2018 HNHS School Magazine HNHS Magazine 2018 | Page 60

C
Cricket 1st XI Boys
Back Row:
2nd Row:
Front Row:
Absent:
Oscar Field, Mason Cook, Alexander Philip, Ted Rainger, Tristan Mudaly
Mr Andy Reeves (Coach), Josh Lawson, Hamish Jackson, Mr James Rainger (Manager)
Alex Reed, Blake Campbell, Guy Reeves, Rogan Ross, Oscar Sowman
Liam Shackleton
2017 was the pinnacle of achievement for cricket at HNHS.
The 1st XI became Hawke’s Bay Secondary School
Champions and completed a very successful and enjoyable
cricket tour to the UK. Such a triumphant year was always
going to be tough to follow and the start of the 2018 season
proved a challenge. Not least because some senior players
chose to play higher level club cricket and a couple of our
multi-talented sportsmen were required to put greater focus
on football much earlier than usual. Even so, the 1st XI was
undefeated in the Hawke’s Bay 2nd Division and should
have made the cup final in March. The girls continue with their 8-a-side competition on
Thursdays and the Hawke’s Bay Girls representatives are
encouraged to play women’s club/boys’/men’s cricket to
help develop their game to the highest level. HNHS is keen
to encourage and nurture girls’ cricket and with Aimee Kay
representing Hawke’s Bay Under 15s and many other good
young cricketers developing, well the future is looking rosy
for girls cricket once more. Sophie Pyott, who left HNHS in
2017, represented St Lawrence and Highland Court CC last
winter in the Southern England Ladies League as a result of
coming on the school cricket tour.
On a very positive note, though, we have a great deal of
talent and enthusiasm in the Colts team who beat both of
Napier Boys’ Colts teams this year, which bodes very well
for the future. The 1st XI cricket wicket has been given
a total upgrade and the second HNHS Cricket Tour is
pencilled in for July 2020. It is the ideal time to consolidate
and develop the school’s cricket. If you are a cricket follower or have children playing cricket
in the younger age groups, you will know that the game is
changing. The number of teenagers playing cricket is falling
rapidly and NZ Cricket is looking to invest in and change
the nature of junior cricket to increase participation and
enjoyment. As a result, some changes to the school leagues
have been made for Term four. For our senior boys, we have devised a new strategy.
Expecting a high school team to compete in a men’s grade
has not helped teenage players to enjoy the game nor allowed
them to develop their skills appropriately. End-of-year
exams mean many players cannot commit to being available
every weekend and, at the same time, we had several squad
members like Hamish Jackson having ambitions to play
for Hawke’s Bay Under 19s and Alex Philp for theUnder
17s. In order to offer senior cricket at an appropriate level
for ALL our cricket players on Saturdays including Colts
and Girls, we have integrated with Havelock North Cricket
Club, who have sides playing at Premier, Senior, 2nd and
3rd Grades. James Rainger and I are running the 2nd Grade
club side and former HNHS 1st XI coach Peter Young is
running the 3rd Grade side.
The HNHS Colts and Junior teams will continue to play in
the Colts and Junior 20/20 grades on Wednesday afternoons.
This is now a 9-a-side competition. When the new school year starts in Term 1, the HNHS 1st
XI will reform and will represent the school in a schools
competition against other High School 1st XI teams, the
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