Weymouth and Waiuku have been given premier status for the 2021-22 Counties Manukau Cricket Association season in a move that will see the grade expand to six teams.
Both clubs put forward compelling cases to be included in an expanded competition next summer after CMCA set up a sub-committee to look at adding teams to its premier competition.
Three clubs submitted proposals to join with Weymouth, who played in the premier T20 competition last summer, and Waiuku, who won the Senior A one-day competition earlier this year, given the green light.
Weymouth has a solid junior base, has encouraging senior numbers and has been knocking on the door for the past 12 months or more. They add depth to the suburban South Auckland area, that has huge population numbers to call upon.
Waiuku’s proposal involved a collaboration with Tuakau, Mauku and Glenbrook-Maramarua and establishing working arrangements under CMCA guidelines where players can move between the clubs and giving players the option of playing at multiple levels whilst remaining members of their local clubs.
The housing explosion in both Patumahoe and Pokeno is seen as a big plus for Waiuku’s move up to be sustainable.
Weymouth and Waiuku join existing clubs Pukekohe Metro, Karaka, Papakura and Manukau City and will contest the Inder Lynch T20, Spark Regional competition (involving clubs from Hamilton and the Waikato Valley), the Duthie Cup one-day competition and the W.H Taylor Shield two-day competition.
In addition, two more teams have been added to the Inder Lynch T20 competition with a second Manukau City side and a CMCA Selection XI, which will largely be made up of identified players from the Senior A and B Grades.
This will make an eight-team competition that will be played over two Saturdays in October (prior to the other grades starting).
“On behalf of the CMCA Board, I would like to thank all the clubs who made an application as well as the assessment panel who worked through these bids,” said CMCA Cricket Manager Peter Zanzottera.
“It was great to see the quality of bids we had coming through. The two successful proposals focussed not only on what players they have now, but also looked at the wider picture of their club’s ability to serve their communities including junior growth, club coaching structures, financial sustainability and club governance.
“As an association, we believe we now have the playing depth to sustain six teams, and are confident the two new additions to Premier cricket will continue to develop and grow over the coming period.
“Congratulations to them both.”
Article by Counties Sports Hub
https://countiessportshub.co.nz/weymouth-waiuku-given-premier-status/
