The South Canterbury primary schools cricket team contesting the SIPST tournament in Dunedin beginning today, back row from left, McGregor Isbister, James Martin, Lachie Hyde, Lleyton Phillips, George Mulder, Hayden Kerr, Liam Andrews, Sean Rhodes and Archie Batchelor, front row from left, Will Davenport, Nick Goodwin (captain) and Caleb Donaldson.
The South Canterbury Primary School cricket side head to Dunedin in the best possible fashion after recording a comfortable win against Mid Canterbury at Aorangi Oval on Saturday.
South Canterbury are to set to head away and represent the province at the 53rd South Island Primary Schools Tournament (SIPST) beginning today.
Matches are spaced out all over Dunedin, with South Canterbury playing games in Mosgiel, at Logan Park and Tonga Park, while Littlebourne is also a venue.
The tournament runs until Friday and features 14 teams from throughout the South Island battling it out to be the best team for their age.
Assistant coach David Fisher said a young South Canterbury side was attending the tournament this year.
“We only have two returning from last year and it’ll be quite tricky we think this year.”
Fisher said he was confident the side would improve throughout the week.
“The more we play and the better we will get and hopefully by the end of it we will have some players doing well.”
He said the side will look to James Martin and Nick Goodwin to lead from the front.
“Everyone will do well at some stage during the tournament.”
The side had a mixed pre-season, copping some heavy losses but also recording some promising victories.
South Canterbury have won the tournament six times, including three years running from 1967-69. Two of their victories have been joint and they came in 1996 and 2006, while they dominated the 1997 tournament in Rangiora.
Timaru has hosted the tournament four times.
Ten South Cantabrians have scored centuries at the tournament – including John Davies, Stephen McFelin, Jacob Naylor, Tim Leonard and Craig Cumming, who scored three at the 1989 tournament, a record which still stands today.
South Canterbury have some tricky matches against Nelson and Canterbury Black and will look to beat Marlborough, Buller and North Otago.
The side will be coached by Chris Galwey who was part of the coaching staff when when South Canterbury last won it in 2006.