Waikato Valley Cricket Association

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Waikato Valley Cricket Association

WVCA supports all cricketers in our area and we strive to be the best.

Waikato Valley Cricket Association competes in and is affiliated to the Northern Districts Cricket Association - one of six Major Associations in New Zealand.

06/09/2026

🌟Club Highlight: Morrinsville Piako Cricket Club🌟

A huge thank you to Ben Brownlie for sharing insights into Morrinsville Piako Cricket Club.

The Morrinsville Piako Cricket Club was established in 2013 following the amalgamation of the Morrinsville Cricket Club and the Te Aroha Cobras Cricket Club. What began as a single team has grown into a thriving club that now supports two senior men's teams, a senior women's team, and the over-40s side, the Morrinsville Creamers.

🏟️ The club is proudly based at the Morrinsville Recreation Ground, which serves as its home ground and hub for cricket in the local community.

📋 During the most recent season, the club fielded three senior teams, comprising two men's teams and one women's team.

🎉A standout achievement for the club was winning the prestigious Two Day Trophy, a testament to the hard work and commitment of its players and supporters.

🙌🏼 What truly sets Morrinsville Piako apart, however, is its culture. The club prides itself on creating an environment where everyone gets along, enjoys each other's company, and values the social side of cricket just as much as the on-field competition. This genuine sense of camaraderie is at the heart of what makes the club so special.

05/09/2026

🏏 Happy Father's Day! 🎉

To all the dads who've bowled endless overs in the backyard, more dodgy wides than they care to admit, carried kit bags bigger than their kids, and turned up rain, hail or shine — today we celebrate you. Thanks for being coaches, umpires, chauffeurs, our biggest supporters, and most importantly...dads.

We hope you have a fantastic day surrounded by family, friends, and maybe even a game of backyard cricket! 🏏

04/09/2026

📸 Flashback Friday

This week we're winding the clock back to 1989, when the Thames Valley Under-16 Team proudly represented our region at the Northern Districts Under-16 Tournament and came away as tournament champions.

A snapshot of young talent dreaming of making their mark on the game, these players proudly wore the Thames Valley colours and helped lay the foundations for the strong cricket community we enjoy today.

📸 Northern Districts Under-16 Tournament Champions, 1989

Back Row: Coach Pat Malcon, Paul Griffen, Jeremy Ralston, Jason Prout, Richard Clarke, Dion Bennett
Front Row: Graeme Bennett, Robert Diver, Owen Steverson, Jason Spice (Captain), Braedon Makgill, Martin Wright, Grant Steen

🙏 A special thank you to Pat Malcon for supplying this fantastic photo and helping preserve an important piece of Thames Valley Cricket history.
Based on Pat's recollections, several players and team members went on to make significant contributions to cricket and their communities.

💬 Do you recognise anyone in this team photo? Were you there at the tournament? We'd love to hear your memories in the comments!

🙌🏼 Here's to celebrating our past, honouring those who paved the way, and inspiring the next generation of cricketers.

02/09/2026

🏏 Meet Our U15 Boys Coach – Tharaka Waduge ("Wads") 🏏

We're excited to introduce Tharaka Waduge, better known as Wads, who will be leading our Waikato Valley U15 Boys this season!

💬 What are you most looking forward to this season?
"I'm really looking forward to the great energy this age group brings to the game. At U15 level, the boys are developing a real cricket IQ and can understand the tactical side of setting fields and building partnerships, but they still play with a lot of freedom and fun. It's going to be a fantastic season watching them express themselves on the field."

💬 What motivates you most as a coach?
"My main motivation is watching a player's confidence grow. There's nothing better than seeing a player work hard on specific skills in the nets and then execute them perfectly in a game. I love building a team environment where the boys genuinely enjoy training together and backing each other up."

💬 What qualities do you want to see from the squad?
"On the field, I want to see high energy, 100% effort, and players constantly supporting whoever is batting or bowling. Off the field, it's all about respect and teamwork, being punctual, looking after our gear, and representing Waikato Valley U15s with pride, whether we win or lose."

💬 What would a successful season look like?
"For me, success isn't just about where we finish on the ladder. Success means every player improves their fundamental skills, learns to read game situations better, and finishes the representative season a better cricketer than when they started."

