Northland turned on the BBQ and the weather for a great day of cricket for our last game of the season. Everyone made the two hour trip in good spirits and the boys looked excited and keen to show off the skills they have developed over the season.
Northland have not had the opportunities that our boys have had and it was a credit to them that they were able to organise two teams from a large region. They were clearly excited about the chance of playing their first representative game and were a really enthusiastic bunch who played the game in the right spirit and kept fighting to the end.
At the end of the day, we had won both of our games easily and I was impressed by the way that we went about winning the games. We have come a cropper a couple of times this season against teams that we shouyld have beaten and it was satisfying that the boys concentrated and saw out the victories in both games. We played the full 30 overs, even though we had won the game, and it was great to see that this fact did not stop the Northland boys from giving 100%.
Andrew's XI
Northland batted first and there was a flurry of early wickets which had everyone thinking that it might be over sooner rather than later. However, they mustered well and one of their boys, Jake, set about going after our short pitch bowling. We were playing on full wickets and boundaries and many of the boys were not used to this, so it took a while to get our bowling lengths sorted. However, we did and Angus Nicoll and Steven Newey finished off a very strong end to the season with a fine bowling performances. The bowling was backed up by some very fine fielding - 10 catches and a run out! Having toppled their batting order in the 23rd over, we offered them the opportunity of making sure that everyone got a good bat and went on to 30 overs - which is why they ended up with 94/11.
It was a total that could have caused us a headache or two - the danger was that we would get bogged down thinking that we had plenty of time and not knock the runs off. However, Matt Strain and Chris Woodard started superbly and ticked the score over with some aggressive running between the wickets. After 10 overs we were 48/1 and were well on our way - in the end we were only to lose three wickets and managed to score 159 in our 30 overs. Everyone got a bat, even Faisal - who kept telling me he was never going to get a bat at number 11!
Northland 94/11 (Angus Nicoll 2/5, Steven Newey 2/7, Donald Coleman 1/13, Harry Bartlett 1/3, Rory Douglas 1/13, Chris Woodard 1/6, Matt Strain 1/9 and Luke Dewar 1/4) North Harbour Andrew 158/3 (Chris Woodard 32, Matt Strain 12, Kieran Seedal 22*, Rory Douglas 17*, Donald Coleman 11*)
Colin's XI
A similar story was unfolding on the other pitch although the wickets were not tumbling quite as quickly. The bowling and fielding was good, as the young Northland side struggled to get to grips with the higher level of cricket. A very creditable performance by Northland and, in particular, one young lad, Lewis, who fought bravely and retired on 33*. Everyone contributed in some way, however, they lasted the 30 overs and with 3 wickets in hand and it would have been nice to have bowled them out.
When it came to batting, we needed 93 to win from our 30 overs, this is the sort of total (as above) that can be awkward. We started slowly and probably could have learnt from Andrew's XI about pushing the singles. That being said, Northland were throwing themselves around in the field and did very well to keep the pressure on and Scotty Gannaway and Evan Cronje gave us a good start when we did not want to lose early wickets. They had some useful bowlers but, once our boys started to get on top, it was just a matter of time. As with the other game, everyone got a chance to bat, even though the game was finished by the 19th over. At the end of the innings we had scored 176/3 with some really strong batting performances from Evan Cronje, Eru Hudson, Max Lewis, Bjorn Wojt, Cole Briggs and Asher Robb.
Northland 92/7 (Bronson Marshall 1/6, Max Lewis 1/2, Evan Cronje 1/11, Jack Stevenson 2/12, Sam Hinds 1/14 and Cole Briggs 1/6) North Harbour Colin 176/3 (Scott Gannaway 12, Evan Cronje 27*, Eru Hudson 17*, Max Lewis 25*, Cole Briggs 12*, Bjorn Wojt 25* and Asher Robb 18*)
And finally ...
At the start of the day I asked the boys for two things - firstly, I wanted them to finish the season on a high with some good cricket and secondly, and most importantly, I wanted them to enjoy themselves. I am very happy to report that both were "ticked off". It has been a privelage to work with the boys over the season, they have been like sponges. I looked at the Northland sides and saw us about six months ago and then looked at how far they have come over this time. This is down to hard work from the boys and the commitment from you, the parents. It was a great way to end the season and hopefully you all have enjoyed it as much as I have. When I glanced over at Andrew's XI and saw that they had 8 slips and a gully in position for the final over, I gathered that they might be enjoying themselves a little bit.
Finally, I would like to thank Don Hastie and Colin Marshall, without whom it would have been a complete nightmare. We worked together as a team and discussed, sometimes late in to the night, technical (and not so technical) issues. Don't let them fool you in to thinking that they were back room staff - none of this would have been possible without them. Equally, Sue/Andrew/Nigel/Peter/Chris as scorers/umpires/photographers and you guys as support on the sidelines have been fantastic - do not underestimate the importance that you have all had on the development of the team.
