They’re representing Otago for the first time at the First XI Cup finals where they’ll play schools representing the five other major associations — including powerhouses Auckland Grammar and Christchurch Boys’ — over the course of six days.
Wakatipu High qualified after beating Dunedin’s John McGlashan College in the quarterfinals and Otago Boys’, for the first time, in the semis and then, after rain put paid to their final against Southland Boys’ in March, they beat them in Alexandra last month.
Queenstown Cricket Club manager/coach Emma Campbell says it’s reward for not only these players but ones who came before, along with coaches Walter Clarke and Ben Gallie, Michael Goldstein, who comes from Central Otago to help them, and those at Wakatipu High who’ve helped.
The players, she adds, have only got better the more they’ve played together.
Their batting star is Hugo Bogue, 17, who’s been making waves for Dunedin premier club Albion, this season, and also smashed 169 for Otago at the under-19 nationals last week.
However, Campbell says everyone’s chipped in at various times.
She acknowledges they’ll be underdogs as a co-ed school team coming up against traditional boys’ cricket schools with paid coaches, grass wickets and great training facilities.
"But anyone can come off on their day, and I think they’ve got a real chance of winning a few games.
"I think the challenge for our boys is they probably aren’t used to playing back-to-back 50-over cricket."
Having only just qualified, Campbell says they’ve missed out on six to eight months of fundraising, so they’ve instead had to raise $12,000 from mainly parents and the club in short order.
"I will say it’s disappointing Otago Cricket’s not supporting them since they are representing Otago."
Co-coach Clarke says they’re grateful for support from the cricket club, Formatt Bespoke Joinery Co., Altered Capital and Heartland Cricket Trust.
