Cricket on East Coast

The development of cricket on the East Coast was due to strenuous efforts on the part of scattered bands of enthusiasts. Nowhere else in page 448 the Dominion could playing fields have proved more difficult to construct. At Tokomaru Bay, W. Oates, senior, was a prominent figure in the movement for 25 years. He received a lot of help from his sons. E. R. Ludbrook also was a tower of strength, and A. B. Williams was unstinting in his support. Other keen workers included the Rev. P. Tamahori, R. J. Stevens and F. Atkins. At Waipiro Bay, A. M. Beale was most prominent at the outset. C. E. Nurse, who represented Waiapu even after he had attained the age of 60 years, then became the mainstay. H. W. and H. M. Akers were the stalwarts at Ruatoria. At Te Araroa, Sam Mill was the leading spirit. Nobody did more for the game at Tolaga Bay than the members of the Reeves family.

Waiapu challenged only once for the Hawke Cup (1930–31), but was overwhelmed by South Auckland. Up till the close of the 1938–39 season 27 matches had been played between Poverty Bay and Waiapu, with 17 wins for Poverty Bay, 3 for Waiapu, 5 games abandoned, and 2 drawn. The series was marked by two crushing defeats for Waiapu. In 1933–34, Poverty Bay made 554 in its only innings, and Waiapu compiled 129 and 122, and, in 1934–35, Poverty Bay reached 583 in its only innings, as against totals of 139 and 126 by Waiapu. Scores of over a century during the series:

For Waiapu: 1924–25, J Oates 149; 1930–31, F. Bennett 127.

For Poverty Bay: 1929–30, S. Reeves 147; 1932–33, G. N. Lockett 121 and C. Fraser 110; 1933–34, S. Reeves 137 and E. Dow 118; 1934–35, P. Dow 101, M. K. Boon 128; 1935–36, M. K. Boon 121; 1937–38, E. James 111.

Bowling for Poverty Bay: Schwabe, 6 for 3 in 1924–25; W. J. Schollum, 9 for 17 in 1928–29 and 9 for 29 in 1929–30; Newton, 7 for 31 in 1934–35; and D. Wells, 8 for 12 in 1938–39.