It is more than 15 seasons since Howick Pakuranga last claimed the Auckland club two-day championship, in 1993-94, a fact the players are reminded of by older club members who were in that last winning side, says captain and opening batsman Jamie Newth.
Howick Pakuranga was in third place in the Auckland club two-day major championship heading into their penultimate round match against Eden Roskill at Lloyd Elsmore Park on Saturday, sitting within striking distance of first-placed North Shore and Takapuna in second.
Newth says the side will be determined to get maximum outright points against Eden Roskill, which will set up a battle against old foe Cornwall in the final round that could decide the championship.
He and fellow opener Reza Fuard, who’s averaging in the mid-30s, have been the anchors of Howick Pakuranga batting this summer, consistently making good starts and big scores before and after Christmas when pitch and ground conditions can vary markedly.
Newth is particularly delighted with his own form that has led him to being selected as the Auckland A team (the province’s second XI) captain in recent weeks.
He says he’s made almost 800 runs in the two-day club competition and is determined to get to the 1000 mark. He’s also chipped in with 20 wickets with his right-arm off-spin.
Another pleasing aspect of Howick Pakuranga’s batting since the New Year has been the improving form of the middle order, says Newth, who adds the team bats down to the number eight spot. It has enabled the side to post strong scores and put pressure on opponents, and leading the charge from the middle order in recent weeks has been Matt Rowlay and Joe Leach.
Rowlay made 102 and Leach 111 in the last match against University Ellerslie, but Newth says it’s a team effort and other middle order batsmen Mike Davis, Geordie Scott, Greg Morgan and Donovan Grobbelaar have also been in the runs when they’ve been required.
Being a consistent achieving club as one of the biggest in the Auckland province has meant Howick Pakuranga players are always being called into representative teams.
It has been the same scenario this season, with players such as Morgan and batsman Andrew de Boorder on regular duties for the Auckland Aces.
Grobbelaar, 26, described by Newth as a “fully-fledged all-rounder in a team of all-rounders”, is the next Howick Pakuranga player who’s knocking on the door of representative honours.
The enthusiastic ex-pat South African who has been at the club for four seasons has had a brilliant summer, claiming more than 50 wickets in the two-day championship, which is impressive in the traditionally strong Auckland club competition.
Earlier in the season, Howick Pakuranga was knocked out by Suburbs New Lynn in the Jeff Crowe Cup semi-finals, the one-day championship.
Newth says it was disappointing because the side got within sight of winning the 12-team tournament that it has claimed in four of the past five seasons.
However, the disappointment is quickly forgotten as Newth talks of the pride Howick Pakuranga has for the fortunes of its players and former members who are achieving at the highest levels.
The club is very proud of Andy McKay’s selection for the Black Caps this summer.
The left-arm quick bowler left Auckland a couple of seasons ago to get more provincial play with Wellington, and his subsequent new lease on cricketing life in the capital has led him to national representation.
