Junior cricket grades return this weekend with the start of the 2021 season. We again have 10 teams taking part in WK 5th grade while 4th grade has increased to 8 teams. The female game continues to flourish with a 2nd girls’ team in 5th grade under the Wairau Valley club joining the Renwick Royals team. It is fantastic to see so many girls wanting to step up and give hard ball cricket a try and also to see the support provided by parents and by our clubs.

Entries are also now open for our Women’s Social cricket which starts on Wednesday 17th Feb. Games start at 6pm each week and last about an hour with time afterwards for a social drink at  Horton Park. Get a team together or just enter yourself and we will find you a team. No prior cricket experience required and equipment provided. Email development@marlboroughcvricket.co.nz to register.

Josh Harris pictured with Greg Stretch after winning Ewan Stevenson Trophy.

The WK 2020 Junior season was celebrated at our junior awards evening last Friday. Neha Jat received the Gleeson Shield for U15 girls player of the year with Carter Aitken awarded the U15 boys award.  Luke Holdaway was the Shattock trophy Primary schools player of the year, Anton Jossy awarded the Morton Cup for Sportsperson of the year, while Josh Harris received the Ewan Stephenson trophy for non-rep player of the year. Team awards went to the Renwick Royals girls team for 5th grade (Gregor Cup) [pictured at beginning of article] with the Rhoades trophy shared by the Renwick 4th grade teams.

Luke Holdaway pictured with Richard Shattock after winning Eric Shattock Trophy

Celtic Green won the 2nd grade 40 over final in a tense low scoring game with Wairau Valley. Logan Robinson took 4-16 and top scored with 25 as Celtic battled to a 3 wicket win.

The finalists for SBS Bank Senior and 2nd grade T20 competitions have been confirmed following  the latest round of games. Celtic Green managed a crucial 2 wicket win over UCVC to book their place against the same opponents in this Thursday’s 2nd grade final at Horton Park, Jack Holdaway (61no) after Paul Hickman made 59 for UCVC. Wins for Renwick and Celtic Gold were to no avail after all 4 teams ended on equal points and the finalists were decided on results between the 4 teams. Harpreet Singh was the match winner for Gold with 72no (Max Armstrong with 66 for Wairau). Isaac Rawlings-Briggs hit 51 and took 3-11 for Renwick in their win over Wairau Valley.

Renwick and Celtic confirmed their place in the Senior grade final on 13th Feb with a round still to play. Renwick secured a narrow 7 run win over Wairau, Akhil Pant (33) and Kirk Nicholas (30) while Pant took two top order wickets before spinners Paddy Dawkins (2-12) and Ed Gilhooly (2-19) slowed the scoring rate in Wairau’s reply. Jerrym Lamb rescued Celtic with an unbeaten 94 out of a total of 148 in their 20 run win over MBC.