Cricket: City seek more success in 70th anniversary year

Duracrete Products City Cricket Club premier players Craig Little, left, Joey Yovich and James Thompson sporting new sponsorship on their kit for the 2016/17 season. Photo/Michael Cunningham

A new sponsor and captain may have given them a slightly different look, but Duracrete Products City Cricket Club aren't making wholesale changes in their approach to the 2016/17 club season.

The oldest cricket club in Northland are celebrating their 70th anniversary this year and are coming off the back of a top season.

City's Joey Yovich said the club was in good stead going forward.

"It's a huge year for us, being the year of our 70th Jubilee. We've had a lot of success in the 50-over format and have moved on to the knockout stage of the national one-day competition," he said.

"We've been fortunate to set up a week-long tournament in April with the Manly-Warringah Cricket Club, who are a top-line side."

"It will be a big year on the field with two reserve sides running and a 100-kid junior programme and we have our overseas pro back for his second season."

New captain Craig Little, formerly from the Manly-Warringah club, thinks the new sponsor will be great for City.

"Any club would benefit from a sponsor, gives the club financial stability and the ability to get new kit and gear," he said.

Little takes over the captaincy from Ian Page, but said there shouldn't be too much change in terms of leadership styles.

"We'll find out on Saturday on how I'll go. A new captain always brings a new voice, but not necessarily a new direction," he said.

"I don't think much will change on the field though. Pagey and I are very similar with how we think about the game."

City also welcomes back their club professional James Thompson for his second season.

Thompson plays for the Marylebone Cricket Club in England, which is based at Lord's.

He said it was more about what happens off the field that brought him back to Whangarei.

"It's the people more than anything, really. The team has a great bunch of guys and we've had a lot of team success, which is great," he said.

"Also, it'll be nice to go to Nationals for the one-day format."

Duracrete Products City Prems have a tough task in their first week of the Lion Red Cup when they take on Onerahi Central Cricket Club at Cobham Oval.

Little said both sides would be up for a huge match.

"It's round one so both teams will be primed for a big game. Onerahi have recruited well so we definitely need to be on our game," he said.

"But if we play to our best, I'm pretty confident that we will be all right."

In the other Lion Red Cup matches, Kamo take on Maungakaramea at home while Kaipara Flats travel to Kensington Park to take on Whangarei Boys' High School First XI.

The reserve competition kicks off with two rounds of T20 at Kensington Park.