Taking out second grade final ‘quite a good feeling’
In a real rags-to-riches tale, Patea’s fledgling cricket team has won three titles in its first season.
The team, which was only formed in October last year after 22 years without a cricket club, turned up at Pukekura Park and beat Merrilands in the Taranaki Senior Second Grade final last weekend.
The Patea team gained the chance to play the reigning second grade champions by winning the South Taranaki third grade T20 series followed by the 40-over series.
‘‘It was quite a good feeling to get to play at Pukekura Park, to play on a superior wicket,’’ Patea Rugby and Sports Club captain Todd Woollett said. ‘‘They [Merrilands] had been unbeaten for three seasons, it was good for little old Patea.’’
Woollett said the club was resurrected in October by cricketing enthusiast and Patea foursquare owner Ash Patel, with the support of the Patea Rugby and Sports Club and others in the community.
Next season, the club hoped to field at least one other men’s team, and wanted to get local youngsters involved too.
‘‘There are a lot of kids watching the games and we want to get junior cricket going,’’ Woollett said.
The town was enjoying somewhat of a sporting renaissance, with renewed interest in tennis and cycling as well as the cricket all under the sports club’s umbrella.
The tennis club was currently seeking funding for resurfacing the courts and about 25 people were involved in a newly-formed cycling club, Woollett said.