New Zealand: Old Boys' fears eased (7 October 1998)

7 October 1998

New Zealand: Old Boys' fears eased

The Christchurch Press

The High School Old Boys club has been assured it will retain its senior cricket status into the 1999-2000 season, alleviating fears for its immediate future.

A meeting between Canterbury Cricket Association and Old Boys officials reaffirmed the club's senior status "for the forseeable future".

There was a concern within the club that it would be squeezed out as the CCA sought to act upon the Adams report and reduce the number of first-grade teams from nine to eight.

When, of an original 10 clubs, only Lancaster Park and Woolston Working Men's Club heeded the CCA's call for mergers, the prospect of relegation was raised.

"We haven't closed our minds to mergers," said Old Boys president Cran Bull, who confirmed talks had broken down with Old Collegians.

"We want to do what is best for cricket. There is no point in struggling on and finding the club disappears completely if by a good merger it remains in existence."

But Bull questioned the reasoning behind suggestions six outlying clubs should stay and one of the three based at Hagley Oval be demoted.

Ironically, the club's apparent plight had strengthened the resolve of members that it should prosper.

CCA chief executive Tony Murdoch said further mergers would be encouraged to strengthen the club structure in the Christchurch metropolitan area. "If it doesn't happen next season there is a long-term aim for that to occur.

"The concern is to keep clubs functioning rather than legislate and bring about their demise," said Murdoch. "It's a trend not only in cricket but across the board in other sports that what was in vogue 10 years ago is now changing very rapidly."

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)