Gisborne Boys’ High face tough test in Tauranga

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

THEY'RE back in the game.

Poverty Bay qualifiers Gisborne Boys’ High School cricket colts will play Bay of Plenty’s no.1 team Tauranga Boys’ College at their Nicholson Field tomorrow in the New Zealand Community Trust Year 9-10 National Championship.

Boys’ High didn’t field a Colts team in either the NZCT or traditional fixtures against Napier or Hastings last season, but the keenness of incoming juniors has made an impression on new principal Andrew Turner.

“I'm excited to see the energy and enthusiasm of our young cricketers,” said Mr Turner, an old boy of Tauranga Boys’ College and formerly their Colts cricket coach.

“Cricket is a great team game and I’m pleased to see that the exchange between the schools is still alive. We’ll work hard to uphold that tradition.”

Tauranga Boys’ College beat Bethlehem College, Aquinas College and John Paul College in T20 qualifiers to be BOP carryover champions last November, having been knocked out of the NZCT in 2016 and 2017 by powerhouse Waikato and Northern Districts champion Hamilton Boys’ High School.

“We don’t have superstars - all the boys play their part,” said TBC coach Daniel Anson, whose team won 2-4 at the Napier BHS invitational tournament before Christmas.

“Our job is to make the boys enjoy their cricket. My guys at the moment aspire to play for our first 11.”

Under Jarrod Davenport, Gisborne last beat a very good Tauranga Boys’ College team at the Harry Barker Reserve in 2012, and the BOP qualifiers have an all Y10 team of returners.

The Boys’ High has first 11 experience in captain Daniel Stewart and vice-captain Matthew Foster, both Y10s, with another first 11 squad member Travis O’Rourke also in the side. The new team will play its first game against good opposition, led by a capable all-rounder in Liam Collet.

“We are really looking forward to to-morrow’s game,” Stewart said.

“It means a lot to represent the school, to play for the school with pride. We’d love to win, but even if we don’t, I just want the boys to play well and be proud of their performance.”

The GBHS team for tomorrow’s 12.30pm, 35-over clash with Tauranga Boys’ College clash is:

Daniel Stewart (c), Matthew Foster (v-c), Jack Whitehead-McKay (wkp), Travis O’Rourke, Cohen Loffler, Patrick Brownlie, Ben Phelps, DJ Penfold, Luke Fisher, Nathan Trowell, Daniel Watts.