BEYOND THE BOUNDARY Sydenham Cricket Club December 2018 issue Established in 1896 PRESIDENT’S Saturday 15th December we celebrated our Youth Division with their end of REPORT year prize giving, and I am really pleased to see how that group is Graham Harris, President growing and producing some very special cricketers. They are our future, and we are As our Christmas break delighted to have them back in our club. looms, I reflect on yet another wet and rain interrupted Can I take this opportunity to wish you a safe and programme. As we all know it Merry Xmas and look forward to seeing you in is incredibly frustrating having 2019 when we resume our cricket season. to deal with the stop/start nature of our season. Spare a thought for the grounds maintenance guys Best wishes and our own groundsman Tom O’Carroll who Graham Harris, President battle the conditions trying to get playing blocks and outfields ready on rain sodden fields .Let’s hope for a dry second half! CLUB As I visit our various teams on game day I feel very CAPTAIN’S proud of the depth of teams we put on the field every Saturday. From our youth boys and girls REPORT teams, through to our afternoon games and then Andrew Chisnall, on to our morning grade Premier cricketers. We are a very large club, and on behalf of the Club Captain committee I give thanks to all of our convenors, coaches, and captains who keep it all happening. Well where would my Christmas newsletter be without a mention of the weather. You would all It is so good to see our Sydenham Park back in have to agree it’s been a frustrating first half of action again, and with a wet spring we are seeing the season with the weather we have been having. the drainage benefits of our sand based fully The consistent rain during the season has meant drained park as we play on excellent outfield approaching Saturdays we are left wondering if we surfaces. From a playing perspective it is pleasing are going to be playing cricket and what are the to see our Prem womens team fielding a very pitches going to be like. competitive side and moving up the ranks of the Prem competition. Our Prem mens team is a very It’s certainly been nice to be back on the SCG this competitive unit and desperately unlucky to miss season. Tom has done a great job of the grounds out on a semi-finals spot in the 50 over comp considering the weather. Not only do we have the finals. Our Div 1 team certainly deserved to have three grass wicket blocks but we also have the gotten there, although unfortunately not getting new grass practice block up and running providing across the line in the final last week. more facilities on Sydenham Park. A special thanks to Marty’s boys who stepped up This has also bought people back to the to Div one to fill a bye- a big ask – and they have clubrooms after the games where the bar has been won games, which shows the real fighting spirit in going really well this season. Unfortunately the the side. All of our afternoon grades are social events in the clubrooms have not been as performing well with Jamie's Cardinals again well supported as in previous years with the quiz proving the team to beat in Div 6. Special mention and Christmas Party down in numbers. But those to the Tamils who are now turning into a very there have certainly had great nights. competitive side, and our rejuvenated Hospital side in Presidents grade, winning more than they are losing. Beyond the Boundary December 2018 Thanks to everyone who has helped to get us through to this stage of the season - captains, committee and helpers. Remember to stay up to date with the club scene by following the club’s website and Face book page. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all and see you all back in January. PREMIER MEN’S Bert Walker the master quiz master at work SQUAD REPORT There is a great atmosphere in the clubrooms so Gary Gardner, please get your teams back after the games and to Premier Manager the upcoming events that are in the planning - another quiz night and a double wicket The senior men’s team had a competition. Dates to be confirmed. We are slow start to the 2019 currently planning the next club raffle so please cricket season, however over get your teams in behind this and sell those the last six weeks we’ve started to get onto a roll. tickets. Remember these events bring in valuable Having won our last four games, three one-dayers funds for the club and subsidise your subs. and a comprehensive two- day win over OBC, the Christmas break came far too early. Although the With the youth section now under the senior club poor start saw us narrowly miss out on the one- banner it has provided the youth players with day semi-finals, we are currently placed second in some direction as to where to play when they leave the two-day competition and playing well. this section. We are already seeing the success of this with several very promising players now being involved in Div 1 teams. We are also lucky to have the services of several younger youth players who make themselves available to play in the senior club over the Dec/Jan period each year and really enjoying it. Some are in their third season and still playing youth cricket. The turnout for recent youth prize giving was large and showed us the talent that was coming through the club with the support from both the parents and the clubs. Exciting times ahead. Losing the experienced Lane Tutty to injury, and with career moves outside Christchurch for Braden Gardner and Matt Mc Call, this would normally dent any side. However, with the Sydenham Club’s focus on depth and stepping up new players, Taylor Irie, Carl Hopper and Jamie Hunt have all slotted into the Premier Team seamlessly. Taylor in fact is starting to take real ownership of the number four batting slot after playing two fine innings in our win over OBC just before Christmas. Tommy Agnew has relished the opportunity to take the new ball and together with Mitchell Gardner are developing into a terrific opening pair. They have been more than backed up Carl who Beyond the Boundary December 2018 took four wickets in his first game back in Prems, CLUB and TJ continues to show great skill with his bowling picking up wickets each week. Connor RAFFLE and Ryan are also doing their bit as required such that the diversity and skill of our attack arguably Our annual club makes it the best in town currently. raffle will be held over the second part of the season. This is a major fundraiser for our club with What can I say about Chris Harris that hasn’t been over $12,000 raised for the Junior and Senior said? Nothing!! Harry continues to play first class clubs last season. cricket at this level and his captaincy is inspiring for the younger players. His ability to think on his Tickets will be distributed to players to sell during feet and with field placings and strategic bowling the first matches after Christmas and collected in changes, make us all echo the same thoughts….. early March. It is essential for the running of our “one more season please mate!”. club that each of our members help to make this fundraiser a success with the expectation that each player will sell, or purchase themselves, their full allotment. With grant funding becoming ever more competitive we need to rely on other income such as our annual club raffle to survive without otherwise raising subs. We have again secured an amazing first prize from Experience Group of a hospitality package for 4 people to Crusaders v Otago. Other prizes include a family trip on the Tranz-Alpine railway and vouchers to Swanndri, Banfields and New World. Please support our sponsors: Experience Group KiwiRail Our ground fielding this season has definitely Swanndri lifted and there have been some stunning catches. The opportunity to be able to train back on Banfields of Beckenham Sydenham Park, with brilliant new nets and St Martins New World wickets, and a lush outfield to train on, has played Koha Fitness a major part in this. Basic Bikes I’m excited for what this team can achieve after International Antarctic Centre Christmas. Factoring all the main contributions that a team requires to win a T20 or 2-day 20 competition; an excellent environment, a positive PREMIER WOMEN’S team spirit, coupled with the way we are playing, it argues well for an exciting second half to the REPORT season. Linda Pettigrew, Women’s Convenor Our Birdwood Premier Women’s team are in a strong position at the mid-way point of the season. They are placed second in the Kirsty Bond series, two points behind competition leaders OBC. With one round of competition to go in the new year they need a win against OBC to secure the lead. In the one day competition they Beyond the Boundary December 2018 are in a log jam for the second finals spot. While far in the season keeping the team positive and LPW have a clear lead, Sydenham and the other moving forward to better their cricket.