Cricket: Reserve tourney well received

In the first game, Counties-Manakau scored 164- 6 eventually defeating Whangarei who reached 120-8 in their 20 overs. Photo / Thinkstock

The success of the representative Reserve Grade tournament has Northland Cricket administrators congratulating themselves for following through on a good idea.

NCA's general manager Warren Marr said the triangular tournament, featuring cricketers who play in reserve grade club competition, was well received by the players and that has encouraged them to plan another next year.

"The day was played in great spirits and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves so much that we'd like to expand the idea next year - and perhaps throw it open to the other Northern Districts provincial associations," he said.

It was a first for Northland with a Whangarei selection hosting the Twenty20 competition at Cobham Oval which included reserve grade teams from the Far North and Counties-Manukau.

Marr said the idea is to give the declining population of adult players something extra to aim at every year - to keep them involved in the game for longer.

"These guys are the guys who run the clubs, they are the administrators, the fund-raisers, the coaches and the club men who play for the love of the game - they are the backbone of cricket in Northland and we want to do all we can to make sure they stick around," he said.

He said if enough teams were interested then the association might make next year's tournament a weekend-long event.

"It's very important for the NCA to try and cater for all cricketers of all abilities and this is one way to try and do that. Not only is it a great chance for players from the Far North, Counties-Manukau and Whangarei to play at Cobham Oval; it is a good chance for those not playing Premier Cricket to experience a form representative cricket.

In the first game, Counties-Manakau scored 164- 6 eventually defeating Whangarei who reached 120-8 in their 20 overs. Counties-Manakau then accounted for the Far North team by scoring 147-4 and then bowling out the Far North for 111.

In the all-Northland encounter, Whangarei narrowly beat the Far North by scoring 122-8 and then restricted the Far North to 105-7.