Otumoetai Cadets Cricket Club celebrates 40 years

Black Cap Trent Boult sends down a bouncer for Otumoetai Cadets against long time rivals Mount Maunganui. Photo / File

Otumoetai Cadets Cricket Club will hold a celebratory dinner as part of the club's 40th anniversary celebrations at their Tauranga Domain clubrooms on Saturday night.

The cricket club originated from Otumoetai Cadets Rugby Club in 1978, with a rugby jersey of the time on the wall at the cricket club recognising the link between the two clubs.

While success was moderate in the early years, the club's first Williams Cup in the 1994/95 season started a significant winning streak of 10 titles in two decades.

Numerous Baker Cup titles accompanied the Williams Cup triumphs. In the 2015/16 season, they became the first Baywide Club to have their name engraved on all three Baywide Premier trophies. The Baywide T20 title was won in March 2016 and the Baywide Cup in the 2007/08 and 2011/12 seasons.

In 2004, Otumoetai Cadets became the only Bay of Plenty or Northern Districts club to win the New Zealand Club Championships played at Cornwall Park in Auckland around Easter each year.

Former Black Cap Llorne Howell became a prolific run scorer, scoring the most centuries (13) from his arrival in 2004. ND all-rounder Jono Boult was the first Bay of Plenty premier batsman to reach 200 runs in an innings.

Cadets best premier bowling figures were set nearly 30 years ago with Tony Grey becoming the only Cadets bowler to take nine wickets in an innings. Long-time Cadets player, coach and member Rick Spratt holds the record for the most six-wicket bags with 11, with club president Campbell Wilson achieving the feat on seven occasions.

Trent Boult is a home-grown Black Cap and made his debut while still at Otumoetai College. Cadets are entitled to acknowledge Cantabrian Corey Anderson, as their second club of origin New Zealand player. Anderson was a member of Otumoetai Cadets when first selected for the Black Caps in October 2013.

Otumoetai Cadets field four senior men's teams each Saturday during the summer cricket season. The premier side, sponsored by Element IMF, leads the 2017 Baywide Cup title race. Cadets Reserve Grade team have won multiple championship titles over the years, while this season long-time B Grade contenders Grasshoppers and new recruits Punjab Warriors are playing under the club banner.

Past players and supporters are invited to attend the anniversary dinner on Saturday. The evening begins at 6.30pm, with the premier side playing Tauranga Boys' College at the Domain during the afternoon.

Tickets for the evening event are $40 including a catered meal and band and can be pre-purchased through Jono Boult 027 313 8014 or at the club on Saturday. Anniversary polo shirts for the celebration are also available for sale at $46 each.

■ Otumoetai Cadets Record Holders
Premier Most Centuries: 13 Llorne Howell, 8 Ben Christensen, 7 Jono Boult
Highest Scores: 200no Jono Boult, 178 Ben Christensen, 160 Llorne Howell
Most Six-Wicket Bags: 11 Rick Spratt, 7 Campbell Wilson
Best Bowling: 9/47 Tony Grey, 8/25 Trent Boult