Right! 2008/2009 Season is now officially closed - see you all in a couple of months time!
All the best,
Rupert
Northland have not had the opportunities that our boys have had and it was a credit to them that they were able to organise two teams from a large region. They were clearly excited about the chance of playing their first representative game and were a really enthusiastic bunch who played the game in the right spirit and kept fighting to the end.
At the end of the day, we had won both of our games easily and I was impressed by the way that we went about winning the games. We have come a cropper a couple of times this season against teams that we shouyld have beaten and it was satisfying that the boys concentrated and saw out the victories in both games. We played the full 30 overs, even though we had won the game, and it was great to see that this fact did not stop the Northland boys from giving 100%.
Andrew's XI
Northland batted first and there was a flurry of early wickets which had everyone thinking that it might be over sooner rather than later. However, they mustered well and one of their boys, Jake, set about going after our short pitch bowling. We were playing on full wickets and boundaries and many of the boys were not used to this, so it took a while to get our bowling lengths sorted. However, we did and Angus Nicoll and Steven Newey finished off a very strong end to the season with a fine bowling performances. The bowling was backed up by some very fine fielding - 10 catches and a run out! Having toppled their batting order in the 23rd over, we offered them the opportunity of making sure that everyone got a good bat and went on to 30 overs - which is why they ended up with 94/11.
It was a total that could have caused us a headache or two - the danger was that we would get bogged down thinking that we had plenty of time and not knock the runs off. However, Matt Strain and Chris Woodard started superbly and ticked the score over with some aggressive running between the wickets. After 10 overs we were 48/1 and were well on our way - in the end we were only to lose three wickets and managed to score 159 in our 30 overs. Everyone got a bat, even Faisal - who kept telling me he was never going to get a bat at number 11!
Northland 94/11 (Angus Nicoll 2/5, Steven Newey 2/7, Donald Coleman 1/13, Harry Bartlett 1/3, Rory Douglas 1/13, Chris Woodard 1/6, Matt Strain 1/9 and Luke Dewar 1/4) North Harbour Andrew 158/3 (Chris Woodard 32, Matt Strain 12, Kieran Seedal 22*, Rory Douglas 17*, Donald Coleman 11*)
Colin's XI
A similar story was unfolding on the other pitch although the wickets were not tumbling quite as quickly. The bowling and fielding was good, as the young Northland side struggled to get to grips with the higher level of cricket. A very creditable performance by Northland and, in particular, one young lad, Lewis, who fought bravely and retired on 33*. Everyone contributed in some way, however, they lasted the 30 overs and with 3 wickets in hand and it would have been nice to have bowled them out.
When it came to batting, we needed 93 to win from our 30 overs, this is the sort of total (as above) that can be awkward. We started slowly and probably could have learnt from Andrew's XI about pushing the singles. That being said, Northland were throwing themselves around in the field and did very well to keep the pressure on and Scotty Gannaway and Evan Cronje gave us a good start when we did not want to lose early wickets. They had some useful bowlers but, once our boys started to get on top, it was just a matter of time. As with the other game, everyone got a chance to bat, even though the game was finished by the 19th over. At the end of the innings we had scored 176/3 with some really strong batting performances from Evan Cronje, Eru Hudson, Max Lewis, Bjorn Wojt, Cole Briggs and Asher Robb.
Northland 92/7 (Bronson Marshall 1/6, Max Lewis 1/2, Evan Cronje 1/11, Jack Stevenson 2/12, Sam Hinds 1/14 and Cole Briggs 1/6) North Harbour Colin 176/3 (Scott Gannaway 12, Evan Cronje 27*, Eru Hudson 17*, Max Lewis 25*, Cole Briggs 12*, Bjorn Wojt 25* and Asher Robb 18*)
And finally ...
At the start of the day I asked the boys for two things - firstly, I wanted them to finish the season on a high with some good cricket and secondly, and most importantly, I wanted them to enjoy themselves. I am very happy to report that both were "ticked off". It has been a privelage to work with the boys over the season, they have been like sponges. I looked at the Northland sides and saw us about six months ago and then looked at how far they have come over this time. This is down to hard work from the boys and the commitment from you, the parents. It was a great way to end the season and hopefully you all have enjoyed it as much as I have. When I glanced over at Andrew's XI and saw that they had 8 slips and a gully in position for the final over, I gathered that they might be enjoying themselves a little bit.
Finally, I would like to thank Don Hastie and Colin Marshall, without whom it would have been a complete nightmare. We worked together as a team and discussed, sometimes late in to the night, technical (and not so technical) issues. Don't let them fool you in to thinking that they were back room staff - none of this would have been possible without them. Equally, Sue/Andrew/Nigel/Peter/Chris as scorers/umpires/photographers and you guys as support on the sidelines have been fantastic - do not underestimate the importance that you have all had on the development of the team.
Right! 2008/2009 Season is now officially closed - see you all in a couple of months time!
All the best,
Rupert
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