As club cricketers around New Zealand transition into their winter codes, what better time to look back at the club cricket season in Central Districts & Wellington.
WELLINGTON:
Taita District Cricket Club completed a historic triple this season, winning all three premier men’s competitions in Wellington.
The feat comes on the back of the side's continued dominance in the One-Day format, claiming their second Ewen Chatfield Trophy in three seasons, as well as their first ever Pearce Cup in the Two-Day competition.
In the Twenty20 Grand Final, Wellington Firebirds spin bowler, Kieran McComb, produced a magnificent spell (4-4) to give his side the edge over North City Cricket Club.
Another Firebirds representative, Nick Greenwood, notched up 97 runs in the One-Day Grand Final, helping Taita chase down Hutt District’s total of 225 runs in less than 40 overs.
- Taita CC (Pearce Cup – Men’s Two-Day),
- Taita CC (Ewen Chatfield Trophy - Men’s One-Day),
- Taita CC (ROBLAWMAX Men’s T20 Cup).
Petone Riverside Cricket Club staked their claim on the SPOTLIGHT REPORTING Women & Girls’ Premier Grade, winning both the Joy Lamason Trophy (50-Over) and the Maureen Peters Plate (T20).
PRCC proved their class in the final rounds, picking up a 56-run win in the One-Day Grand Final, and a seven-wicket victory in the Twenty20 Grand Final.
Hannah Kells played a significant role in both matches, scoring an unbeaten 28 runs in the T20 final and taking three wickets (3-11) alongside Bree James (3-14) to secure the Joy Lamason Trophy.
- Petone Riverside CC (Joy Lamason Trophy – Women’s One-Day),
- Petone Riverside CC (Maureen Peters Plate – Women’s T20).
TARANAKI CRICKET:
New Plymouth Old Boys’ Cricket Club enjoyed a fantastic summer in Taranaki, completing the sweep of all three men’s premier club competitions.
Not only did NPOBCC win all formats, but they also wiped way bad memories of last summer, reversing losses in all three finals to their cross-town rivals, New Plymouth & Marist United CC.
Their closest final came in the Expert Turf Premier Men’s One-Day final, claiming a six-wicket victory over NPMUCC.
Jordan Gard’s three wickets (3-33) and Davis Mills’ (84*) unbeaten half-century proved enough to see NPOBCC lift the title.
Pukeiti took out the second edition of Baker Tilly Women’s ‘Century’ Tournament in their Grand Final on Pukekura Park.
Bowling first against Kaitake, Pukeiti put together an economical bowling effort to restrict the total to 107 runs.
Central Hinds’ batter, Emily Cunningham, showed her class – scoring 44 runs off just 27 balls before Charlotte Butler (18*) put on the finishing touches to secure victory.
- New Plymouth Old Boys' CC (Men’s Two-Day),
- New Plymouth Old Boys' CC (Men’s One-Day),
- New Plymouth Old Boys' CC (Men’s T20 Cup),
- Pukeiti Women (Baker Tilly Women’s ‘Century’ Tournament).
CRICKET WHANGANUI:
Whanganui United Cricket Club enjoyed a succesful season in Whanganui, taking out the Men’s One-Day competition, and finishing as runners-up in the Coastal Challenge Cup.
WUCC’s Greg Smith provided valuable runs for his side in all competitions, including a half-century (84 runs) to give his side a chance in the Coastal Challenge Cup Grand Final.
Marton Saracens Cricket Club took home the Men’s T20 Cup thanks to four big wickets from Thomas Westwood (4-20) and runs from captain Dominic Rayner (44) in the Grand Final.
- Whanganui United CC (Men’s One-Day),
- Marton Saracens CC (Men’s T20 Cup).
MANAWATU CRICKET:
United Cricket Club dominated Manawatu Club Cricket this summer, taking home titles in the Twenty20, One-Day, Two-Day and Women’s Pre-Christmas competitions.
Top-order bat, Mason Hughes, scored important runs for UCC throughout their competitions, including a match-winning 84 runs in their One-Day final against Marist.
UCC spin bowler, Hayden Hill, took nine wickets to beat Old Boys outright by eight wickets in the Two-Day grand final at Fitzherbert Park.
Hill also received Manawatu Club Cricket’s Twenty20 Player of the Year award.
UCC’s Premier Women went unbeaten through four games to win their Pre-Christmas Competition.
Abby Treder enjoyed a memorable summer with the bat, taking home MCA’s Women’s Batting Award for 2022/23.
- United CC (Men’s Two-Day),
- United CC (Men’s One-Day),
- United CC (Men’s T20 Cup),
- United CC Women (Women’s Pre-Xmas),
- Marist CC Women (Women’s Post Xmas).
