Cricket: HB schoolgirls primed for nationals

Ruby Roberts with Lucy Ward, Rowen Hurley, Serah Hartley, Aimee Kay, Tristam Bernie, Aniela Apperley, Tessa Nettlingham, Jorja Earley, Bella Bernie, Ella Sherratt and Sophia McKeefry.

THEY won't be wearing the favourites tag when play begins today but the Havelock North Intermediate School team won't be lacking motivation in Christchurch today.

"We want to win games and improve on last year's position," says the first XI schoolgirls' team captain, Ruby Roberts, as they begin their campaign in the three-day T20 round-robin National Primary School Post Shield Girls' Cricket Tournament at Lincoln.

The villagers have five players from last year while the rest are newcomers.

Roberts, a year 8 pupil, was vice-captain last year when they finished fifth at the same venue.

Hastings Pak'NSave sponsored the team shirts with players' names on the back although the school has shed its traditional army green/yellow strips for blue and white colours, according to teacher in charge Rowen Hurley.

Women's cricket stalwart Bob Morgan has been helping the Tristan Bernie-coached side, including winter sessions through a school academy.

"Over that time we developed a special bond and encouraged each other," said Roberts who got into cricket because elder sister Lucy, of Woodford House, played it with the help of their father, Bill, as coach.

"I'm quite competitive so I try to beat my sister.

"I love batting and I'm always trying to hit it big," says the youngster who makes runs and take wickets most times with vice-captain Tessa Nettlingham and Aniela Apperley but hastens to add all players contribute to the team's success.

Havelock will face Viscount Primary School (Auckland), Tauranga Intermediate (ND), Raroa Normal Intermediate (Wellington), Heaton Normal Intermediate (Canterbury) an Weston Primary (Otago).

The Bay school beat Carterton Intermediate by four wickets in Whanganui to make the cull for the nationals.

Roberts says their parent coach urges them to improve.

"He's very, very calm and offers good advice, especially when it comes to batting."

Team: Ruby Roberts (c), Tessa Nettlingham (v-c), Serah Hartley, Natalya Nicholson, Lucy Ward, Connie Wilson, Ella Sherratt, Aniela Apperley, Sophia McKeefry, Jorja Earley, Aimee Kay (wkt), Bella Bernie.

Coach: Tristan Bernie.

Teacher in charge: Rowen Hurley.