The cricket tournament kicked off on Sunday at Whanganui’s Victoria Park with the men’s and women’s eight-a-side, followed by the premier 11-a-side on Monday.
On Wednesday the seven 11-a-side teams played their second day under blue skies and with hot temperatures.
“The Taranaki Old Folks” team are hoping to crack first place again.
The team are on their third Masters Games, winning their first in 2021 and placing second in 2023.
After losing their first match, the team rallied to win the second game and the score was looking positive for their third as Johnny McCullough scored a 50.
Taranaki Old Folks' Johnny McCullough hopes to get another cricket gold medal. Photo / Olivia Reid
“There’s about five or six clubs that come down and we just join together. We play together most weekends,” McCullough said.
“Every time we get to play together it’s really good fun.”
The team uses the Masters Games to keep in touch. One player moved to Tauranga six years ago but still joins the team for the games.
Whanganui-based team Sons of Pitches primarily consists of local businessmen and is “the rowdier of our teams”, according to competition co-ordinator and Cricket Whanganui manager Pete Bowman.
Team member Dave Downes said they were “more businessmen than cricketers – cricketers is a very strong word when we get together”.
Whanganui's Dave Downes of Sons of Pitches said the cricket team attends the New Zealand Masters Games for the social aspect. Photo / Olivia Reid
The team play exclusively in the Masters Games and are competing for their sixth games in a row.
“We enjoy ourselves and just socialise,” Downes said.
Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe is also participating in the cricket with the Sons of Gilly team.
With just two final days of cricket left, Bowman said everything had gone well.
“The weather’s been fantastic as well, it’s just a really good week for it.”
Cricket Whanganui manager Pete Bowman is co-ordinating the cricket competition at the 2025 New Zealand Masters Games. Photo / Olivia Reid
Masters Games manager Heather Cox said she was pleased with how the overall event was going, with registration numbers surpassing last year and still open for some sports.
“We have had lots of visitors from out of town giving us great feedback on being in Whanganui and enjoying their games,” she said.
