Bernard Wood (cricketer)

Bernard Bedingfield Wood (25 February 1886 – 8 July 1974) was a New Zealand cricketer, golfer and businessman.

For the New Zealand rugby league administrator and sports historian, see Bernie Wood.
Bernard Wood
Bernard Wood in 1913,
New Zealand Amateur Golf Champion
Personal information
Full nameBernard Bedingfield Wood
Born(1886-02-25)25 February 1886
Christchurch, New Zealand
Died8 July 1974(1974-07-08) (aged 88)
Christchurch, New Zealand
BattingRight-handed
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1907-08 to 1918-19Canterbury
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 10
Runs scored 423
Batting average 22.26
100s/50s 1/1
Top score 108
Balls bowled –
Wickets –
Bowling average –
5 wickets in innings –
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling –
Catches/stumpings 4/0
Source: Cricinfo, 20 September 2018

Life and family

Bernard Wood was born into a prominent Christchurch business family. His grandfather, William Derisley Wood (1824–1904), founded Wood Bros flour mills in Christchurch.[1] Bernard’s father, William Wood (1858–1921), one of six brothers, founded William Wood and Company in the 1890s, which Bernard took over after his father’s death. William Wood and Company was a trading and manufacturing company dealing mostly in agricultural produce and machinery.[2][3]

Bernard Wood attended Christ's College, Christchurch.[4] In December 1913 he married Eileen Ward (1886–1952), daughter of Sir Joseph Ward, who had been New Zealand's Prime Minister from 1906 to 1912. The wedding took place at the Basilica, Wellington. The MP Tom Seddon was best man, and the reception was held at the house of his mother, the widow of the former Prime Minister Richard Seddon.[5][6]

Bernard and Eileen had four children, of whom two boys died of illness in March 1925.[7][8] When her mother, Lady Ward, died in 1927, Eileen became Sir Joseph’s hostess during his final years in politics, including his return to the premiership from 1928 to 1930.[9]

Cricket career

After successful seasons with St Albans in the Christchurch competition, Wood played his first first-class match for Canterbury on 1 January 1908, scoring a century on debut against Wellington. In the first innings, opening the Canterbury batting, he put on a partnership of 141 for the first wicket with Billy Patrick and 112 for the second wicket with Dan Reese, and finished with 108. It was the only century of the match.[10] A contemporary account noted his mastery over the bowling and the strength of his driving.[11] The Canterbury Cricket Association presented him with a bat in recognition of his innings, which was Canterbury’s only first-class century of the season.[12]

However, he had little further success at first-class level until his last match, 11 years later, when he scored 95 (the highest score of the match) and 25 against Auckland to help Canterbury retain the Plunket Shield in 1918-19. This time he played "orthodox strokes all round the wicket" while his teammates had trouble countering the spin bowling of Sydney Smith.[13] He played his later club cricket with East Christchurch.

Golf career

For a few years Wood gave up playing cricket to concentrate on golf.[14] He won the New Zealand Amateur in 1912 and 1913.[15] He had been runner-up in the amateur championship in 1910 and was also runner-up in the 1912 New Zealand Open.[16] He was a member of the Christchurch Golf Club teams that won the nationally contested O’Rorke Challenge Vase in 1910, 1912 and 1921.[17] The B B Wood Memorial Trophy is contested annually at the Christchurch Golf Club.[18]

References
  1. "William Derisley (W.D.) Wood (1824–1904 )". Peeling Back History. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  2. "News of the Day". Press. 5 August 1896. p. 5.
  3. "Obituary: Mr William Wood". Press. 17 January 1921. p. 6.
  4. "Anglo-Colonial notes". Lyttelton Times. 29 July 1915. p. 12.
  5. "Myra" (13 December 1913). "The Social Sphere". Observer. p. 8.
  6. "The Marriage of Miss Eileen Ward to Mr B. B. Wood". Free Lance. 13 December 1913. p. 2.
  7. "Sad bereavement". Evening Post. 3 March 1925. p. 6.
  8. "Ward family: Sir Joseph's estate". Evening Post. 23 February 1933. p. 12.
  9. Bassett, Michael. "Ward, Joseph George". Te Ara. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  10. "Wellington v Canterbury 1907-08". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  11. "Cricket". Free Lance. 11 January 1908. p. 19.
  12. "Cricket". Lyttelton Times. 14 April 1908. p. 3.
  13. "Cricket". Press. 22 February 1919. p. 9.
  14. "Cricket: Plunket Shield". Evening Post. 18 January 1919. p. 8.
  15. "Previous winners". Evening Post. 20 September 1920. p. 2.
  16. "Amateur Championship". New Zealand Herald. XLVII (14472). 12 September 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 1 November 2020 – via Papers Past.
  17. "O'Rorke Challenge Vase" (PDF). golf.co.nz. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  18. "Christchurch Golf Club". Christchurch Golf Club. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
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