| Ralph Spraggon | |
| Fullname: | Ralph Dew Spraggon |
| Birth Date: | 13 August 1872 |
| Birth Place: | Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Death Place: | Palmerston North, New Zealand |
| Role: | Batsman |
| Club1: | Otago |
| Columns: | 1 |
| Column1: | First-class |
| Matches1: | 6 |
| Runs1: | 125 |
| Bat Avg1: | 13.88 |
| 100S/50S1: | 0/0 |
| Top Score1: | 40 |
| Hidedeliveries: | true |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 3/– |
| Date: | 8 August 2023 |
| Source: | http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/38543.html Cricinfo |
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.[1]
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.[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, 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.[5] [6] 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.[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 afterwards 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]