Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

New Geyser City teams aim high in senior cricket opener

David Beck
By David Beck
Multimedia sports journalist·Rotorua Daily Post·
6 Oct, 2017 03:24 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Geyser City Western Heights High School Old Boys captain Joe O'Donoghue (left) and Geyser City John Paul College Old Boys captain Manny Kumar will go head-to-head this weekend. Photo/Ben Fraser

Geyser City Western Heights High School Old Boys captain Joe O'Donoghue (left) and Geyser City John Paul College Old Boys captain Manny Kumar will go head-to-head this weekend. Photo/Ben Fraser

With winter in the rearview mirror and summer upon us it is that time of year when boundaries are hit, stumps are skittled and catches win matches.

The first round of the Rotorua/Taupo senior reserve grade cricket competition tomorrowsees two brand new Rotorua-based teams go head-to-head.

Geyser City Cricket Club, John Paul College and Western Heights High School have joined forces to create two new "old boys" teams this season, in an effort to create better pathways for young cricketers.

Tomorrow those two teams, which include old boys with connections to the respective schools as well as current senior pupils, play each other at Ray Boord Park.

Geyser City spokesman Kane Vanner said the two squads had shaped up well, with strong teams going into the derby match.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"We have a really competitive atmosphere building between the teams, with a lot of pride on the line for both high schools - including some really healthy banter.

"Both sides have new captains and vice-captains for the season, with all four players being former pupils of their respective high schools - some recent and some not so recent. JPC old boys will be captained by Manny Kumar with vice captain Liam Kelly. WHHS will be led by Joe O'Donoghue, and vice-captain Chris Nairn," Vanner said.

He said given Geyser City were working with a new long-term strategy, their aspirations for this season were "pretty simple".

"We want to build on the support we have received from the high schools and our members, and get our new brand and culture under way. We want to build depth in our player base and ensure we get two strong sides on the field every week and then all going well our season goal is to have both teams finish in the top four spots of this year's competition.

"Each squad has been put together with a great mix of batting and bowling skills, and on paper they look very even.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"From what we have seen at training the guys are already in good form with a couple of bowling standouts in Matt Mitchell, fresh from a good rugby season, returning to take one of the lead bowling roles for WHHS, and a new recruit for JPC with Satpal Singh coming from playing the last four seasons in Auckland.

"The other noticeable element from our trainings so far has been the vibe of the guys. There has been a real buzz around our new plans and some great banter between the squads, which we are really looking to build on.

"There's nothing like some friendly rivalry to add to the atmosphere of a cricket game, and even though we are one club we can already see a good amount of competition building between the teams. There will be no love lost on Saturday I am sure."

Meanwhile, last year's champions Bay of Plenty Indians take on Taupo Old Boys 2, Central play Taupo Old Boys 1, and last year's defeated finalists Lake Taupo 2nd XI open their campaign against Eastern Pirates.

In the Baywide premier division Central Indians start the Twenty20 phase of the competition with games against Te Puke and Mount Maunganui this weekend.

Discover more

Cricket

Another big step for Geyser City Cricket

28 Sep 07:00 PM

Rotorua/Taupo senior reserve cricket draw - round one
All games start at 1pm
BOP Indians v Taupo Old Boys 2 at Ray Boord 2
Central v Taupo Old Boys 1 at Ray Boord 1
Geyser WHHS Old Boys v Geyser JPC Old Boys at Ray Boord 3
Lake Taupo 2nd XI v Eastern Pirates at Owen Delany 2

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Sport

Rotorua Daily Post

Five Steamers players making waves in the Māori All Blacks

03 Jul 10:00 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

'It’s a big deal': Young gamers chase international esports glory

30 Jun 06:00 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

'Biggest summer of cricket' shapes up for Bay Oval

25 Jun 07:00 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Five Steamers players making waves in the Māori All Blacks

Five Steamers players making waves in the Māori All Blacks

03 Jul 10:00 PM

The Māori All Blacks face Scotland in Whangārei on Saturday.

'It’s a big deal': Young gamers chase international esports glory

'It’s a big deal': Young gamers chase international esports glory

30 Jun 06:00 PM
'Biggest summer of cricket' shapes up for Bay Oval

'Biggest summer of cricket' shapes up for Bay Oval

25 Jun 07:00 PM
Small but mighty: Kyro gets set for Tai Mitchell challenge

Small but mighty: Kyro gets set for Tai Mitchell challenge

24 Jun 09:26 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP