Brad Reynolds in action. File picture
ONCE a Pirate, always a Pirate, says vice-captain Brad Reynolds, who will play his 100th game for the Buccaneers tomorrow.
“My grandfather (Allan Nairne), father (Chris Reynolds) and uncles (Wynsley Wrigley, Darren Wrigley and Pere Nairne) all wore the skull and crossbones, and I made my debut when I was just 10,” said the 23-year-old, whose side take on Campion College in the second round of the DJ Barry Cup 40-overs competition at Harry Barker Reserve.
“I was called up to fill in for the seconds against the firsts but my first proper game was in 2009 when we played in the B-grade Hope Cup competition.
“With the family history, there was never going to be any other club for me. Chewy (bowler Aku Smith) is our statistician and he told me at the start of this season I needed 14 games to make it to 100 . . . I hope there’s going to be many more.”
Coincidentally, Reynolds’ highest score came against Campion College in the 2009/10 season.
“I scored 115,” said Reynolds, one of the characters of the local competition. “I opened the batting and was out — caught and bowled — by Mitchell Turner (now skipper of Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates) off the last ball (of the innings).
“I’d love to score another ton tomorrow but I don’t care what I get as long as we win. We’ll start favourites but it’s all about runs on the board and wickets taken. You can’t take any game for granted.”
Reynolds, who has also captained Pirates, said winning back-to-back Doleman Cup finals last year and the season before was the highlight of his career so far.
“Winning it last season in front of Rose (Doleman, Pirates life member) and her family was awesome.
‘It’s a pity we couldn’t make it back-to-back-to back this season (Pirates were beaten in the final by OBR) but it’s made the boys more determined to win the DJ Barry Cup.”
Best Pirates playerReynolds had no hesitation when asked who was the best Pirates player he had played alongside.
“Chewy. He’s incredible. He’s 45 and still charging in and bowling straight every ball”.
Dane Thompson got Reynolds’ vote as the best batsman he had played with.
“He makes it look so easy.”
And he pulled no punches when asked why he had never represented Poverty Bay.
“There are way too many players more talented than me. When I was at Boys’ High School getting coached by Jeffo (former Wellington professional cricketer Mark Jefferson) I thought about playing for the Bay but after leaving school all I ever wanted to do was play for Pirates.
“It’s more than a club, it’s a family. We all get on well on and off the field. And the support we get from our older and former players is great.
“Last week we had to call in Gary Coutts, who is coming up 75, and Danny Boyle, who hasn’t played for a while, and they were only too willing to come and help out.”
Pirates opened their DJ Barry Cup campaign with a 135-run win against Horouta last week. Campion picked up easy points when Gisborne Boys’ High School seconds defaulted.
Campion have lost Caleb Greaves to HSOB and Patrick Mathers and Marshall Norris (both OBR). Captain James Torrie, Hunter Jones, Sam Patterson, Matt Naden and Matt Hudson are back for another season.
“These boys will have to lead from the front,” said teacher Mark Naden, who will play if needed.“I’d prefer not to play. I’d rather let the younger players come through for the rest of the season.
“We’ve got a few who will get their chance — Nathan Andrews, Nathan Proctor, Edward Fili-Weti, Cameron Rowell and Tahran Ward.”