The victorious CJCA Year 7 Black team after claiming the inaugural SIPST Shield grade in Rolleston
The CJCA contributed 5 teams to the new Year 8 Festival held in conjunction with the traditional South Island Primary Tournament early in 2021. The Festival aimed to have more players participating in an event than the 14 teams that participate in the SIPST which has been held for the last 58 years.
In addition to 3 Year 8 teams, a blended team of Year 7’s and 8 a standalone Year 7 team entered and performed well through the week making the final where it took on Otago Countrys 2nd team. Otago Countrys 1st team won the SIPST held in North Canterbury and this District is growing in strength with the growth of populations in Queenstown, Cromwell, Wanaka and Alexandra as well as the wider Country area.
In the final held at Foster Park in Rolleston the CJCA team batted first and patiently amassed 210 in their 40 overs – Otago were chasing well at 121-2 in the 27th over but the young Christchurch team kept chipping away and the pressure mounted as the run rate rose. The final wicket fell with 26 balls remaining and the Southerners still needing 48 runs.
A big congratulations to not on the CJCA Year 7 Black team for winning but also to the other 40 boys who had 5 days of solid cricket. The venue for the SIPST is Alexandra in 2022 but the Shield competition venue has yet to be confirmed. it is hoped to confirm this in the next few weeks.
