School has unbeaten run to cup

The members of the Hunterville School First XI have proved the best of the Twenty/20 sloggers among Wanganui's youngsters.

Wanganui cricket created the Embassy 3 T20 Intermediate Challenge Cup, which was contested by the region's five cricket-orientated schools.

Organiser Dilan Raj said the competition was set up after a gap had been identified in Saturday intermediate-level cricket.

With the players and the teachers to coach them being available during the week, games were organised for Thursdays with principals giving participants an hour's early leave to take part.

Starting in November, round robin games took place every week and were to have culminated in a finals day at Victoria Park on December 7.

However, a downpour saw the cancellation so Hunterville, by virtue of their undefeated record, were named champions.

Principal Stephen Lewis was delighted Hunterville was "turning a few heads" with four straight wins against schools with much bigger player bases.

Starting on November 1, they accounted for Wanganui Intermediate by five wickets, Huntley School by six wickets, St George's School by 31 runs and Wanganui Combined Catholic Schools by seven wickets.

Captain Thomas Walshe was in scintillating form scoring 183 runs, including two 50s, while only being dismissed once.

There were several other notable achievements.

Mitchell Smith tested the boundary rope, cracking several sixes during his innings, while in the St George game there were match-winning catches by Sage Walters-Hansen and a magnificent one-handed effort by Year 6 player Henry Deans.

Raj said Wanganui cricket would rue the departure of a quality player like Walshe to Palmerston North Boys High next year which transfers him into the Manawatu association's structure.

Walshe was named in the Manawatu under-14 and Wanganui under-13 teams.

Smith was also selected for the Wanganui U-13s while Deans, Henry Kilmister and Harry Godfrey made the U-11s.

The Hunterville squad was coached by Marty Walshe and managed by Shane Smith.