⭐ What’s one thing your players would be surprised to learn about you?
"I've been involved in professional cricket for over 16 years in Sri Lanka and spent another 10 years in the UK playing and coaching. I also worked as the Development Officer for the Horowhenua Kapiti Cricket Association during the 2017/18 season while playing representative cricket there. One of my proudest personal achievements was scoring 217 runs in a single innings." 👏🏼

Let's get behind Wads and our U15 boys as they prepare for a fantastic representative season! 🏏

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30/08/2026

🏏Meet the Umpire: Luke Hibbert

When most players hang up the boots, they step away from the game. For Luke, “umpiring was a way to stay involved and give back to the sport I love". Inspired by his mum, Luke saw umpiring as a valuable skill to learn and a chance to continue contributing to cricket beyond playing.

One of the things Luke enjoys most about umpiring is having the best seat in the house. Standing in the middle gives him a unique view of the action, particularly when watching high-quality cricket unfold. He also values the opportunity to support and give back to the game that has given him so much.

A memory that still stands out is his very first ball as an umpire. "While exciting, it also came with a few nerves, especially when the bowler running in was a New Zealand Under-19 representative."

Luke says one thing many people don't realise about umpiring is that there's "sometimes a difference between the "correct" decision after a replay and a good decision made in real time" using the information available at the moment. It's a reminder of the skill, concentration and judgement required every ball.

This season, Luke is "looking forward to continuing to develop his umpiring skills while standing in high-quality cricket" across the Waikato Valley.

And when it comes to tea breaks, Luke's keeping it simple: sausage roll over sandwich every time.

We're grateful to have passionate young officials like Luke involved in cricket and helping ensure the game can thrive for everyone.

28/08/2026

📣 WVCA AGM Reminder

Don't forget to join us this Sunday for the Waikato Valley Cricket Association Annual General Meeting:

📅 Sunday, 30 August
🕑 2:00pm
📍 Cambridge Cricket Pavilion, Victoria Square

See you there!

26/08/2026

Zak Gibson 🔥

A brilliant spell from Zak Gibson as NZ A take on ACT in the ! 💪🏏

Clinical, relentless, and right on the money. 👏

25/08/2026

🏏 Cricket Fun at Amisfield School!

What a fantastic day delivering cricket skills sessions at Amisfield School!

It was great to see students fully engaged, developing their cricket skills through fun and interactive games. A special shout-out to our Cricket Activator, Emma, whose friendly, encouraging approach made a real impression on both students and staff. 😊

The feedback from the school was incredibly positive, with many students already asking when Emma will be back for another visit! Hearing that excitement and enthusiasm is exactly why we love bringing cricket into schools.

A huge thank you to the staff and students at Amisfield School for welcoming us. We look forward to continuing to grow the game and creating more positive cricket experiences for young people across our region.

21/08/2026

What a fantastic day of cricket! 🏏

Thanks for having us! We loved spending time with the students, sharing the fundamentals of the game and hopefully inspiring some future cricketers.

19/08/2026

🏏 Patron Spotlight | Pat Malcon 🏏

For many in our region, Pat Malcon is a familiar face and a respected voice in cricket.

As Patron of Waikato Valley Cricket, Pat sees his role as more than a title. It is recognition of decades of service to the game as a player, coach, administrator, and champion of community cricket. He also played a key role in establishing Waikato Valley as a District Association and continues to support the game by sharing his experience and advice whenever needed.

When reflecting on Waikato Valley Cricket, Pat is most impressed by the resilience of our cricket community.
"Keeping cricket alive in many parts of Waikato Valley has been a real challenge as populations age, employment opportunities fluctuate, and rural schools lose good players to bigger city schools," he says. "I am always mindful of the debt we owe to our volunteers."

For young cricketers starting out, Pat encourages them to keep sport fun and varied.
"Enjoy playing a range of sports when you're young," he says. "And hit balls, throw balls and catch balls as often as you can. The best players I know did a lot of this with friends. You don't need a coach or nets to practise."

Looking ahead, Pat is excited by the opportunities for growth across the region.
"Seeing Waikato Valley players excel at the top level gives us great role models for our youngsters," he says. "And the increasing profile of women's cricket gives more opportunities to grow the game."

And here's a fun fact many people may not know about our Patron. Outside of cricket, Pat played senior club rugby throughout Auckland, Wellington, Poverty Bay and the Bay of Plenty.
"I played first five-eighth inside three different All Black second five-eighths," Pat laughs. "I obviously made them look really good!" 😄

👏 Thank you, Pat Malcon, for your lifelong contribution to cricket and for continuing to support the Waikato Valley Cricket community with your knowledge, passion and experience.

📷 Supplied. 2018 Pat was awarded the Bert Sutcliffe Trophy for outstanding services to NZ cricket

Address

Seddon Park, Seddon Road
Hamilton

Website

https://www.ndcricket.co.nz/waikato-valley

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