Gillette Cup champions return to school crease
09 Feb 2023
Members of the 2022 Gillette Cup-winning 1st XI cricket team have returned to College to share their trophy with the whole school.
It is the first time in school history that the College 1st XI has won the premier national secondary schools cricket competition, finishing undefeated.
Recognised at assembly on Thursday for their outstanding achievement, the boys regrouped for a ‘team photo’ along with coach Keryn Ambler, manager Andrew Levenger, and Master-in-Charge Stephen Dods. Three members were unavailable, having started their post-College journeys. Only one player from last year will return to the 2023 1st XI.
It was a remarkable cricket season, with the 1st XI winning the Christchurch Metro two-day competition, the one-day competition, the local Gillette Cup competition, and, finally, in December, the national Gillette Cup. College also successfully defended the local Ara Shield 12 times and the Heathcote Williams Shield (a Ranfurly Shield-style contest but for schoolboy cricket) nine times.
In all, College won every trophy and competition that the team was eligible to enter. In Term 4 alone, the 1st XI won by more 100 runs on nine occasions. During the season, eight different players scored 50s or 100s and seven players took more than 20 wickets. At the Gillette Cup national tournament, College was also awarded the Spirit of Cricket Award, recognising the players’ character and sportsmanship.
