Primary cricketers to head south

The cream of Marlborough’s primary school cricket talent will take part in two South Island-based tournaments, both beginning next week.

The Marlborough primary school rep side will attend the South Island Primary School Tournament at Alexandra from January 10-14, while a second side will head south for the South Island Festival tournament in Christchurch from January 10-13. This is a supplementary tournament to the traditional South Island event.

The primary school tournament, at which Marlborough teams have enjoyed notable success over many years, consists of six rounds of Twenty20 matches over the first three days. After that each team plays against sides of a similar ability in 40-over matches on the final two days.

The Festival tournament also sees Twenty20 matches being played on days 1-3. On the final day they will meet a team of similar ability in a 40- over match.

The teams warmed up for their southern challenges with a game against each other on Wednesday.

Teams

Marlborough Primary School rep side: Max Ruffell (captain), Blake Nation (vice captain), Anton Jossy, Liam Cohen, Spencer Gregg, Tegan Birkett, Josh Harris, James Crowe, Will Turner, Dane Winstanley, Gus Wickham. Coaches: Phil Gleeson & Andrew Nation. Manager: Deane Gregg

Marlborough Festival rep side: Nico Russell (captain), Tom Heagney (vice captain), Fionn Heagney, Lukas Dowling, Luke Sparks, Blake Pitts, Charlie Booker, Louis Hickman, Dom Alexander, Charlie Robinson, George Wilson. Coaches: Kyle Heagney & Anna Booker.