Pupils aim for third national title

Coach Aubrey Jeftha with Tauranga Intermediate’s First XI. Photo: Ryan Wood.

Tauranga Intermediate's First XI cricket team are building on their history of success.

The young cricket squad will be travelling down to Christchurch in November to play in the national championships for the fifth time in 10 years.

They have been unbeaten in both the Bay of Plenty tournament and Northern Districts tournament, thus earning them the privilege of representing their region on the national stage.

Coach Aubrey Jeftha says their last game of the North Districts tournament against Kamo Intermediate came down the Duckworth-Lewis system, due to rain. Fortunately, the Tauranga side came out on top, with their 80 runs after 12 overs beating Kamo Intermediate's 106 runs after 20 overs.

'My boys were just over the moon with that result,” says Aubrey.

So what's the secret to the team's success?

'Pure dedication,” he replies. 'We practice a lot – basically every lunchtime, as well as after school on Thursdays and Fridays. We pride ourselves on our fielding and bowling. That's where we put the pressure on the other teams.”

But they have a great batting line-up, too.

'We've got some decent batters – our opening partnerships generally score over 50 runs in most of our games. One of our Year 7 lads – Luke Spargo – even scored a century in a local Saturday game. That was quite an inspiration, I think.”

Previously, the school – which counts Trent Boult among its alumni – has won the nationals in 2011 and 2012, and achieved third place in 2013.

Now it's up to this latest batch of young cricketers to bring home a third title.

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