The emergence of Papamoa as a force in Western Bay of Plenty cricket has begun, with the inaugural Papamoa Cricket Club AGM to be held at the Papamoa College Thursday August 30.

The continued development of artificial wickets at the Gordon Spratt Reserve, in the last few years, has seen regular Western Bay of Plenty B Grade games played at the Papamoa venue.

Two years ago, the NZ Cricket Super Stars Cricket Academy (junior cricket basics program) was established at the Gordon Spratt Reserve, to follow on from the WBOPCA cricket awareness school visits to Papamoa schools.

Parental interest to have junior cricket played in Papamoa along with a desire to have senior cricket in the area, led to initial discussion concerning the formation of a Papamoa Cricket Club. During winter, two meetings jointly convened by Bay of Plenty and Western Bay of Plenty Cricket Associations put the wheels in motion, with the Papamoa CC Annual General Meeting this week kick-starting the game in Papamoa.

Gordon Spratt Reserve is well set up for the expected avalanche of cricket that will utilise the large suburban park. In addition to the four artificial wickets established by the Tauranga City Council, there are plans to put in a grass wicket on nearby Alice Johnson Reserve in the near future.

Indications received at the consultation meetings, are that there are likely to be three to five Year 3 to 6 junior teams, four Papamoa College sides and two senior cricket teams in action in the coming season. In addition the highly popular Super Stars Cricket Academy will continue at the Gordon Spratt Reserve.

Papamoa Cricket Club AGM is being held on Thursday August 30 at Papamoa College at 7.30pm.