Marlborough Cricket News – September 2021

The 2021-22 cricket season is nearly here and more than 70 or our young cricketers are currently  part of the 6 week Coaching academy programme, while our senior rep players have also been busy with pre-season practices. Our competitions committee recently approved formats for the season starting with the Senior Grade 40 over competition from Saturday 9^th October at Horton Park. The Tasman Premier League commences on 6^th November while 2^nd grade begins its season on 18^th November and 3^rd grade on 30^th October. All junior grades commence over the first week of November. To register for any grades visit our website or email development@marlboroughcricket.co.nz for more information.

Highlights for the season ahead include the South Island Masters games at Horton Park from 18–22 Oct while the New Zealand Over 50s tournament also takes place in Blenheim this summer from 6–10 January. The Marlborough Senior Rep team starts its season with a Newman Shield defence against Nelson on Sunday 7^th November at Horton Park. That same weekend we are delighted to host the Central Districts AGM and Districts forum at the Horton Park Pavilion.

During August we ran a series of sessions to upskill our coaches and you can read more about these and coaching plans for the season in this newsletter.

Our Women’s Cricket committee continue its plans to grow our female game this summer including a recent Girls Cricket activation day at Horton Park, read more about that.

This summer we welcome new grounds contractors with Jason Giblin and his Nelmac team taking charge and recent upgrades of our grounds equipment. Read more on this below.

So another busy and exciting season ahead. The weather is warming up and it’s time to check out the gear bags if you haven’t already. I look forward to catching up with you again around the grounds this summer.

Ed Gilhooly
MCA General Manager

The sun was shining at Horton Park for our Girls Muster Day on September 19^th. The girls worked hard and had loads of fun on skills stations such as diving catching and smacking the ball off a tee. To finish there was a game of nonstop cricket where players could have a hit and compete against each other. Big thanks to everyone who came down and helped out, and sponsors More FM, Meaters of Marlborough, Churchill Private Hospital Trust, and the Yeah! Girls initiative from New Zealand Cricket.

Anyone interested in finding out more about playing girls cricket this summer please email eden@marlboroughcricket.co.nz

Last month Central Districts development coaches Nigel Brooke and Dave Meiring visited Blenheim to run Coach Education clinics on batting power and fielding philosophy, and a Coaches Development course in Nelson.

MCA Pathways coaches attended the fielding philosophy evening, where the new motto “Attack Before Defence” was explained. This season we are supportive of attacking mindsets and want players to be pushing themselves to attack the ball in the field, go for runouts rather than saving runs, and bat confidently & aggressively. There may be some mis-fields and mis-hits, but we ask coaches and parents to focus on praising attacking intent rather than just focus on results. This philosophy should make for some exciting cricket this summer! To find out more about coaching philosophy and other coaching resources visit the MCA website / Coaches corner

Not long now to the sound of leather on willow!!!The latest lock down unfortunately halted a number of early season activities however now we are back into level 2, we are back underway getting ready for the season ahead.

Therefore, Ed and Eden have been busy preparing everything for the season ahead with competition formats and entries confirmed, numerous school visits undertaken, Girls Muster Day completed, the Technical Cricket Committee underway and The Academy has started, the list goes on.

Work has commenced by the Marlborough District Council on strengthening the Horton Park Pavilion to ensure the pavilion is no longer earthquake-prone and to complete the necessary seismic work. During this time Ed and Eden are working from home, however can still be contacted via email or phone.

At the recent Association’s AGM it was great to acknowledge the excellent service Alistair Sowman and Denis Aberhart have given Marlborough Cricket by bestowing them Life Memberships. Congratulations to you both and thanks again for all you have and continue to do for Marlborough Cricket.

Also, at the AGM presentations were made to Marcus Pickens and Tim Rose to thank them for their contributions to the MCA Board. Both retired by rotation and their presence on the Board will be missed.

I urge all players, coach/managers and supporters to follow all the relevant Covid 19 Protocols set out by New Zealand Cricket when you commence training and playing.. If you are not sure what they are please ask your Club Committee they have all the necessary information.

With the season starting properly shortly, on behalf of the Board, I would like to wish you all a very successful and enjoyable season.

Greg Stretch
Board Chair
Marlborough Cricket Association

MCA General Manager Ed Gilhooly with the recently purchased heavy roller

During the winter we updated our grounds equipment with the purchase of an 8T heavy roller for Horton Park and a 4.5T roller for use at Oliver Park, replacing the 2.5T roller previously used there. The heavier roller has already been used for pre-season cross rolling at both parks and complements the 4.5T roller already in use at Horton Park. Downer made the decision not to continue as grounds contractor this summer and we would like to thank them for their fantastic support over the last few years. They continue to cover winter grounds work for MDC and outfield maintenance. We welcome Nelmac as our new grounds contractor this summer, their team led by Jason Giblin who will be working closely with our GM and our grounds committee.

Our Strategic Plan isn’t just a document to us, it is something we try to live and action each day in our activities. In this newsletter we highlight our one of our Values and what it means to us.

This is the third of our six Values. Growth of cricket is important, we want to secure the future – coaches, officials, players, and supporters. We continue to work on this with our junior programmes, our women and girls cricket events and our coach development to ensure cricket will continue to flourish and stay relevant to all for future generations.Click here to download our Strategic Plan