Cricket: Tawa open Riverbend in style

Cornwall Year 8 boys coach James Crowther offers tips to opening batsmen Jacob Murdoch (left) and Freddy Gibson. Photo/Warren Buckland

No extra breaks for cricketers, as they do in premiership soccer, just because Hawke's Bay is cooking in balmy temperatures this summer.

That was the scenario when the annual Riverbend Cricket Camp began yesterday, although the age-group youngsters were allowed longer drinks breaks.

"In the drinks breaks it was off the park, rest up, eat up, so they finished about 6.30pm today," Cornwall Cricket Club director David Black said last night, following the Tawa versus hosts year 8 boys' game in Hastings.

The visitors walloped the James Crowther-coached Cornwall by 140 runs, after posting a formidable 320 in the 45-over game.

Black said the parents who had propped up gazebos were delighted with the club facilities.

"We're using Cornwall Park more than we have ever done during Riverbend camps, so Hawke's Bay Cricket and the [Hastings District] council are okay with that too," he said.

While the Wellingtonians had two century makers, Black said Crowther was pleased his intermediate boys batted through to the last over in defeat.

Hastings stalwart Ray Mettrick established the camp in 1979, before handing the reins over 22 years later to Craig Findlay, who co-ordinated it until assuming the mantle of HBCA chief executive in all but one year.

The age-group cricket mecca is an ideal breeding ground for potential first-class and New Zealand cricketers. Previous graduates include Ross Taylor, Jamie How, Jeetan Patel, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Peter McGlashan, Kane Williamson, Ben Stokes (England), Sara McGlashan and Sophie Devine, to name a few.

In the 17-day season, 96 sides from North Island, including the Bay (26 teams), Wellington (32), ND (26), CD (7), Auckland (5), will compete in 263 games involving 1152 children.

Youngsters will stay at the camp in Havelock North and Napier Boys' High School for the older boys, where meals are provided.

Camp dates: Boys Year 8, yesterday to Thursday; boys Year 4-5, Thursday to Saturday; boys Year 6, Sunday to Wednesday, January 15; boys Year 11-13, Sunday, Jan 12 to Wednesday, Jan 15; boys Year 7, Wednesday, Jan 15 to Saturday, Jan 18; boys Year 9 and 10, Sunday, Jan 19 to Wednesday, Jan 22.

Girls Year 7-9: Sunday, Jan 19 to Wednesday, Jan 22.