HOROWHENUA-KAPITI:
It was a strong season for Levin Old Boys CC, who dominated the Horowhenua-Kapiti One-Day competition and emerged as back-to-back champions of the ‘Coastal Challenge’, a regional One-Day competition spanning across Central Districts.
LOBCC posted 261 runs batting first in the Coastal Challenge Grand Final, thanks to half-centuries from opening batsman Bailey Te Tomo (71) and middle-order bat Matt Good (59).
LOBCC opening bowler, Daemon Kennett (2-22), took two important wickets at the top, before Ryan Taylor’s four wickets (4-36) all but secured victory for LOBCC.
Kapiti Old Boys’ CC also achieved a back-to-back title in the Two-Day format, tallying three strong performances to take out the competition.
- Kapiti Old Boys CC (Men’s Two-Day),
- Levin Old Boys CC (Coastal Challenge - Men’s One-Day),
- Levin Old Boys CC (HKCA Men’s One-Day).
HAWKES BAY:
Napier Tech Old Boys’ CC secured the coveted Men’s Challenge Cup, emerging as overall champions across Hawkes Bays’ premier men’s competitions.
Their best success came in the Twenty20 and One-Day formats, guided by Central Stags representative premier leading run-scorer, Christian Leopard.
The youthful bowling combination of Liam McCarthy and Samuel Pawson combined for a collective 13 wickets throughout the T20 competition.
Captain Todd Watson also provided valuable runs and wickets across all competitions, including an unbeaten 30 runs in the T20 Grand Final.
Havelock North Cricket Club’s women’s side were the form team throughout Hawkes Bays’ Women's Grade, finishing the Twenty20 competition unbeaten.
HNCC’s Aniela Apperley led the way with the bat, finishing as the competitions leading run-scorer.
Charlotte Wakefield impressed with the ball and finished as the competitions leading wicket-taker.
- Napier Tech Old Boys’ CC (Men’s Challenge Cup – Overall Champions),
- Havelock North CC (MJ Shrimpton Memorial Cup - Men’s One-Day),
- Napier Tech Old Boys’ CC (Laver & Wood Trophy - Men’s One-Day),
- Napier Tech Old Boys’ CC (Murray McKearney Memorial Cup - Men’s T20),
- Havelock North Women (Amber Bar Women’s T20).
WAIRARAPA CRICKET:
Raywhite Greytown Cricket Club went unbeaten through five games to take home Wairarapa Cricket’s Community T20 Shield.
Greytown’s Robbie Anderson showed his T20 batting prowess - scoring 600+ runs, including two half-centuries and two centuries.
Red Star Cricket Club took home Wairarapa Cricket’s Bidwell Cup (Two-Day competition), following two strong performances in the competition.
Wairarapa Cricket’s T20 Franchise Competition pulls the best of WCA’s cricketing talent into four teams for a Twenty20 competition.
The Osborne Group Strikers took out this year’s competition, securing a five-wicket victory over the Forrester Valuations Vikings in the Grand Final.
- Red Star CC (Bidwill Cup – Men’s Two-Day),
- Greytown CC (Community Shield - Men’s T20),
- Osborne Group Strikers (Men’s Franchise T20 Comp).
MARLBOROUGH CRICKET:
Wairau Cricket Club showed dominance in Marlborough, taking out both MCA’s club cricket competitions.
Captain and fast bowler, Nick Weaver, was in fine form throughout the summer - finishing as top wicket-taker (23 wickets) across both competitions.
Andrew McCaa was dominant with the bat for WCC, taking home MCA’s Senior Batting Cup for his 585 runs at an average of 58.5.
Opening batsman, Cooper Roberts, produced a season best 87 runs in the One-Day Grand Final to edge Wairau Valley CC out of the title.
- Wairau CC (MWJ Neal Men’s Challenge Cup),
- Wairau CC (SBS Bank Men’s One-Day),
- Wairau CC (Grove Tavern Men’s T20).
NELSON CRICKET:
Stoke-Nayland CC hold Nelson's club cricket bragging rights after taking out both the Two-Day and Twenty20 competitions this summer.
Swing bowler Ryan Edwards played a big role in SNCC’s Two-Day success, bagging 16 wickets with a best bowling innings of 6-33.
Jonty Raxworthy was in fine form throughout all competitions – highlighted by a match-winning 91* runs in the T20 Grand Final, delivering his side their second title of the season.
Wanderers CC and Motueka CC “Wolves” (combined) took out the local One-Day competition on the back of a strong bowling display in their final.
Joseph O’Connor (5-22) secured a timely five-wicket bag and combined with opening bowler Josh Newport (3-34) to bowl Athletic College Old Boys’ out for 117 runs.
A half-century from Sean Neal (69*) leading the “Wolves” home in the 20th over.
- Stoke-Nayland CC (Men’s Two-Day),
- Wanderers / Motueka CC combined (Men’s One-Day),
- Stoke-Nayland CC (Men’s T20 Cup).
