Secondary school league proves a blast

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

It’s a safe bet no one knew.

Nobody could have guessed that the 2019-20 Poverty Bay secondary schools’ cricket league would explode from the outset, with Gisborne Boys’ High School Heritage beating GBHS Tradition by seven wickets.

The new league on Nelson Park’s artificial pitches was great to watch, and while Heritage opening bat and GBHS first 11 captain Paul Stewart chose to retire — at 51 not out — retirements were not compulsory.

The odd short ball was bowled — and played well — by much-improved cricketers such as Tradition’s Daniel Watts.

The senior students involved (Paul Stewart for Heritage; Jack Faulkner and Jacob Colbert for Tradition) did a good job of working with Year 11 captains Matt Foster and Daniel Stewart.

Tradition captain Stewart won the toss, his crew reaching 122-5 off their 15 overs.

Faulkner (30 runs) and Colbert (10) gave Tradition a powerhouse start. Colbert hit the first six of the match before being bowled by Sebastian Wilson (1-16 off two overs) and Faulkner was caught at Cow Corner by Paul Stewart off guest leg-spinner Liam Barbier (1-14 off two).

No.3 Cohen Loffler made an excellent unbeaten 53 and Daniel Stewart (22 from 16 balls) also batted with intent.

Heritage seamer Nathan Trowell (1-33 off three) saw three balls edged for four off his bowling and resolved to make a difference with the bat.

Paul Stewart and wicket-keeper/batsman Jack Whitehead-McKay (31no) shared an opening stand of 84 but Trowell’s 22 off nine balls featured an incredible leg-glance — a pick-up shot for six off Loffler. The shot ranks with Blake Marshall’s on-drive for six off left-arm quickie Travis O’Rourke last season and Gisborne Intermediate giant Chris Macpherson’s straight hit in 2000.

Daniel Stewart (0-5 off one) and Daniel Watts (0-10 off two) were the most economical bowlers in a match Heritage won in 13.5 overs.

“It was great to see the boys, older and younger, out there playing cricket,” Poverty Bay Cricket Association junior development Officer Bruce Kerr said.

“They certainly hit some big ones!”