A focus on preparing Taieri junior cricketers for representative cricket trials appears to be paying dividends.
The Taieri Junior Cricket Club has almost doubled its representation in Dunedin Metropolitan representative junior cricket teams for 2015 with 22 players selected across various age grades, club president Donna Burns said.
''I'm thrilled to have 22 players make representative teams,'' she said.
After only 12 boys were named in 2014 representative teams, the club's committee set up a training programme for players this season to prepare them for trials.
''Many of the boys have been part of a training programme the committee implemented this year. Funding was granted from the Mosgiel Community Board to run the programme.
''While we mainly targeted first year hardball players, sessions were held for the older boys leading up to the trials. Also, many of the older boys have one-on-one private training sessions set up by the club.
''I was really pleased for them knowing how much time they have put into training and how much it means to them,''.
Mrs Burns said making rep teams would be a great experience for the players, allowing them to play at a higher level and represent Dunedin.
''The nine year 8 boys will retrial in November for the South Island Tournament team, which is the highest level of junior cricket that is played in the South Island.''
Ten boys have previously been in rep teams while 11 players made teams for the first time.
William Casey, who travels from Balclutha to play in the Taieri Gold Premier team, has be named in the Otago Country team.
Mrs Burns said the selections would strengthen the Taieri club and ''ensure we continue to have at least one premier team in the next few years''.
Selections
Dunedin Year 5/6
Billy Hunter, Oscar Grey, Issac Adam, Sam Duff, Eric Peita, Mitchell Thorn, Devon Scott.
Dunedin Year 7
Thomas Andrews, Oliver Ritchie, Hamish Hunter, Hayden Armstrong-Jones, Thomas Procter.
Dunedin Year 8
Beckham Greenall, Gracin Harrex, Finn McDonald Page , Shaedon Miller, Mason Cumming, Trent Thomson, Sam O'Neill, Zeke Buschl, Alex Wilson.
Otago Country Year 8
William Casey.
