Club blessed with stunning home ground but not with players

THE season might be over for the Blackwood Cricket Club, but it is still chasing one big target – more players.

The club, which is based at the local recreation reserve and plays home games in breathtaking natural surroundings, was forced to forfeit its first Gisborne and District Cricket Association match this season through a lack of players.

And according to president Brian Suters, it struggles to fill out a full playing roster on any given weekend.

Mr Suters said the club started well in terms of players when it was formed in the early 1990s, but things had changed over the years.

“The last couple of years we’ve struggled pretty badly,” he said.

The club competes in the association’s Jensen Shield seconds section, which has 12 teams, and finished second-last on the table this season.

“We had a few washouts … that made it a bit harder,” Mr Suters said.

“There were a few games where we had eight of us playing, including me who’s too old to play, and a couple of others.”

Mr Suters has been president for the past five years and never really played much after under-16s.

“I would rather do other things on Saturdays, but then because I’ve been living in Blackwood for 30 years I got involved with the cricket club,” he said.

“I filled in once or twice years ago, and then I got talked into being the president, so I thought I’d better put my (playing) suit on and pull my socks up.”

Mr Suters said there is no limit on how many new players the club will accept.

“Some days we’ll have 13 players, but it’s very rare we’ll get 13; it probably happened once this year,” he said.

“But a lot of the time we’re struggling to get 10 players, so we’ll just take anyone that’s got any ability at all.”

The club’s last game for the season finished last weekend.

Training takes place on Thursday nights at the recreation reserve and potential players can indicate interest by calling club captain Ben Whitehouse on 0427 225 155.