This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 95, no 5, June2023
It's all in the packaging: cricket in the Tauwharenīkau M
Wednesday 3 May 2023
A Wednesday trip over the Puffer Track, down Smith Creek to the Tauwharenīkau and back again would not have much appeal.
But ‘cricket in the Tauwharenīkau’ is much more appealing. The Tauwharenīkau cricket pitch is much smaller than it used to be, definitely not maintained to an acceptable standard, and unfortunately now separated from the river by gorse. But it still exists.
A full team of 11 plus a reserve walked in, arriving at the pitch in time for lunch. There a home-made cricket bat, of the same rough standard as the pitch, was produced. The bowlers were below par, the batting erratic, and the fielding non-existent as most were more interested in lunch and laughing at the batting antics. The cricket/lunch stop was much longer than usual, contributing to a long day for a medium trip. However, we were all back at Kaitoke before the forecast rain arrived.
- Party members
- Jim Gibbons (leader and scribe), Rachel Fry, Brian Hasell, Colin Hoare, Carolyn Jenkins, Alan Knowles, Ann Mcllroy, Jane-Pyar Mautner, Peter Morten, Peter Smith, Helena Weller-Chew, Angela Vandepoel.