After a false start to the season with the RM Dodunksi Cup unable to reach a result due to the level 3 restrictions, club cricket is back! Find out what is happening with the teams as we head into the Hec Holland one day competition.
After falling short in the final against Hamilton Old Boys last season, Marist Suburbs will be looking to hit the ground running when they come up against Hamilton Star University at Galloway Park. The team has lost Hamilton representative batsman Anish Desai who is now the player coach for top of the table Central Indians side in the Bay of Plenty Cup but have a lot of new talent in their ranks. Alex Clare and Paddy Carsons will co-captain the team, who had their most successful season since they were established in 2013 last season and will be looking to go one better this time round.
Semi finalists in last season’s one day competition, Star University will be looking to improve on this and go all the way. Opening batsman Elliot Santner and captain Sajith Dhambagolla will be key figures in Stars success this season. The team will be missing Caleb Boswell-Smith while the Auckland border is still closed and has lost talented batsman Ruben Clinton who has moved away after finishing university.
Gallagher Melville will miss captain and all rounder Freddy Walker for the beginning of the competition as the newly contracted Northern Districts player is down south with the Plunket Shield side. Callum Hill will take over the captaincy duties when they face off against Fraser Technical this weekend. One player to watch will be new recruit Adam Keene from Taranaki who showed his potential in the first game of the season, scoring 21 off 16.
Fraser Tech will be without the skill of bowler James Baker this season as he has retired from all cricket. Otherwise it is an unchanged line up, with the addition of Jack Kane.
Last year’s champions, Hamilton Old Boys, will be wanting to start strong against Hamilton Boys High School.
Contributing 4 out of the 5 top batsmen in last seasons tournament, and 2 of the top 3 bowlers, Old Boys have plenty of firepower in their ranks – including that of experienced captain/coach Brook Hatwell.
A notable player signing is talented batsman, Jacob Parker, who will be going up against his former team for the first time. Parker will play with fellow Old Boys team mates Anurag Verma and Josh Brown side to play Wellington A on Tuesday (the only players from Hamilton named were all from Old Boys).
Hamilton Boys High held their own last season and is ready to battle hard this season and give the new faces in the team some valuable experience.
Boys High will miss Jacob Parker but have a fighting attitude instilled from coaching great Chris Kuggeleijn. Ethan O’Donoghue will take up the captaincy role this season.
TEAM DETAILS 2021-2022
Marist Suburbs
Player Gains: Troy Mitchell, Finn O’Halloran, Andrew Tiddy, Kyle Van Waveren
Player Losses: Anish Desai, Mitchell Bailey
Captain: Paddy Carsons and Alex Clare
Hamilton Star University
Player Gains: Nathan Parkes
Player Losses: Caleb Boswell-Smith, Ruben Clinton
Captain: Sajith Dhambagolla
Gallagher Melville
Player Gains: Adam Keene
Player Losses: Shiv Achary, Pip Thickpenny, Troy Mitchell
Captain: Freddy Walker / Callum Hill
Coach: Clint Price
Fraser Technical
Player Gains: Jack Kane
Player Losses: James Baker
Captain: Jack Devane
Hamilton Old Boys
Player Gains: Jacob Parker, Mike Lanting (returning)
Player Losses: Jake Harvey
Captain: Brook Hatwell
Coach: Brook Hatwell
Hamilton Boys High School
Player Gains: Hamilton Boys pathway players
Player Losses: Jacob Parker, Rhys Kleuskens, Finn Kay
Captain: Ethan O’Donoghue
Coach: Chris Kuggeleijn
