St Paul’s 1st XI have had a season of victories, winning two major competitions. The first win for the season was the Student Horizons T20 Competition in Auckland, a competition against many top Auckland cricketing schools. St Pauls enjoyed an unbeaten run with wins over St Kentigerns, Kelston Boys High School, Auckland Grammar and Westlake Boys High School to win the tournament, which was held over three days from Tuesday 21 January.
The first day of the tournament was rained out, leaving the competition to switch to artificial. Coach Mark Bailey and Assistant Coach/Manager Garth Littlejohn said for the team to beat four top Auckland schools in just two days, winning title, was an amazing effort. They also said that Tom Harsant receiving the bowler’s award was one of the highlights of the tournament.
The 1st XI then went on to break a ten year drought by securing the Northern Districts’ Gillette Cup title. This win placed St Paul’s in the national top six Gillette Cup finals which will be held in Lincoln, Canterbury, in December this year.
Captain Chris Swanson said the team played exceptionally well in the first three games of the Gillette Cup, but found themselves under pressure against rivals Hamilton Boys' High in the final, after losing the toss and finding themselves out on the field.
Simon Morbey kept the team above water, taking 2 for 17 from his nine overs. Captain Swanson made the biggest impact with 5 for 19 from his eight overs – an effort that earned him player of the tournament and player of the final. Other stand-outs from the match were spinner Eli Spadoni who took 1 for 13 from seven overs during his debut tournament for the team.
When batting, St Paul’s were under pressure having lost two wickets early in the innings with the score at 7-2. Ali Blackett stepped in and took control. Batting at number five for St Paul’s his displayed maturity beyond his years in making a crucial 51 not out. Devon Nolan scored 41 and Captain Swanson scored 26 which pushed St Paul’s, comfortably in the end, across the line for a six wicket win and to victory after a ten year drought in the Gillette Cup qualifying competition.
Team management said that moving to play in the Waikato Valley mens’ competition was pivotal for St Paul’s success in schools cricket. The mens’ competition provided the boys with tough cricket matches that improved 1st XI players’ overall skill. The boys performed well in the mens’ competitions, finishing second in both pre and post-Christmas play with nemesis Kaipaki finishing first both times and providing an excellent bench mark for the boys going into next season.
