Personal information | |||||||||||||||
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Full name | Ralph Dew Spraggon | ||||||||||||||
Born | (1872-08-13)13 August 1872 Dunedin, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||
Died | 11 September 1939(1939-09-11) (aged 67) Palmerston North, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||
Role | Batsman | ||||||||||||||
Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||
Years | Team | ||||||||||||||
1894/95–1896/97 | Otago | ||||||||||||||
Career statistics | |||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 8 August 2023 |
Ralph Dew Spraggon (13 August 1872 – 11 September 1939) was a New Zealand cricketer. He played six first-class matches for Otago between 1894 and 1897.
Life and career
Spraggon was born in Dunedin, but his family moved to England when he was a boy, and he was educated at the City of London School. He then returned to New Zealand and took up a position in Dunedin as a commercial traveller for D. Benjamin & Co, importers.
Described as "a dashing batsman and a first-class fieldsman", Spraggon made his highest score of 40 not out against Canterbury in February 1897, when, batting at number nine, he "hit out lustily" in a "brilliantly played innings" that helped Otago to win the match after trailing on the first innings. In Otago's match against the touring Australian team earlier that season his 36, batting at number 12 in the Otago XV, was the highest score on either side.
Spraggon was transferred by D. Benjamin & Co to Wellington in 1898. He married Maud Carnell in Napier in February 1903. Shortly afterwards he transferred to the National Provident and Friendly Societies Department in Wellington, where he worked for 20 years. After some time in Napier, where he suffered serious injuries in the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake, he moved to Palmerston North, working for the Labour Department. After a few months of illness he died in Palmerston North in September 1939, aged 67, leaving a widow and their son.
References
- "Ralph Spraggon". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
- ^ "Obituary". Manawatu Standard: 2. 25 September 1939.
- "Late Mr. R. D. Spraggon". Manawatu Standard: 2. 26 September 1939.
- "Cricket Retrospect". Evening Star: 13. 20 February 1937.
- "Otago v Canterbury: Third Day". Star: 5. 27 February 1897.
- "Canterbury v Otago 1896-97". CricketArchive. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- "Otago v Australians 1896-97". CricketArchive. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- "Cricket". Evening Star: 2. 5 March 1898.
- "Cricket". Otago Daily Times: 4. 16 November 1933.
- "[untitled]". New Zealand Mail: 27. 25 February 1903.
- "Personal Matters". Evening Post: 8. 18 December 1925.