Collegiate talent is added, divided
Coastal Challenge has been a level too testing for students
The Whanganui Collegiate 1st XI which plays the latter half of the 2021-22 season will have depth and a summer of upskilling behind them, rather than lacking confidence from “survival” cricket.
In a departure from the scheduling of the better part of the last decade, Collegiate no longer have a presence in Premier 1 cricket, as an expanding Coastal Challenge had always made the holiday period a difficulty for fielding competitive sides against the adult teams — even coach Warren Herbert would join the batting line-up in the absence of boarders and departing Year 13 players.
So therefore, in 2021’s Term 4 there has not been an official 1st or 2nd XI, as instead WCS ‘Black’ and ‘Blue’ teams have joined the Premier 2 40-over and Rep Weekend competitions.
By bringing up a couple of Year 10 boys, and then doing an exact split among the senior and junior players, with a wicketkeeper, spinner, and opening batsmen/ bowlers for each side, Director of Sport Barry Touzel hopes this will allow the overall group of 28 to flourish at a more adaptable level.
“That was a good move by us, because firstly, our boys weren’t learning much in the Coastal Challenge.
“I say that with respect, because the Cup was too good for them — boys are 15 years old.
“To play that competition, you’re surviving, and you don’t learn by surviving — the [adult] guys are just too good.
“The learnings [in P2 40] were fantastic. The juniors were learning from the seniors in partnerships, already after only 3-4 games.
“Having learned from the Oscar Mabins and the Daniel Burgesses — batting with them, running between the wickets.
“You can spend thousands of hours in the nets, in front of whiteboards, but out there they learn a huge amount when they actually practically do it.
“I think we’ll see some really good improvement in our guys, pushing up into [1st XI].
“We’ve seen some good performances by the Year 10 boys, which is going to put pressure on our current Year 11-13 boys who are pushing for 1st XI as well.
“And we’re part of the local competition, which we want to be.”
After school returns in 2022, the group returns to 1st XI and 2nd XI teams, with the latter carrying on at Premier 2 level.
The 1st XI will take on a full schedule against their school rivals from the likes of Waikato, Taranaki, Wellington and Canterbury.
“They’ve got an intensive two-day traditional and inter-school fixture list, they have seven two-day games they play,” says Barry.
Overseeing a cricket programme with about 70 players, hehopes this new pathway will allow players to reach their full potential.
“Numbers are good. We maintain Year 9-10 teams, a seconds and a firsts, it fluctuates with cohorts.
“We’ve got two full girls’ teams now, about 26 players, so that’s up a full team from last year.”
Since the departure of Dilan Raj, Barry has coached the Year 9-10 levels himself, and likes the talent he is seeing coming up, even from their small school roll.
“For us, they’re not a bad side. They’ve beaten Wellington College, they were all over Scots College, big colleges like that.
“Francis Douglas, New Plymouth Boys’, we beat those guys.
“So for Whanganui Collegiate it’s a really good bunch of boys, the next boys that come through.”
They will have some big shoes to full as school star Shaun O’Leary — who captained both the 1st XI and 1st XV — has now departed and will be making his way to Ireland for rugby and cricket opportunities.
“To get to Shaun O’Leary [level], not sure, because he’s a special player, that chap.
“The best of them is Tim O’Leary, and he’ll develop. He’s a strong boy, and he’s getting better all the time.
“He’s listening and he’s learning, and he’s soaking up all the information.
“He’ll be a pretty competent player in two years time.
“He’ll have 2-3 years of 1st team level.”
■ Collegiate 1st XI schedule, Term 1, 2022
February 5-7 vs Rathkeale 1st XI February 13-14 vs St Peter’s Cambridge
February 20-21 vs HIBS 1st XI February 23 vs FDMC or PNBHS (Gillette Cup)
February 27 vs Whites Old Boys March 6-7 vs Wellington College 1st XI
March 13-14 vs NPBHS 1st XI March 20-21 vs Christ’s College Collegiate Girls 1st XI schedule, Term 1, 2022
February 23 vs Nga Tawa 1st XI March 9 vs NPGHS 1st XI March 22 vs St Matthew’s Collegiate