Rance signs with Stags

STEPPING UP: Greytown's Seth Rance and keeper Paul Lyttle appeal for lbw against Lansdowne batsman Justin Herbert in the Cricket Umpire Cup Final last year. PHOTO/FILE

SINCE 2008 when he first played for the Central Districts Stags, cricketer Seth Rance has strived to make it back into the team.

Now he finally has.

Rance, 26, a fast bowler, has secured a retainer contract to play a season for the Stags starting on October 1 and running through to April 2015, but it has been a hard road getting there.

"I played for CD in 2008 but since then I've had a couple of serious injuries and some long- lasting operations. It's been a lot of hard graft to get those right."

A builder by trade, Rance says this will take a back seat while he focuses on being a professional cricketer.

"Now I've made it in I'm going to have a real crack."

Rance took an interest in cricket from when he "learned to walk", inspired by his father who played at club level.

He made the Wairarapa College first eleven and captained the team in 2004/05 and made the Wairarapa age group representative team in the same year.

During this time he was inspired by New Zealand player Shane Bond who was starting to make his mark as one of New Zealand's best ever fast bowlers. He looked to emulate his aggressive bowling style.

Rance, now 26, has also been selected this year as captain of the Wairarapa Senior A Representative team.

Chairman of Wairarapa Cricket Sam Rossiter-Stead said Rance has made a "huge contribution" to cricket in Wairarapa and will make alternative arrangements for the rep team while he is away.

"We are in the process of selecting a vice-captain who will be able to take the reins while he is away with the Stags.

"Seth will take charge of proceedings for pre-season and Chapple Cup and will play a major role in developing and maintaining the culture and standards of the team, as we look to make a significant improvement on our performances of the last two seasons."

Mr Rossiter-Stead said the cricket community would back Rance all the way in his involvement with the Stags.

"Seth has worked exceptionally hard to become a professional cricketer ... this is thoroughly deserved.

"He is an extremely popular player and I know every member of our cricketing community will be delighted for him as he takes the next step forward in his career."

Rance has been training "non-stop" building up his strength and conditioning before he joins the Stags in October. He suggests the challenge of playing for the Stags will be to, firstly, get a starting spot in the team and hold it, but from there the ultimate aspiration is to play for New Zealand.

"That is the absolute pinnacle for me ..."