Photo Credit: New Zealand Cricket
Quality coaching, keen staff members, and a supportive Executive Principal and Trust Board are just some of the factors that have allowed St Margaret’s College in Christchurch to become a leader in female cricket.
Currently, St Margeret’s have 100+ girls participating in cricket programmes across the school.
Playing opportunities range from girls participating in their junior school skills programme (Smash Play games), to the various tournaments and competitions including a competitive First XI.
Convenor of Cricket, Amanda Hardy, described the philosophy of cricket within St Margaret’s.
“The aim of our cricket programme is to provide a fun, meaningful and positive cricket experience for our girls – from our new entrants to our senior girls,” said Hardy.
“We want to give as much opportunity to our girls to learn and play cricket while having fun with their friends,”
“Success is seeing everyone smiling and having fun as they walk off the field or the training pitch at the end of the day!”
The “big sister, little sister” connection has been identified as a special part of the St Margaret’s cricket programme.
Senior girls give back to the sport and commit to coaching junior girls in various skills sessions, competitions and Canterbury Cricket’s ‘Girls Smash’ programme.
Hardy was quick to credit her coaches & staff, the local cricket club and the College’s Trust Board for the success of the cricket programme.
“We are lucky to have fabulous coaches who are knowledgeable, relatable and passionate about cricket,” said Hardy.
“We have developed a fantastic relationship with the OBC (Old Boys Collegians) Cricket Club and their support in both coaching and resources has been instrumental in the progress we have made” Hardy continued.
“We are incredibly grateful to our SMC Trust Board, Executive Principal Diana Patchett and our Sports Office for supporting us in our endeavour to foster and grow cricket at the College.”
St Margaret’s have a rich history in the female game, their first known team dating back to 1931.
The College also boasts a wealth of former WHITE FERNS & Canterbury Magicians, including Amy Satterthwaite and Maia Lewis, both former WHITE FERNS captains.
Nowadays, SMC’s 1st XI contributes a number of players to Canterbury’s age-group representative teams.
Earlier this week, the College welcomed WHITE FERNS legend and NZC’s GM of Cricket Operations, Catherine Campbell, to assist in the official grand opening of their recently developed nets & new bowling machine – a welcomed facility for all teams and players at the school.
For Campbell it was exciting to see the growth of the game at the school thanks to the support of willing and capable volunteers.
“I was so impressed by not only the new facility but, more importantly, by the support the game has from the principal, staff and parents,” said Campbell.
“To see so many girls of different ages and abilities loving being involved in cricket and being so proud of the St Margaret’s cricket programme was heartening, and I will certainly be taking a much closer interest in both the progress of the teams & players from the college.”
