SPORT Cricket
The 2022 season was the most successful in Christ’s College history. The 1st XI lost only one match, finishing as the holder of every trophy available, including winning the Gillette Cup at the national tournament. That gave the team the right to call itself the best in New Zealand. Along the way, Tim Seeto and Nick Gibb broke the Gillette Cup partnership record by 32 runs, scoring 276 runs against Mount Albert Grammar School, with Tim going on to score 160 – just 12 runs away from the Gillette individual record – and Nick scoring 125. The team also won the Spirit of Gillette Award, given by the umpires to the team that showed the most respect and had the highest values. Tim Seeto was also named Tournament MVP. The 2nd XI – for the first time – will play in the 1st XI grade in 2023 after reaching the top six in the Canterbury schools competition. This is a massive achievement and captures the strength and depth of the 2022 Year 13 group. Several 2nd XI players also played for the 1st XI. Meanwhile, the Development XI smashed its way to the 1st XI plate competition win. In the final, the boys were too strong for Ashburton College, comfortably bowling out the opposition for 72 and scoring that with the loss of only three wickets. The team was unbeaten in Term 4 and showed huge promise. It was backed by the 3rd XI, who fed the Development XI players because the higher teams had injuries and needed replacements for those dealing with Covid-19. Both teams were made up of Year 11 boys. We have some boys who love cricket but are less aspirational, and these players move into the Principal’s
XI and the 5th XI after Year 10. This gives our whole programme balance. The common denominator between aspiration and participation at College is that all our boys still love playing with their friends and we want to treat each equally. The Principal’s XI and 5th XI have fantastic coaches who maintain the fun aspect. The Colts also had a successful season, only losing to Christchurch Boys’ High School in the final. The next step for many in this team will be the Development XI, playing against 1st XI teams. The Colts had a successful trip to Hamilton, playing other Year 10 teams from around the North Island. They proved to be a strong unit, losing two matches, and winning two, and their efforts pointed to bright cricket futures. The 10A team also featured some outstanding cricketers. Many aspire in other sports, so they can choose their short-term pathway to the Development XI or 5th XI in 2023. Our Year 9 teams were again very successful, performing well in the New Zealand Community Trust knockout competition and the local competition. Being split into two Year 9A teams showed our depth in this grade. The two 9B teams were affected by Covid-19 and having to send players up to 9A to cover the many boys away over summer. This was extremely difficult for the boys, and the momentum of both teams suffered at certain times. Several cricket boys opted to try rowing in Term 4 and this also impacted on availability. We started with 15 cricket teams in 2022, with several T20 teams playing on Friday evenings. We had four Year 9 teams, two Year 10 teams, and five senior teams. In total, 24 Year
13 students stayed with cricket over their five years at College, leading to our senior cricket numbers being so high. It has been a great year group and we are sad to see them leave as they have all added so much to College cricket, setting the standard for other year groups to follow. Their teamwork, values, and respect for cricket have been high right from the start. Along with losing our Year 13 students, we will also miss some outstanding parents as they follow their sons into club cricket. Jono Brent has been influential during the many changes that have had to be made over the past five years, and I thank Jono for his support with coaching, managing, and work on the Friends of Cricket committee. Craig Gibb is another leaving the Friends of Cricket. Craig helped put together the recent tour to England and has been very supportive. Ken Gimblett has spent many years supporting College cricket, with two sons going through our programme over the past seven years, and Mel Smith has been instrumental in our team reports reaching the community. This has helped create a very strong culture in our cricket club. Thanks also to Emma and Richard Breitmeyer. Richard has been a member of the Friends of Cricket committee and displayed a sense of humour that has pulled everyone together, while Emma has taken wonderful photos. Along with Mel Smith, she has created posts and photos that have become the benchmark for College cricket. We are so fortunate to have several sponsors – Archibalds, Au Natural Skinfood, Business Distributors Limited, Saunders Robinson Brown, and Wood & Partners Consultants
223
Register 2022 Sport
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online