WAIMATE CRICKET CLUB

Just a note in memory of ‘Big Dunc’ who sadly passed away this week.

Duncan was a keen cricketer in his day and always enjoyed a yarn about current players and teams when he had the chance.

In the 1972 – 82 decade he featured three times on the Honours Board with two seven wicket bags and a best of 8-18 bowling his left arm medium pace. He upheld some of the fine traditions of the game, and I remember him making me buy my first beer in a pub (the Makikihi) on the way home from a Senior Reserve match in the early 70′s when I was a third former.

He will be remembered as an icon in Waimate and not just for his on field sporting prowess in rugby, basketball, cricket, golf and almost anything he turned his hand to, but he also influenced a lot of people with his coaching abilities in those same sports, and as well as Waimate I know he was also a well known figure throughout the South Island.

I wish to pass on my condolences to his family and friends as Duncan will be sadly missed, especially at the after match functions, as well as by all the sportsmen who had the opportunity to play with or alongside him, or were coached by him, or just had the opportunity to discuss sport with him.

Not one to do things by halves, ex Club President Quintin ‘Buck’ Paul (holding his Service Award in the photo) does it in double and is quickly adding to the new cricket team that Murray Prattley is setting up after Buck’s wife Dana brought twins into the world on November 19th.

I’m sure the whole club wish Buck and Dana all the best and look forward to seeing the kids at their first practice in 5 or 6 years time!

Congratulations to Muzza (Murray Prattley) and Sharon on the birth of Joshua who will join Cody and Issac as future cricketers for Waimate.

Only 8 more boys and you will be able to field your own team!

The Waimate Cricket Club has decided to run and administer its own JAB cricket competition during the 2009-2010 cricket season. This should help the transport problems of other seasons, and we are hoping to have good numbers of players.

More details coming soon..

Scholarship Awarded

Glenn Drake’s cricket career is hitting new heights after the Waimate High School, student received the Peter Hooten Memorial Scholarship for cricket.

“I was pretty stoked” said the Year 10 student.

Glenn’s teacher Justin Thompson suggested he apply after receiving an email fron the NZ Sports Council outlining the availability of a scholarship for a deserving student at a decile four or below school.

My Thompson provided  the relevant information about Glenn, the school’s achievements in cricket, and the need for better training and equipment.

“Mr Thompson was pretty positive I was going to get it. It was quite a shock for it being the whole of New Zealand,” Glenn said.

Mr Thompson said Glenn’s successful application means the school gets $1500 for cricket training and to improve practice nets.

Glenn also gets $1500 which is to go to training and/or equipment.

“I’m looking at maybe (getting) coaching in Christchurch and a couple of bits of gear that I’m going to need as well.”

Glenn has played cricket for about seven years.

He has represented South Canterbury in the Year 5 and 6 development teams and Primary A, and also played in the Southern Districts representative team.

Glenn will captain the U15 team for the second time this year. He has also captained the High School A Grade and Fourth Grade teams and for the past two years has been in the 1st XI.

The Waimate Cricket Club prize giving was held on the sunny Sunday afternoon of March 29th, starting with a fun Twenty/20 match for players and supporters, followed by a BBQ tea and then a casual family friendly award ceremony.

Cups and Trophies

Senior

Batting: McKenzie Challenge Cup – J Sew Hoy

Bowling: Melva & Alister Brown Cup – B King Senior
Batting: Sew Hoy & Reid Trophy – J Sew Hoy
Bowling: Waimate CC Senior Bowling Trophy – A Reid

2nd Grade
Batting: R Manson Trophy Most Runs 2nd Grade – T Bailey
Bowling: N Sheppard Trophy Most Wickets 2nd Grade – J Thompson

4th Grade 

Batting: Wiremu Tangiora Memorial Batting Trophy – G Drake
Bowling: Wiremu Tangiora Memorial Bowling Trophy – B King

Women 

Batting: Booth Ladies Batting Trophy – C Halkett
Bowling: Booth Ladies Bowling Trophy – J Bailey

