High hopes for Bay

IN GOOD FORM: Caleb Greaves is one of several Poverty Bay senior secondary school cricketers to have put in strong performances this season. Picture by Liam Clayton.

POVERTY Bay secondary schoolboys cricket manager David McDonald says he is “expecting strong performances” from his side in the Northern Districts senior secondary schoolboys (under-18) tournament, which starts on Monday, at the Harry Barker Reserve.

“Robbie Tallott, Thorn Parkes, Jak Rowe and Jarrod Davenport have all played senior men’s rep cricket and performed well,” McDonald said. “James Torrie, Hunter Jones, Caleb Greaves and Sam Patterson have been putting in strong performances for Campion this season and the younger players are all promising cricketers.”

The Bay begin the tournament with two Twenty 20 matches, against Waikato Valley and Bay of Plenty Coastlands.

“It’s crucial to get wins in these games if we are to have any chance of making the top-four semifinals on Wednesday,” McDonald said.

McDonald said the Harry Barker Reserve was regarded as the premier venue for age-group cricket in Northern Districts Cricket and one of the best in New Zealand for tournament play.

“It’s the 12th year we’ve held the tournament here,” he said. “All the games can be staged at the one venue and the pitches are of very high quality, so we keep getting allocated this pinnacle tournament for the region.

“We’ve got teams from Poverty Bay, Bay of Plenty, Hamilton, Counties Manukau, Waikato Valley, Northland and an invitational team. “Going on past tournaments, we’re looking at 200-plus coming into the city for six days — players, officials and supporters.

“History shows that players from this tournament have gone on to play for the Black Caps, the Northern Knights and other national association teams. “Who knows . . . spectators could be watching a future Black Cap here next week.”