Ralph Spraggon

Ralph Dew Spraggon (13 August 1872 – 11 September 1939) was a New Zealand cricketer who played six first-class matches for the Otago between 1894 and 1897.^[1]

Ralph Spraggon

Personal information
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
Competition First-class Matches 6 Runs scored 125 Batting average 13.88 100s/50s 0/0 Top score 40* Catches/stumpings 3/–
Source: Cricinfo, 8 August 2023

Life and career

Spraggon was born in Dunedin but moved to England with his family as a boy. He was educated at the City of London School before returning to New Zealand, where he took a position in Dunedin as a commercial traveller for D. Benjamin & Co, importers.^[2][3]

Described as "a dashing batsman and a first-class fieldsman",^[4] Spraggon made his highest score of 40 not out against Canterbury in February 1897. Batting at number nine, he "hit out lustily" in a "brilliantly played innings" that helped Otago win the match after trailing in the first innings.^[5][6] Earlier that season, in Otago's match against the touring Australian team, his score of 36, batting at number 12 in the Otago XV, was the highest score on either side.^[7]

Spraggon was transferred by D. Benjamin & Co to Wellington in 1898.^[8][9] He married Maud Carnell in Napier in February 1903.^[10] Shortly afterward, he transferred to the National Provident and Friendly Societies Department in Wellington, where he worked for 20 years.^[11] 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.^[2] After a few months of illness, he died in Palmerston North in September 1939, aged 67, leaving a widow and their son.^[2]