Breathing new life into MCC Bat

NEW APPROACH: Primary schools Mangapapa and Ormond met at Ormond in the first round of the MCC Bat interschool cricket competition. At the back are junior cricket development officer Mel Knight and Poverty Bay cricket development officer Dave McDonald. Third row (from left): Ormond team members James Hargreaves, Ben Langford, Jack McEwan, Gareth Langford, Fletcher Ware, Rani Moran, Margot Dymock and Peter Reynolds. Second row: Mangapapa players Logan Orsler, Dylan Foster, Sam Briant, Kiera Cairns, Olivia Rere-Robertson and Nathan Trowell. Front: Cory Thompson and Luke Stoltenberg. Pictures by Liam Clayton

JUNIOR cricket administrators are trying to breathe new life into one of Gisborne’s oldest sports trophies.

The MCC Bat has been a primary school cricket challenge trophy in Gisborne for over 80 years but a drop-off in interest in recent years has led to a review of the rules.

Holders Mangapapa School defeated Ormond School at Ormond in the first round of the MCC Bat interschool competition being played under Superstar Cricket rules.

Ormond posted 217. In reply, Mangapapa finished with 228.

Superstar Cricket is an eight-a-side game aimed at giving everyone an equal opportunity to contribute to the outcome.

Players bat in pairs for two overs (12 balls). If they get out, five runs come off the total, which starts at 200.

The game is played with a soft cricket ball, and each bowler has a maximum of two overs, bowling from one end. Minimal cricket equipment is required.

Superstar Cricket lends itself to being played in school time, or at lunchtimes.

Under the old MCC Bat rules, matches were played between primary school first 11s, with each team having a maximum of 20 overs and having to use five bowlers. Batters did not retire, and games were played with hard balls and pads.

In recent times, interest had dropped off, cricket development officer David McDonald said.

This was mainly because few Gisborne primary schools had enough capable hardball players to mount a significant challenge to the dominant cricket schools — Mangapapa, Central and, historically, Te Hapara.

The move to Superstar Cricket rules for the MCC Bat was to breathe new life into the competition.

This term, the MCC Bat competition was being contested by teams from Patutahi, Te Hapara, Te Wharau, Makauri, Ormond and Mangapapa. He hoped more would join for Term 1 next year.

“It is open to any Year 1 to Year 6 primary school in Tairawhiti,” he said.

Entries for Term 1 could be sent in now, by email, to mel@pbcricket.co.nz