Cricket: Junior grades start this weekend

Northland Cricket were also looking to start a secondary schoolgirls competition in January. Photo / Thinkstock.

Northland youngsters yearning for leather on willow need not wait any longer, with the junior cricket season getting under way this weekend.

In Whangarei, kids between the ages of five and 13 are split into three age groups, with 21 teams signed up across the grades so far.

Local competitions in other parts of the region, such as the Far North and Kerikeri, will also begin this weekend.

Northland Cricket competitions manager Neal Parlane said the weather had come good at the right time.

"Hopefully we'll get a few players fizzing this weekend," Parlane said. "The parents will hopefully come along and sit on the sideline, read a book and enjoy the sunshine."

Parlane added that numbers had been slightly down on last year, because of the lack of activity during the recent school holidays.

He said the numbers should rise to normal levels once smaller clubs register their teams.

Northland Cricket were also looking to start a secondary schoolgirls competition in January, featuring teams from Whangarei Girls, Kamo, Kerikeri and Dargaville.

This weekend begins a season that stretches into March next year, but takes a six week hiatus for the summer holidays.

While the Northern Advocate will not be covering games weekly, there will be results posted in the 'Sport in detail' section on either a Tuesday or Thursday.