Watkin leaves juniors in style

CLASS ACT: Wanganui High School Year 13 student Jessica Watkin with professional Ben Smith at her side as she claimed her fourth successive Junior Cricketer of the Year title. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

THE LIMELIGHT shone brightly on the juniors at the 2016 Cricket Wanganui awards dinner at Belmont last weekend with several notable team and individual achievements recognised.

Seventeen-year-old Wanganui High School Year 13 student Jessica Watkin was again awarded the overall Junior Cricketer of the Year title for the fourth year in succession. This was the final time Watkin will receive the Junior of the Year title as she approaches senior age. Watkin plans to leave school at the end of this year.

Watkin almost made a clean sweep of the award categories claiming the most runs, most wickets and the most valuable player titles in the women's section, although over the years she has played in the boys grade through the age groups. She has also played in boys teams for Tech and Wanganui High School at club level when not on women's representative duty.

The award was in recognition of Watkin's massive achievements this season.

Watkin is an integral part of the Wanganui womens rep team, was Central Districts U21 captain, played for the CD Hinds, made the New Zealand A women's XI and has been named in the New Zealand Women's World Cup Squad.

During her brief acceptance speech Watkin gave thanks to all her teammates and coaches that had allowed her to play at boys' level over the years.

Wanganui representative men's coach Stu Gillespie made no bones about the season just gone suggesting fitness and commitment issues played a major part in what was a dismal year.

Tech player Nick Harding was given the award for most wickets in the season in the men's grade, while Chris Sharrock racked up the most runs.

Young Wanganui Collegiate cricketer Harry Godfrey continued the good form he showed last year when named player of the tournament at the National Active Post finals in Christchurch at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval (Lincoln). Godfrey was then part of the Huntley School First XI that came third.

This year Godfrey was awarded the most runs, most wickets and most valuable player titles in the U13 boys grade.

Fellow WCS players, O'Leary brothers Connor (U17) and Hadleigh (U15), won multiple awards with both claiming the most wickets and most improved players in their respective grades, while younger sibling Shaun was named best bowler at the Pak n' Save Intermediate Tournament at Victoria Park at the weekend. Shaun O'Leary was part of the Huntley School First XI that won the tournament.

Hadleigh O'Leary also won the Barrie Toms Cup (Baz was a former Wellington player and champion of nurturing young cricketers) as the most promising bowler at U15 level in 2016.

The President's Trophy for the most successful team in 2016 went to the Wanganui U17 XI. The U17s beat Wairarapa, Manawatu (twice) and Hawkes Bay at the CD tournament. The team was lead by Collegiate captain Angus Dinwiddie, coached by Hayden Pudney and included James Russell, Nick O'Leary, Harry Cave, Matthew Simes, Sam Beard, Connor O'Leary, James Pennefather, Blair Pudney, Liam Fowler, Tyrone Clark.

Dinwiddie also won the U17 most runs and most valuable player titles.

Loyal sponsors Active Physio (mens), Anndion Lodge (womens), The Watsons (juniors) and Tasman Tanning (Victoria Park grounds) were also recognised for their substantial support during the season.

On a lighter note guest speaker and Whanganui deputy Mayor Hamish McDouall uncovered a little known fact about cricket when pledging continued council support for the game in the city.

During research for a cricketing book he intends to publish, McDouall said the first ever mention of the term "googly" was published by a columnist in the Wanganui Chronicle during the 1903/1904 England tour of Australia.

England leg spinner on that tour, Bernard Bosanquet, is remembered as the inventor of the googly, a delivery designed to deceive the batsman. When bowled, it appears to be a leg break, but after pitching the ball turns in the opposite direction to that expected, behaving as an off break instead.

"It was known in those days as the Bosie, but when the Wanganui Chronicle columnist of the day talked about an upcoming match he wrote 'no doubt Bosanquet will send down his usual giggly googly' - that was the first ever recorded mention of the term googly and it's stuck," McDouall said.

-Full results and further cricket story P33