September

Welcome to the Season

On behalf of the Board and Management team at Waitakere Cricket Club I would just like to welcome all of our players both existing and new, parents, friends and supporters of the club to the upcoming season. This season we face new challenges. For several seasons, we have had a very stable management and senior Premier team. Due to several retirements both on and off the field, we enter a period of considerable change. Change brings with it both opportunities and challenges, which the newly elected Board and Management committee are looking forward to taking on. One of the major changes sees Randall Todd step down as the Premier Coach after 12 years. Luckily for us, he will not be lost to the club as he will be working and developing our up and coming young talent. I would just like to thank him for all of his time and effort. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Nazeem Smith the new Premier Coach. We have several exciting things happening this coming season. The New Year will see us start the construction of our building extension project. We are also pleased to welcome Barfoot and Thompson and Vernon Logistics to our family of sponsors and thank them for their generous support. We have also been able to secure, through Mike Mead and the team at Cricket Express, a small number of sponsorships for our elite players. On the field, we have coaches appointed to the top grade teams. Overall membership is holding steady with junior numbers looking extremely positive. As always, we would welcome new players and teams, so if you know of individuals or teams looking to play cricket be it Two-Day, One-Day, 20/20 or social let us know. Finally, I would just like to thank everyone who has made Waitakere Cricket Club their club of choice and I wish you all a successful 2012/13 season. Greg Hill.

Season Opener at Bays

The first Saturday of October marks the start of the new cricket season. Once again, the draw has thrown up a couple of tough fixtures early on for the Premier side. The Premier Reserve competition has changed somewhat and will start a week later. In a repeat of last season, the opening day will see the Premiers meet a strong East Coast Bays side. That will take place at Freyberg Park. Bays are a side on the rise and will be a formidable test come October 6th. The following Saturday, the Premiers will welcome the National Club Champions Takapuna to Te Atatu Park. That will come only weeks after the two sides play off in a Pre-Season friendly. The Reserves will also be at home on the 13th of October, kicking off their campaign against Ellerslie. That will be followed by another home game against newly promoted Kumeu Sri Lanka. Reserves Coach Chris Reid says it has been a successful preseason. In my ten years of being involved with the club, this is definitely the best pre-season we have ever had. Our first 3 games are all clashes we feel we can compete in and stand a strong chance of winning. If we perform to our potential and take care of our own processes we are confident we will start the season on a strong note. With unpredictable weather early in the season, the first four matches of the Jeff Crowe Cup will be played on artificial. The same will apply for the Premier Reserve limited overs competition.

September
Cricket Express Sponsorship Winners
The club is proud to award the following players Cricket Express Sponsorship for the upcoming season. Aditya Dhadwal Amit Dhadwal Robert Evans Travis Ngatai Tesimoni Taliauli Four of the five players made their debuts for the clubs Premier team last season. Aditya and Amit play for the Mt. Albert Grammar First Eleven. They are both young batsmen who have represented Auckland at age-group level. They have had a taste of Premier cricket and will once again be joining the club when they are available. Robert and Tesimoni, two of the clubs fastest bowlers, will be looking to build on the encouraging starts they made to Premier cricket last season. Travis is an up-and-coming fast bowler currently playing for the Kelston Boys First Eleven. He has also represented the Western Districts and Auckland Under-15 teams. Congratulations to you all and good luck for the season.

New Season. New Fees.

With the cricket season fast approaching, it unfortunately means fees have to be paid, but this year sees a drop in prices. The fee structure will reward those who pay in full before September 28th by providing a discount on last years prices, and for students, a discounted rate has been set. Payment plans can be arranged with Treasurer Shivneel Singh. It is hoping the reduction in fees and payment plan options will see each member paid up in full come Christmas time, something which hasnt occurred in a long time. The new fees are as follows: PREM/RESERVE: Adults who pay before September 28th will pay $265. This is 6% less than last year. Adults on a payment plan will pay $290, with an $80 deposit. Students paying before September 28th will pay $240, which is 15% less. Students can also be on a payment plan of $260 with an $80 deposit. SENIOR A-C: Adults who pay before September 28th will pay $230. This is $15 less than last year. Adults on a payment plan will pay $255. Students who pay before September 28th will pay $205 or $230 on a payment plan. Both Adults and Students on payment plans will pay an $80 deposit. ONE DAY SENIORS: Team fees will cost a total of $2000 if paid before October 19th. Payment after this date will cost $2090 with payment completed before November 30th and a deposit of $1000 before October 19th. 20/20 SUNDAY: Team fees will cost a total of $615 if paid before October 26th. Payment after this date will cost $630 with payment completed before November 30th and a $300 deposit before October 19th. WOMEN: All Fees will be $150 if paid in full before September 28th. The payment plan will be $170 and that is to be paid before November 30th with an $80 deposit. For any further information regarding payment of fees, contact Shivneel Singh.

In The Air
22nd September Pre-season Friendlies at Massey High School 28th September Last day for Early Bird Fee Payment 29th September Pre-season Friendlies 6th October East Coast Bays vs. Waitakere (Premiers)

13th October Waitakere vs. Takapuna (Premiers) Waitakere vs. Ellerslie (Premier Reserves) 20th October Senior A / B / C season commences. Be sure to check it our website: www.myclub.co.nz/ waitakerecricket/

September
Player Profile Tesimoni Taliauli
Tesimoni Taliauli looks to be an integral part of the senior squad this season. Tesimoni made his way through the grades last season, starting in the Senior A side and ending in the Premiers. He responded well to tougher challenges, putting together match-defining performances. Not only does Tesimoni have an appetite for knowledge, he is always trying to tinker his game. He still has a lot to learn, but has shown a willingness to put in the time and effort to achieve the goals he has set for himself. Tesimoni started his Premier career in the best possible way taking the wicket of Marc Ellison with the first ball he bowled. The young man may not have realised the magnitude of the wicket, but his teammates certainly did. Age: 21 Nickname(s): Tesi, The Tongan Stallion. Proudest cricket moment: 6/41 against Birkenhead in his second Premier match. Best cricket advice: Practice makes perfect! Best life advice: Nothing comes easy! What do you do away from cricket? I am currently studying for a Bachelor of Nursing. I also play a bit of league and basketball. l like to eat and sleep a lot too. Goals for the season: To play for the Premiers and take 25 wickets. What is your favourite film? Why? The A-Team. I love the teamwork and the brotherhood. And also just because Jessica Biel is HOT! Seriously though, I learned that with a plan everything works out! What would be your entrance song: Carly Rae Jepson Call Me Maybe If you could be someone else, who would you be? Why? LeBron James I could play basketball all day and get paid to do it! Why do you play cricket? It all started back in Form One. My teacher read out a few announcements and one of them was that the intermediate squad was looking for more players. A few of the Island boys decided to give it a go. I played for a few years and wanted to stop, my grandmother encouraged me to keep playing. She didnt want me playing rugby, because she thought I was too skinny and that I would get hurt. I kept it up and here I am today. I guess I fell in love with it the game that way. And to think the Tongan Stallion was going to give the game away. Thanks to his Grandmothers encouragement, the club now has a young man who loves the game.