After a 24-month wait, NAPIER TECHNICAL OLD BOYS finally has the chance to go for their third straight national title at Auckland's Cornwall Park over the next few days.

SCORES & RESULTS

CD representative the Texans won the trophy for the top club side in New Zealand in both 2018 and 2019 - and had won the right to represent CD yet again last year, before COVID-19 raised its ugly head and saw the tournament cancelled.

However, organisers decided to invite the six teams that were to have competed last year back to contest the title this year instead, so the Texans are winging their way to Auckland this Thursday morning on the hunt for a three-peat of trophies after all.

There are several changes this time around, however, with the main one being the switch from the one-day to the T20 format. And that means a shorter tournament, kicking off on Thursday afternoon, before two rounds on both Friday and Saturday. The 1v2, 3v4 and 5v6 playoffs will then be contested on the Sunday as usual, from 11am.

The Texans, too, have been through some changes since they last made the trip to Auckland. The team has lost the experience of longtime captain Liam Rukuwai and former Central Stags Stevie Smidt and Jesse Ryder, but still has two current Central Stags decked out in red in JAYDEN LENNOX and CHRISTIAN LEOPARD, as well as CD reps TODD WATSON, MATTIE EDMONDSON and KURTIS WEEKS in a squad featuring a new generation of players.

The Napier club's biggest competition is likely to come from Wellington Karori - which has BLACKCAP Tom Blundell and fellow Firebirds Peter Younghusband, Andrew Fletcher, Jakob Bhula, James Hartshorn and Michael Snedden; and Takapuna which has Auckland Aces captain Robbie O'Donnell and his brother Will O'Donnell who are both fresh off centuries in the last round of the Plunket Shield - with run machine Will scoring a ton in each innings. Takapuna also has their Aces teammates Ross ter Braak, Danru Ferns and NZ U19 rep Quinn Sunde.

All matches are livescored and matches on the Number One ground are also livestreamed by NZ Play. Wet weather is forecast for the Saturday, meaning all teams will be looking to hit the ground running to ensure a good ranking!

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NATIONAL CLUB CRICKET CHAMPIONSHIP

2020/21 DRAW

ROUND ONE • 2.15 PM Thursday 8 April

Cornwall Park No.1 : NAPIER TECH v Karaka

Cornwall Park No.2 : Karori v Taieri

Cornwall Park No.3 : Takapuna v Lancaster Park

ROUND TWO • 10.15 AM Friday 9 April

Cornwall Park No.1 : Lancaster Park v Karori

Cornwall Park No.2 : NAPIER TECH v Takapuna

Cornwall Park No.3 : Taieri v Karaka

ROUND THREE • 2.15 PM Friday 9 April

Cornwall Park No.1 : Takapuna v Taieri

Cornwall Park No.2 : Karori v Karaka

Cornwall Park No.3 : NAPIER TECH v Lancaster Park

ROUND FOUR • 10.15 AM Saturday 10 April

Cornwall Park No.1 : Lancaster Park v Karaka

Cornwall Park No.2 : NAPIER TECH v Taieri

Cornwall Park No.3 : Takapuna v Karori

ROUND FIVE • 2.15 PM Saturday 10 April

Cornwall Park No.1 : NAPIER TECH v Karori

Cornwall Park No.2 : Lancaster Park v Taieri

Cornwall Park No.3 : Karaka v Takapuna

FINAL PLAYOFFS

11 AM, Sunday 11 April

Cornwall Park No.1 : 1v2

Cornwall Park No.2 : 3v4

Cornwall Park No.1 : 5v6

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Article added: Wednesday 07 April 2021