Where the NH program is heading

I’ve had a few questions about what is ahead, so I thought it may be a useful time to give parents and boys a “heads-up” about how the North Harbour program will operate over the next two years.

In December 2011 (ie the end of next year) the annual Primary School Boys (PSB) tournament will be held. PSB is essentially Year 8. At that tournament North Harbour will field two “A” teams of equal strength who play in the “A” division, and, two “B” teams who will play in the “B” division. North Harbour will play against other associations from around Auckland, for example, Central, Eastern, Manukau, and Western Districts. Each of these Districts however only field one “A” and one “B” team. At the conclusion of the tournament, Auckland selection is undertaken.

We need to start building towards having four teams (48 boys) for December 2011 and this process will start later this year when trials will be held in order to expand the current squad from its existing level of 24 boys to 36 boys.

The PSB tournament is also to be held this coming December, and a handful of our current Year 6 players may be asked to be involved in the tournament at the discretion of the current North Harbour Year 7 Convenor (who will be the North Harbour PSB (Year 8) Convenor by that time).

The remaining squad (at least 30+ boys) will be involved in games against other Clubs and Districts through late 2010 / early 2011 much as they have been this season.

I'm also intending to facilitate a Voluntary Spring Training Academy that will be held in approximately August/September 2010 involving the current squad and trialists for the extended squad. The academy will focus on basic batting and bowling technique. The program is likely to be operated by the Takapuna Coach, Neil Fletcher and be held at the Massey University nets. More detail will be provided once the program is firmed up and North Harbour Junior Cricket approval received.

Craig Beecroft, Convenor

Teams v Parnell Sunday March 7th

At our request Parnell have agreed to field two even teams, Parnell 6 Gold and Parnell 6 Maroon for our matches. I've been endeavouring through-out the season where possible to spread opportunity amongst the squad. In this fixture I am taking the opportunity to move some of the middle / middle/lower order batsman up the order to give them further opportunities.

North Harbour Burgundy
Gray Hardy
Harrison Caldwell
Mitchell Bremner
Keiran Young
Greg Vukets
Ryan Schierhout (c)
Adrian Young
Jack Clothier (wk)
Mitchell Watts
Jonty Hawkins
Tom Barham


North Harbour Black
Dylan Stevenson
Jacob Scott
Asher Robb (wk)
Nathaniel Law
Ashton Howard
Angus McKenzie (c)
Ryan Quinn
Jack Collinson
Liam Brown
Travis Van Gysen
Toby Robb

Should anyone be unavailable for this fixture please advise.

Unavailable
Will Cole
Keegan Russell
Max Dewe (Unfortunately Max got injured before his first game for North Harbour, see you next week though Max)

The matches are to be played at Bay City Park in Anderson Rd, off East Coast Bays Rd. The matches are to start at 9am, please be there by 8.15am.





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v Taranaki: February 28th

We have a return match against Taranaki on February 28th. The location is: Hato Petera College (C) Art. No. 1. located on College Rd.


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The team is as follows:

Gray Hardy
Mitchell Bremner
Angus McKenzie (c)
Nathaniel Law
Ashton Howard
William Cole
Dylan Stevenson
Jacob Scott
Jack Collinson
Mitchell Watts
Jonty Hawkins
Greg Vukets (unavailable)

The game will start at 9am, please be there at 8.15am.

The after match is to be held at the Takapuna Cricket Club club rooms located on Northcote Rd.


Craig Beecroft, Convenor

Result v University

The team put in a meritorious performance, the best performance of the season, in a thrilling game to tie with University on the last ball.

Firstly, about University. University have three teams in Auckland's Year 6 Top 8 competition. Two of the University teams sit first and second on the ladder. The University team we played was comprised of the best boys from their three teams, some of the best boys in Auckland.

It was going to be a tough game, an excellent test, and a test of just how far the boys have developed during the course of the season.

University batted first and their batting quality was evident, but we stuck to our game and restricted them to a competitive total of 150/8 in 30 overs. Unfortunately we bowled with a wet ball and that made it tough, but the bowling was generally good in the circumstances, and while a few catches went down that was understandable given the ball. The fielding was tight, but the University boys ran very well, easily getting 20 or 30 extra runs through aggressive running.

We batted very well, and we were on top going into the last several overs, needing five or six an over with several wickets in hand. The major learning point to take away from the game is that in this situation it is not about hitting fours to win the game, it is about getting bat on ball, running aggressively and turning over the strike. We got tied down (by some good bowling) and tended to look for the "big shot".

Needing eight in the last over to win it looked just out of our reach, but needing three off the last ball to win we were gifted a run through a no ball although we had a run-out. It was chaos. One ball, two to win and the ball was edged in the air to short third man and though the fielder dropped it he recovered well. As we raced back for the second (and winning!) run the fielder gathered himself and threw in a perfect throw over the stumps. We were run out by a metre and missed the winning run, but had a tie which was a fair result.

The boys should be very proud of themselves, the improvement in their individual games and the team performance has certainly made the Convenor proud. Well done boys.

University 150/8 in 30 overs (Adrian Young 4 overs, 2-13, Angus McKenzie 4 overs, 0-13)
North Harbour 150/6 in 30 overs (Angus McKenzie 38 ret (50), Ryan Schierhout 32 ret (36), Ryan Quinn 16 (22), Jack Clothier 20 (28)

v University: February 14th

There is a fixture against University on Sunday February 14th which is to be played at Colin Maiden Park (the new home of Auckland Cricket.)



The game starts at 8.45am, please be there by 8am.

The team is as follows:
Angus McKenzie (c)
Toby Robb
Gray Hardy
Ryan Schierhout
Ryan Quinn
Jack Clothier
William Cole
Ashton Howard
Asher Robb (wk)
Adrian Young
Keiran Young

Let me know if you are unavailable.

Wanganui Day 4.

A big thanks again to Kevin Russell for the all the photo's below.

Day 3 Afternoon

Day 3 morning

Day 2: Afternoon

Photo's from Day 2: morning

Day 1 Photo's

Warm up game v Taranaki