the Canterbury Umpires’ Association a Willows Trophy for them to award annually to a worthy recipient in their ranks. Tony Campbell is our full-time scorer. lt is fitting that there is a special tribute to Tony in this Annual Report.
Finally, Michael Dormer took over the Match Secretary’s responsibilities this season from Phil Harris. Again a task he has performed with panache and ease, but one which we know is both time consuming and unpredictable. Late unavailabilities are inevitable in a big club but he takes it all calmly in his stride. From all the captains, thanks for a job well done Michael.
1997-1998 saw the inaugural scholarship for the chosen young Willower, Stephen Gibson, to have three months intensive cricket in Australia. To Mr Geoff Coleman, Mr Harry Peters and the Committee at the Sutherland Districts Cricket Club (Cronulla, South Sydney), we are indebted to you for facilitating that. Stephen was afforded every opportunity and hospitality during his stay. He came back the better for it. He learned about the expectations for excellence that both Sutherland and the Willows aspire to. We hope the Sutherland Districts Club is able to send some of its top talent to play cricket at our ground one day in the future. Such an invitation has been extended.
What of the future? The Founders and Committee of the Club have several other projects in the pipeline. They include:
- a new riverstone entranceway to the ground to honour our Patron, Mr W.A.Hadlee, CBE.
- the prospect of some new fixtures (eg. a South Canterbury XI, an Auckland Fingletoad team selected by Ross Dykes, Marlborough Boys’ College 1st XI and lain Gallaway’s NZ President’s XI) which will offer members further challenging games.
- the extension of the cricket square to include provision for two more pitches (which will give us eight in total).
lt is appropriate to conclude with pitches. In researching this report an interesting quotation, written in 1928, struck me:
"In the old, old days, the state of a wicket decided the policy of even your best batsman, and consequently induced him to try to make hay while the sun shone. He realised well enough that at any moment the vagaries of the wicket might turn an ordinary good length ball into a “fizzer", and that such a fizzer would probably be fatal to him or to any other batsman living, bar, of course, “the Champion”. So he was induced to take risks, and that is what every bowler of every age, class, country, or temperament wants every batsman to do”.
Batsmen at The Willows during the 1997/98 season have not had to watch out for the “fizzer” delivery. The good players have prospered – courtesy of those responsible for pitch preparation at The Willows Cricket Ground.