Boys' High launch bid for notable cup

The Zest Insurance Whangarei Boys' High School First XI team begin their quest for the Gillette Cup in Christchurch today.

As the top school team in Northern Districts, Boys' High will play each of the other major association winners in a 50-over round robin competition to decide the national champion.

Boys' High will come up against Wellington's Scots College today, Central Districts' Lindisfarne College tomorrow, Canterbury's Christchurch Boys' High School on Wednesday, Otago Boys' High on Thursday, and Auckland's Mt Albert Grammar on Friday.

The team suffered a blow when New Zealand Under 19 all-rounder Kurtley Watson had to withdraw on the eve of the tournament with a foot injury. However, a good showing can be expected on the basis of some solid form during the Northland men's premier club competition.

This will be the fourth appearance at the Gillette Cup finals for Boys' High, and for their manager, Russell Smith. Coach Stephen Cunis was a member of the 1996 team, which finished third.

From the 1994 side, who were national champions, Matthew Bell, Joseph Yovich and Tim Anderson, went on to play first-class cricket.

Cunis and Neal Parlane, from the 1996 team, did likewise, while the 2009 side included three players who have been prominent for Northland this season - Henry Cooper, Ben Hyde and Bradley Kneebone.

It will be the 24th consecutive national finals tournament with more than 200 schools nationwide entering. The six schools competing in this year's finals tournament won the preliminary rounds in their respective regions over recent months.

The Gillette Cup has become synonymous with secondary school boys cricket and the development of future players. It is one of the longest running competitions in secondary school sport.

More than 60 first class players have come through the tournament, with Kane Williamson and Tim Southee being two of the more recent graduates into the Black Caps.

The competition will unfold over five days with the six finalists playing each other once in a round-robin format.

Live scoring of the games will appear on NZ Cricket website, http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/

BOYS' HIGH: Max Davis (captain), David Armitt, Caleb Boswell-Smith, Sam Clotworthy, Fletcher Coutts, Matthew Lobb, Lewis Miller, Tim Osbaldiston, Chamodh Peiris, Nick Stobart, Finn Trimble, Max Trimble.