Ngakuru School's Sofia Matheson plays a shot during a Rotorua Festival of Cricket Day at Smallbone Park earlier this year. Photo/File
Ngakuru School's Sofia Matheson plays a shot during a Rotorua Festival of Cricket Day at Smallbone Park earlier this year. Photo/File
Summer is upon us and for many that means one thing; it is cricket season.
There is excitement in the air for many young fans throughout the region, as the Bay of Plenty Cricket Association Festival Day series kicks off this week at four locations.
The Festival Day events wereinitiated by Bay of Plenty Cricket in 2004 with the Mini World Cup, which introduces Year 5 and 6 school pupils to the enjoyment of the game.
Festival events will be run in all four of the Bay's minor cricket associations this month, starting with the Rotorua Carnival of Cricket at Boord Park tomorrow.There will be Festival Days played in the Western Bay of Plenty and Taupo on the November 8 and 9 respectively. The BOPCA Festival Day series wraps up at Rex Morpeth Park in Whakatane on Wednesday, November 22.
Bay of Plenty Cricket views the regional Festival Day initiatives as an important part of its recruitment strategy, which build on its in-school promotional visits and the New Zealand Cricket suite of Superstar player programmes.
BOPCA cricket manager Tai Bridgman-Raison said: "For many, the festival days are their first taste of cricket so we want to make sure it is an enjoyable experience. The focus is very much on fun and participation, which is why it is eight a-side and the rules are modified so everyone is involved. The prizes and giveaways always go down well too."
BOPCA Festival Day Series 2017 - 9.30am start
November 7, Rotorua at Boord Park November 8, Western Bay of Plenty at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui November 9, Taupo at Owen Delaney Park November 22, Eastern Bay of Plenty at Rex Morpeth Park