Club
CE Peagram Esq Trophy for services to the club: – Not presented
Empire Tavern Mr & Mrs R.A. Allnutt Fielding Cup: – B van Royen

Royal Tavern Trophy Cricketer of the Year:  J Sew Hoy

Most Outstanding Junior (under 18): The Wilson Trophy – B King
Most Improved Senior: J Sew Hoy
Most Valuable Senior: J Sew Hoy
Most Improved 2nd Grade: C Farrell
Most Valuable 2nd Grade: P Wallace
Most Improved 4th Grade: D Dooley
Most Valuable 4th Grade: B King/G Drake
Most Improved Women: W Landon-Lane
Most Valuable Women: C Halkett

Highlights of the season were;  the Second Grade side winning their final for the 3rd year, the Fourth Grade team winning their grade very strongly, Club President A Reid taking 10 wickets in a two day match against Timaru and 100′s for B King, G Drake and M Prattley.

With J.A.B and school boy grades coming back under the clubs umbrella this season, it was great to see the senior members coaching and supporting the future of the club.

A big thank you to the Club’s sponsor Empire Tavern Waimate, and also to all the other businesses, supporters and committee members involved in the 2008/09 season.

The two day match at home against Celtic turned into a poker school after day one was cancelled, and day two the ground was still too damp to get started.

Since a certain club member has been haranguing the columnist, I have decided to use this space for a quick questionaire. 

1. Which Waimate person understands so little about rugby, that he writes a column on grid-iron in the USA?

2. Which senior player when asked about strike rate, can truthfully say over 50%, but actually be talking about LBW dismissals?

3. Who is the only ‘ginga’ that isn’t a member of the ‘ginger club’  in Waimate?

There are not necessarily any correct answers to these questions, other than to prove I like to get the last word!

It is with great sadness that the Waimate Cricket Club extend their deepest regrets and condolences to the Tangiora family after the tragic loss of Wiremu last Friday.

Wiremu was a member of the Waimate Fourth Grade cricket team who are currently leading the competition, and I am sure he would be pleased to know that his team dedicated their win at the weekend to ‘Woody’.

Wiremu was also a participant in the twilight cricket competition, and had a relaxed approach to batting where he thought that all you had to do was lean back and ‘slap’ it.

This weekend the Waimate Cricket Club lost one of their long serving players, as Matt Devlin leaves Waimate to join his brother James (Jimmy D) in Aussie. He has played his cricket for Waimate for his whole life from Primary School JAB to his current rank as a first choice senior player.

My first involvement with Dev was when he was a precocious third former who couldn’t sit still but had that Devlin spirit of never lying down as he spent seemingly his whole life trying to beat older brother James (Jimmy) in any sport they played from the backyard cricket tests at home to touch and on field rugby.

Those that know Matt will know that schoolwork was never high on the agenda (although certain female teachers did gain favour), but if he could work out an angle to do something better in the sporting field, then he would give it a try. I remember being frustrated in the nets when trying to teach the kids to play straight and “through the V” when all he wanted to do was practice reverse sweeps or shots that he had seen Nathan Astle play in a one day game.

It is this determination that has been the hallmark of his contributions to Waimate cricket to date, as he has had to change through injury from a fiery left-arm quick to a wily left-arm spinner who is always keen to give the ball flight but can give it a ‘tweak’ when conditions suit. Many of us have seen him put his shoulder out before changing to spin, once when appealing as he threw his arms in the air, but although his efforts at the bowling crease have never waivered, it has been his batting which has improved the most in my time.

He capped off his school career with a century, a feat not many Waimate boys can boast, while since joining senior ranks he has managed at least one half century a season with 74 not out in 2006, 74 (out) in 2007 and 52 in 2008. You can read his stats and figures up until 2007 here and in due course these will be fully listed.

I wish Matt all the best on behalf of the club and hope that he keeps in contact with everyone whether by reading about our matches or via facebook, and to make sure whenever he is home visiting his Mum or Dad he brings his whites!

Mark Medlicott
Chief Cricket Reporter Timaru Herald
That bits to use on your CV in Aussie Dev, or skite to new found friends!