GOOD HANDS: Henry Murchie takes a catch against Seddon Cricket Club. PHOTOS SUPPLIED
A recent cricket excursion has reminded Henry Murchie just how much he loves the game.
Henry, 16, was part of the first Seddon Cricket Club schoolboys team, which travelled to the South Island to play at Willows in Loburn.
Many people won’t know much about Willows, but it is a club for ex-and-current cricketers who are invited to join, and they play various schoolboy teams from around New Zealand. It’s a purist cricket ground, much like the ones in England with picket fences, boundary ropes, sight screens, full size scoreboard and a fantastic dinner.
“I loved it,” Henry said. “It was a fantastic experience playing against cricketers who were more my age and level, but also completely new to me and we were all a similar skill level.
“I had a great bunch of teammates, we all got on well. It was a good pitch too. The tradition of the day was really cool.”
As for his performance in Christchurch, Henry, who rates Tim Southee as his favourite player, was happy with his efforts.
“I thought I bowled pretty well.”
Prior to the game, the schoolboys had a net at Hagley Oval where they were coached by former New Zealand players John Wright and Llorne Howell.
Henry and his teammates also had two experienced coaches accompany them on the trip in former Northern Districts players Matthew Hart and Joey Yovich.
Henry said he met and played alongside some wonderful teammates.
“We were all from smaller rural schools, which was really nice because we don’t get opportunities like that often.”
It is a sport some people find tedious or boring, for Henry it’s the opposite.
His first foray into cricket came at primary school when he saw other kids playing and decided to give it a go.
“I love it. Some people like riding horses, I love playing cricket.”
Before his Willows excursion, Henry was part of an Ōtorohanga College team, which got to play on one of New Zealand‘s premier cricket grounds – the goal of most cricketers.
Funnily enough, his opponents on that day were the Seddon Cricket Club.
“We didn’t win against Seddon, but it was awesome playing on a ground like Seddon Park. It’s a highlight for me alongside the trip to Christchurch.
“It was probably the hardest game I have played because they were all men, but I didn’t mind that because it gave me a good challenge.”
School cricket re-started last weekend and Henry was back to opening the bowling and batting high up the order.
“I see myself as a bowler who bats a bit, but we have some younger boys so I might have to bat a bit.”
His highest score is 56, so he is no bunny with the willow.
“I want to try and make the Waikato Valley age group representative side for my age group and just have fun. Those
are my goals for the season.”
If he’s not playing cricket, Henry can be seen wielding a hockey stick or football boots – his sports of choice over the winter months.
He hasn’t been called upon yet for the Raptors but has pulled on the Waitete colours on a couple of occasions.
