Cricket: Juniors step up to take part

Children of all ages took part in a junior cricket open day at Smallbone Park yesterday. Pictured (from left) are Eve Maniapoto, 4, Shya Smith, 9, and Noah Page, 10. Photo / Stephen Parker

Junior cricket is under way in Rotorua with some new changes being introduced this season.

The Rotorua Cricket Association hosted a junior open day yesterday at Rotorua's premier ground Smallbone Park.

About 65 children went along to catch up with old team mates or to try the sport for the first time.

Rotorua Cricket development manager Dave Richardson said they were opening up the Smallbone Park facilities to junior cricket this year.

"Smallbone Park has traditionally been a men's park but we have a new system where juniors and seniors are one."

Richardson said the park would host junior representative games this season, which had not been done before.

He also said the clubrooms would be opened up to the juniors.

"So the juniors will have an honours board too and we will try and sell ice creams and ice blocks as well."

The open day yesterday saw children aged between four and 11 taking part.

"It was for kids who have already registered to come down and catch up with their old team mates and for new kids to come down and have a practice and see what cricket is about," he said.

"It was also for mums and dads to come and see how cricket works in Rotorua and meet the people who run it."

Junior cricket is mainly played through school teams in Rotorua, catering for children in Year 1 right through to high school.

Children can still register to play this year and can sign up through their schools, online at www.sportsground.co.nz/rotoruaca or by contacting Dave Richardson on 027 580 0149.