Ralph Spraggon

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.