Expect a bunch of Tauranga Intermediate-minis to fight out next season's New Zealand Cup primary schools tournament after the school this week sealed the deal as the best primary schools cricket first XI in New Zealand.
Tauranga Intermediate arrived home with the New Zealand Cup -formerly Milo Cup - after so dominating the four-team, two-day tournament in Palmerston North that it almost wasn't a fair contest.
From the 347 teams that started the qualification process at the start of the year, Ellesmere College, Heaton Intermediate, Inglewood Primary and Tauranga Intermediate fought through to the national final.
But Tauranga, led by outstanding allrounder Jamie Oakley, were the only team left standing after big Twenty20 wins over their three North and South Island rivals.
They scored a 59-run win over Ellesmere College, reaching 131-9 with the bat as Oakley hit 43 off 52 balls, and dismissing their opponents for 72 in the 18th over, with Oakley and Luke Mannix snagging three batsmen each.
Led by Oakley's 49, they got to 121-7 against Inglewood in the first game on day two then strolled to another comfortable win when Inglewood fell for 74. Even bowling first for the first time in the tournament Tauranga couldn't be stopped against Heaton, who got to 74, with Finn Russell's 27 the backbone as Tauranga won by a massive eight wickets.
Intermediate teacher Aubrey Jeftha, who co-coached the team in conjunction with Bay of Plenty allrounder and school sports co-ordinator Brett Hampton, said the opposition coaches were staggered by the professionalism of the side during the tournament.
"Even with the warm-ups the kids did as a team and the way we structured the whole thing they couldn't believe it, but it all came down to the preparation we put in place in January.
"The other coaches came up to us and said we were more prepared than them - our kids instinctively knew what to do whether it was field placings, finding gaps with the bat or nudging for quick singles. I dare say there'll be a few more teams turning up next year with a higher level of organisation because of what we did."
Tauranga Intermediate principal Brian Diver is in South Africa but was constantly on the phone wanting score updates.
"So we're just stoked with what we've achieved for the school. It was a fantastic few days cricket and the brilliant achievement was matched by how good the boys were as ambassadors for their school."
Jeftha said pint-sized Oakley, the son of former world squash champion Dame Susan Devoy and her husband John Oakley, had a clear touch of class about him.
"He was undoubtedly man of the tournament in everyone's eyes - batting, bowling and as a top little captain with all the decision-making stuff that goes with it.
"He's got this delicate little shot he guides through the gully area that's hard to defend against and teams found his loopy offspinners difficult on that (grass) pitch because they just sat there. He can be this area's next Black Caps following after Kane (Williamson)."
Results:
NZC Cup (boys):
Tauranga Intermediate 131-9 from 20 overs (James Oakley 43, Finn Russell 22, Luke Mannix 20; Alex Caunce 6-32, George Franklin 2-31) beat Ellesmere College 72-all out from 18 overs (Jack Symes 30; James Oakley 3-15, Luke Mannix 3-6).
Heaton Intermediate 62-7 from 20 overs (Rico Syme 23; Cody Chilcott 2-11, Luke Dravitski 2-8) lost to Inglewood Primary School 63-2 from 12.4 overs (Luke Dravitski 32, Joshua Reeve 13).
Tauranga Intermediate 121-7 off 20 overs (F Russell 49, L Mannix 18, B Campbell 14; L Dravitzki 2-16) beat Inglewood Primary 74 off 20 overs (T Judson 20; L Mannix 2-5).
Ellesmere College 128 off 20 overs beat Heaton Intermediate 90 off 20 overs.
Heaton Intermediate 74 off 20 overs (B Hartland 19, C Reid 17; J Oakley 2-7) lost to Tauranga Intermediate 75-2 off 13.1 overs (F Russell 27, J Oakley 16).
Inglewood Primary 88-6 off 20 overs beat Ellesmere College 67 out off 18 overs.