Cricket: Big show to kick off fundraising

Sean West is one of the 14 Northlanders aiming to raise $30,000 for the Northland Schools Development Tour to Sri Lanka next year. Photo / File

$30,000 target to send young cricket side to Sri Lanka

Toughening up a group of Northland teenagers and introducing them to culture is part of the reasoning behind a new Northland Cricket tour to Sri Lanka. However, they're after community support to make it grow legs.

Fourteen Northlanders aged between 15 and 18 are fundraising for $30,000 to help offset the costs of the two-week trip to Sri Lanka at Easter next year.

This Saturday the 14 cricketers - Matthew Lobb, Chamodh Peiris, Shane Burton, Matthew Kingi, Jarod Ross, Hamish Kidd, Sean West, Liam Jones, Dante Mitchell, Quinn Pooley, Owen Arthur, Connor Wilson, Shaun Beamish, Shannon Kloppers - kick off their efforts for the Northland Schools Development Tour with a Faulty Towers-themed dinner and entertainment show at the Cobham Oval.

The night's antics will include a professional Auckland theatre company show with several auctions and raffles over the evening, with the bar opening from 5.30pm and the dinner/show starting at 7pm.

As an added bonus, the fireworks show at Toll Stadium is scheduled for Saturday also.

Northland Cricket Association general manager Warren Marr invited Northlanders to get behind the event, saying the trip would help build life experience for the youngsters.

"It's about a cultural experience and letting kids in this country know how lucky they are. Our kids play with all the flash gear and they'll go up there [to Sri Lanka] and play against guys who have nothing and get pumped," Marr said, adding he had toured Sri Lanka with a team before.

"They're so humble over there, and thankful, and they've got nothing," he said.

While the 14 travelling players are all part of either a Northland A or B side, the trip is expected to serve up its fair share of challenges.

"The conditions are hot and the pitches are dirty turners plus they're talented cricketers. It's about toughening them up a little bit.

"It'll be really challenging for guys, I took a few guys there from the UK and they were absolutely shattered."

Marr said while the initial focus was getting this inaugural tour up-and-running, he hoped the bi-annual trip would keep players in the game for longer.

With young Northlanders currently doing the business for the Bellahomes Northland men's team, as seen in yesterday's Advocate, Marr was optimistic an experience in Sri Lanka could help players continue on to build the depth in club cricket.

To purchase tickets contact Northland Cricket on 438-2400.

Touring squad
Matthew Lobb, Chamodh Peiris, Shane Burton, Matthew Kingi, Jarod Ross, Hamish Kidd, Sean West, Liam Jones, Dante Mitchell, Quinn Pooley, Owen Arthur, Connor Wilson, Shaun Beamish, Shannon Kloppers.