Palmerston P1s in jeopardy
One of Manawatu’s oldest cricket clubs is in danger of not fielding a premier one team next season.
Palmerston, one of the six premier one teams, has suffered a player exodus in the past two years and after this season is looking at not having a team in the top competition next summer.
Palmerston won the two-day competition only three years ago, but since then many of the old guard have either moved on or retired, and they haven’t had much new blood at the top level since.
Coach Dan Batley has tried to recruit players and had some players lined up to join the club this season, but it never eventuated.
Batley said there was a high chance of not putting out a premier one team next year. Many times this season he has battled to get a team together the day before a game.
While most senior clubs find it difficult to get a competitive team together on representative weekends, it has become a regular struggle for Palmerston.
Palmerston developed a bad reputation in recent years and while the club has tried to change it, Batley believed it may have hurt them when it comes to recruitment.
Palmerston have since implemented a code of ethics and club vision.
‘‘For some reason the baggage is insurmountable,’’ he said.
Batley didn’t want to pick the eyes out of the premier two and three teams to fill the top side every week.
He said the premier one team had been pieced together for the past couple of years.
Palmerston veteran and former captain Rob Sheary now lives and works in Wellington, but has been returning at weekends to help keep the team going.
The Manawatu¯ Cricket Association’s director of cricket, Dave Meiring, hoped Palmerston didn’t fall over. ‘‘We understand where they are coming from and the frustration they’re having not getting new people coming to the club and existing players are forced to play cricket above their skill level. That can lead to unenjoyment.
‘‘We like to think we can rectify things. We did some work last winter, but unfortunately that didn’t come to fruition. It isn’t ideal and we don’t want to lose one of our mainstays in Palmerston North cricket. They’re a club with a rich history.’’
Meiring said Palmerston needed to get a couple of school leavers or players from other clubs who wanted to make a change to get more of a run.
He said it would make life difficult with five clubs, so they would have to look at other options if Palmerston couldn’t field a team. A bye would mean a team would go weeks without a game during the two-day competition.
Meiring said the association had 27 senior teams for the past six years, but there seemed to be fewer school leavers playing cricket.