FROM THE CONVENOR OF CRICKET, JOHN MCCALLUM
As Term 1 resumes, so does an exciting period of Cricket for all our Cricketers across Years 5 to 12. Waverley has welcomed new Year 5 and 7 boys into Cricket with sports trainings and trials. It’s fantastic to watch the team spirit grow with enthusiastic attitudes and participation from these boys. In the meantime, recent Year 12 graduate Jason Sangha continued a successful start to his Cricket career, as he captained the Australian Under 19s to the final in the World Cup in New Zealand. They are playing Pakistan on Saturday, with the match televised on Fox Sports. We all wish him and the Aussies the best in the final.
Waverley also has 4 representatives in the CAS Cricket Team trial on Saturday, with Ryan Connolly, Jack Hardwicke-Owen, Ben Scarf and Alex Ferrara all rewarded in squad selection for their impressive season thus far. We wish them, and Waverley’s Mr Elliot as CAS Coach, the very best.
New Zealand Tour a Huge Success
26 Boys from Years 10 to 12 enjoyed a highly successful 2-week Cricket Tour of New Zealand in December 2017. With 7 wins from 10 games from our two sides, the boys have come away with a greater belief in what they can achieve on the field, a greater match awareness, and the value of partnerships. An example was an unbeaten 184-run partnership between Ridley Owens and Jack Hardwicke-Owen to lead the chase against St Bede’s Christchurch.
Off the field, the boys bonded magnificently, building stronger friendships and great memories with each other. Year 12 students showed strong leadership, including younger boys and using times on and off the field to mentor and build confidence in others.
A cultural highlight was the Maori village of Te Puia, where boys experienced a cultural show, thermal geysers and a traditional Hangi feast – voted by the boys as best meal on tour.
The boys also experienced an element of social justice in learning about the impact of the Christchurch Earthquakes. A guided bus tour and a visit to the Quake City Museum allowed the boys to explore the humanitarian and environmental ramifications of the quake. Moved by what they saw, the boys made a presentation and donation to the quake victims appeal at the end of their tour.
An action packed visit to Queenstown – which included white water rafting, jet-boating and the gondola and luge ride – was an ideal way to end a memorable and successful tour.
Individual batting achievements
Centuries:
- Oliver Ruse, 2nd XI, 102 not out v St Patrick’s Wellington
- Ridley Owens, 1st XI, 109 not out v St Bede’s Christchurch
50 + in 1st or 2nd XI on NZ Tour:
- Alex Ferrara, 1st XI- 61 v Howick College Auckland;
- Liam Andrews, 2nd XI, 51 not out v Nelson Boys NZ,
- Lachlan Forrest, 1st XI, 71 v St Patrick’s Wellington,
- Ridley Owens, 2nd XI, 54 not out v Nelson Boys NZ,
- Cameron Shearer, 1st XI, 56 not out v St Patrick’s Wellington,
- Darcy Mullins, 2nd XI, 77 v St Patrick’s Wellington,
- Jack Hardwicke-Owen, 1st XI, 64 not out v St Bede’s Christchurch
Most wickets for the tour was Harry Whitaker with 13 wickets, with over 20 boys taking a tour wicket. The on-field tour highlight was Andreas Fragias bowling a hat trick ball against St Patrick’s with the whole tour squad eagerly hoping for his success.
I’d like to thank all the boys for their co-operation and dedication in making the tour both enjoyable and successful. The way they shared roles and were often selfless in their attitude is to be commended.
Thank you also to the parents for their support of their son’s and the College in all aspects of the Tour and Cricket at Waverley.
I’d finally very much like to thank the tour staff who were incredibly dedicated and committed to ensuring boys had a fun and safe experience. Greg Elliott, Richard Bryant and Sam Rowlings were fantastic in their roles as coaches, providing guidance to the boys individually and collectively throughout the tour.
