Wellington and Hutt Valley cricket rivalries to resume in Wellington Firebirds trial

Wellington and Hutt Valley cricket rivalries resume this weekend when the Stewie Dempster Shield is put on the line for the Wellington Firebirds trial match contested between players of the two former separate cricket associations.

The two-day match on Sunday and Monday 1 and 2 November at Fraser Park in Lower Hutt will be a two innings format, the winner to be decided on first innings results (100 overs maximum) if there’s no outright result.

The Stewie Dempster Shield was resurrected last season after a ten-year absence and provides the opportunity for players involved to meet their Hutt Valley or City rivals in a competitive match while also recognising Wellington’s cricket history.

The match doubles as an important lead-up to the Wellington Firebirds’ first-class season that starts on 10 November against the Canterbury Wizards at the Allied Nationwide Finance Basin Reserve.

Wellington Firebirds Head Coach says the match is valuable preparation for the season ahead.

“It is extremely beneficial for the players to come together and play each other in a hard, competitive environment ahead of the start of the first-class season,” he says.

“All the players involved are players that featured in the mix last season and who we would expect to be involved across all three forms of the game in 2009/10.

“The match will also feature the involvement of two BLACKCAPS, with Jeetan Patel playing for the Wellington side and Iain O’Brien for Hutt Valley.”

Karori resident Stuart will coach the Wellington team, while the Hutt Valley side will be led by Cricket Wellington Elite Player Coach and Hutt resident Christie van Dyk.

Hutt Valley goes into the game as defending Stewie Dempster Shield champions after winning last year, giving players of both teams the added incentive of trying to either retain it or win it back.

Stuart says this incentive is extra motivation to play well.

“The healthy rivalry between the two teams is a really good thing. It’s easy for trial games to lack team spirit and camaraderie, but introducing the Stewie Dempster Shield with all the history associated with it makes it a more meaningful match.

“Both sets of players are passionate about winning, and can also count on the keen support of their team and club mates on the sideline.”

The Stewie Dempster Shield, named after the former Wellington and New Zealand batsman and 1932 Wisden Player of the Year, was previously contested between the two association’s U22 sides on an annual basis between 1979/80 and 1999/00. Prior to that it was played for at U19 level between the two.

The annual contest was previously stopped when the Hutt Valley and Wellington Cricket Associations merged to become Cricket Wellington.

The match starts at 10.30am on both days.

The teams are:

Wellington Hutt Valley

Neal Parlane (Onslow, captain) *
Simon Allen (Karori)
Harry Boam (Karori)
Dewayne Bowden (North City)
Josh Brodie (Eastern Suburbs)
Michael Burns (University)
Andy McKay (Karori)
Stephen Murdoch (Karori)
Jeetan Patel (Eastern Suburbs)
Stewart Rhodes (Onslow)
Illi Tugaga (North City)
Luke Woodcock (Johnsonville)

* Subject to fitness. Patel will captain the Wellington team if Parlane is unable to play due to a broken finger.

Matthew Bell (Hutt District, captain)
Fraser Colson (Hutt District)
BJ Crook (Naenae Old Boys)
Steve Gellatly (Taita)
Mark Houghton (Taita)
Ronald Karaitiana (Naenae Old Boys)
Andrew Lamb (Hutt District)
Cameron Merchant (Taita)
Chris Nevin (Hutt District)
Iain O’Brien (Petone)
Robbie Schaw (Hutt District)
Andrew Sturt (Taita)

ENDS

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