Background
The son of Arthur "Joe" Ongley, he was born in Feilding and educated at Saint Patrick"s College, Silverstream, and Victoria College, Wellington.
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Joe Ongley
Edit ProfileCareer
He was a judge of the New Zealand Supreme Court. A "correct, polished and dashing" batsman, he made his Hawke Cup debut for Manawatu at the age of 17 in 1935-1936. He captained the team in its six matches in 1936-1937 and 1937-1938, when Manawatu, the champions, withstood five consecutive challenges.
He made his first-class debut in 1938-1939 for Wellington in the Plunket Shield, scoring a century in his first match against Otago.
He was selected to play for New Zealand later that season against Sir Julien Cahn"s XI and made 35 as an opening batsman in a match ruined by rain. Ongley continued to play for Wellington, with moderate success, through the late 1940s, and captained the team from 1947-1948 to 1949-1950.
He also continued to captain Manawatu in the Hawke Cup, including a period as title holders in the mid-1940s. When the Central Districts team made its first appearance in the 1950-1951 Plunket Shield, he was chosen to be captain.
Central Districts finished second in 1950-1951 and third in 1951-1952, after which Ongley retired from first-class cricket.
He continued to captain Manawatu until 1956-1957, and played his last Hawke Cup match in 1957-1958. He became the first-ever chairman of Central Districts Cricket Association, a position he held from 1954 to 1969. He managed the New Zealand cricket team in Australia in 1967-1968.
Ongley was a judge of the New Zealand Supreme Court.
Achievements
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Born
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Died
October 22, 2000 (aged 82) -
Nationality
New Zealand