The National Secondary Schools First XI cricket finals will be held in Palmerston North in December. Six teams compete in 50-aside matches over five days to crown New Zealand’s top cricket school. Palmerston North Boys’ High School is one of the teams present at the 2017 edition of the tourney.
Team
Coach: Scott Davidson
Manager: Jack Siebert
Full Squad: Ben O’Connor – Captain; Thomas Walshe; Tom Tremain; Caleb Hansen; Bryn Wilson; Rishabh De; Ruben Love; James Stratton; Sam Russell; Cameron Harridge; Finn Martin; Jack Harris.
Note: Six players return from last year’s team. There are seven year 13’s and 5 year 12’s.
Leading Run Scorer: Caleb Hansen
Leading Wicket Taker: Ben O’Connor
Competition
Palmerston North play in the Manawatu Cricket Association Mens’ Premier 1 Division. They finished top of the table in the 50 over competition in 2016 and narrowly lost in the final. They finished the two-day competition mid-table this year and struggled in the T20. Additionally Palmerston North play a series of annual traditional exchanges and rate their home victory over Wellington’s, St Patrick’s College, Silverstream as a highlight.
Nationals Pathway
Palmerston North’s pathway to Nationals involved knockout games against Horowhenua College and Rathkeale College which led to a Central Districts (CD) Quad where they beat Wanganui Collegiate and Nelson College to qualify for Nationals.
Dual Codes
James Stratton, Ruben Love and Bryn Wilson are in the First XV rugby team. Tom Tremain, Thomas Walshe, Caleb Hansen and Ben O’Connor are in the First XI hockey squad.
Proud History
Ross Taylor, George Worker and Adam Milne are all present Black Caps from the school. Dane Cleaver, Mitch Renwick, Bevan Small and Navin Patel are all playing for Central Districts. In the recent Chapple Cup, nine Palmerston North boys were in the Manawatu Team.