What a fantastic cricket season it has been! After trialing over 100 boys, we named a squad of 21 to make up the 1st and 2nd XI teams for Raroa Intermediate. The 2nd XI went through their pool losing only to Tawa 1st XI with some superb performances from Ben Dunning, Isaac McLean and Jack Lucy with the bat and Jack Walker and Alex Vanucci with the ball.

The 1st XI remain unbeaten with wins over Tawa Intermediates two best teams as well as Discovery and Adventure in the pool games.

These performances allowed for a semi final against HIBS at the hallowed Basin Reserve on a beautiful Autumn morning. The names of all the boys were up in lights on the famous scoreboard and batting first, we scored an impressive 154 with skipper James Wilkinson top scoring with an unbeaten 57. HIBS fought hard and got close but some superb death bowling ensured Raroa would be in the final.
The final was also played at the Basin in the afternoon against a very strong side from Wellesley College. Raroa batted first again and scored a lowish total of 118 with Wilkinson scoring a magnificent unbeaten 70 and Boston Thurlo a highly impressive 36*.
A sensational bowling performance from Harry Law, Taka Craigie, Vanucci and Wilkinson again with an extra piece of individual brilliance from Callum Stevens in the field secured a 30 run victory and meant Raroa are crowned Wellington Champions for 2018. The boys and some family members will now head to New Zealand Crickets high performance facility in LIncoln later in Term 4 to compete for the National Title. We wish them all the very best.
We want to thank all our families for supporting the boys throughout and especially the atmosphere they provided on finals day. A huge thank you to parent and First Class cricketer Glen Wilkinson who took training sessions on Monday mornings for the lads.
They have been a tremendous group of young men to work with and we have all thoroughly enjoyed the term of cricket. Well done boys, we are all very proud of you.

Pictured ~ L-R

Back row:  Aaron Wright, coach; Fletcher Cross, Harry Law, Kash Navaratne de Alwis, Taka Craigie, Tommy Juran, Alex Vanucci, Glen Wilkinson, Coach.

Front row:  Callum Stevens, Wills French, James Wilkinson, Harrison Faulkner, Boston Thurlow.