Tararua locals in over 60s cricket
Four locals from Tararua played for Central Districts Over 60s cricket team in the fifth Annual tournament between New Zealand’s six major provincial zones.
They were Bruce HooperSmith (captain), Gordon Kuggeleijn, Eion Poole and Hamish McGibbon.
Veterans Cricket New Zealand held the tournament in Christchurch, on February 2-6. All matches were played at Hagley Park, in good weather.
Tournament winners were Canterbury for the fifth year running.
The Central Districts team beat Wellington and came close to beating Auckland in a last ball of the match thriller. The other three matches were closely contested but CD lacked runs to put real pressure on the opposing teams. Gordon Kuggeleijn scored 138 runs at an average of 46 and was the top wicket-taker at the tournament with eight wickets. Bruce Hooper-Smith kept wickets tidily, Eion Poole bowled some tight googlies and Hamish McGibbon played in the only game Central Districts won.
From this New Zealand tournament, three teams were selected to compete in the Australian Over 60s National competition next September. NZ is sending teams to Division 1, 2 and 5.
Gordon Kuggeleijn was selected for the Division 2 NZ team.
From the Division 1 and 2 New Zealand teams, a team to play in the first Over 60s Cricket World Cup will be selected to play. This event will be held in Australia in November 2020.
Gordon scored 138 runs at an average of 46, as well as being the top wicket taker at the tournament with eight wickets.