Veteran’s cricket thriving in Taranaki

In Alexandra, former TCA chair John McElroy is flying the Taranaki flag for the CD Over-70 side at their national tournament. Ahead of their final matches today and tomorrow against ND and Auckland the team has had two losses so far against strong Canterbury and Wellington sides. With the action taking place at beautiful Molyneaux Park in Alexandra – fingers crossed the breakthrough win will come.

Closer to home, two Taranaki sides are in action today. An Over-40s Invitational side heads to Palmerston North for T20 matches against Horowhenua-Kapiti and Manawatu. The side is a strong one and features New Zealand Over-40 rep Lincoln Reed and also including many familiar names including: Brett Cursons, Richard Grange, Bradley Kemp, Mark Kennard, Bryn Leadbeater, Johnny McCullough, Ken Roycroft, Lawrence Thorpe, Binoj Varghese and Srinu Vathada.

At Sutherland Park today an invitational Taranaki Over-50/60s side will take on Hawkes Bay, with a return match planned for Sunday 9 March. The team comprises Tony Eldershaw (c), Doug Proffit, Greg Shearer, Arron Wisneski, Nick Isaac, Bill McGeoch, Roger Stachurski, Steve Cunningham, John McCarty, Paul Campbell, Peter Wisnewski, Johnathon Brooking.

The flurry of action comes after Stratford’s Grant Commerford represented Districts Over-40s in January and capped a successful ITP tournament with selection in a North Island side to play the South Island at the end of March.

Central Districts will also be defending their Over-60s title in Hamilton starting on 16 February. CD will again be captained by Roger Stachurski, joined by fellow Taranaki players Craig Morris, Greg Shearer, Greg Alexander and Steve Cunningham. The side also has a match scheduled against a “Rest of the World” side at Pukekura Park on March 5.

A big thanks to TCA Board Director Greg Shearer, a veteran of veteran’s cricket, who helps organise a lot of the fixtures and teams and has supported veteran’s cricket in Taranaki with sponsorship this year.

How cool to see people, carrying on playing the game love at a high level into their senior years