CHAMPIONS: The Ōtorohanga Raptors who were the inaugural winners of the Seddon Sixes. Back from left, Bennet Groube, Andrew McLean, Finn O’Halloran, front, Ryder Parsons, Chris Keech, Leighton Parsons and Bryan King. PHOTO: ULTIMATE SPORTS
An Andrew McLean bomb helped the Ōtorohanga Raptors to the inaugural Seddon Sixes title.
Chasing 78 to win against Pandora Cricket Club, McLean whacked the penultimate ball for six to help the Raptors to the title.
It was a newly created event by the Seddon Cricket Club held at Stark Park in Tamahere that featured eight different teams vying for the coveted crown.
The Ōtorohanga Raptors, Kaimai Cricket Club, Craig Investment Partners, Pandora Cricket Club, Seddon Swish, Green n Tonics, Pink Panthers and Mangorei CC were split into two pools to battle it out.
Leighton Parsons, who was the Raptors’ captain, said it was a cracking event run by the Seddon Cricket Club.
“It was a bloody good day and stoked to take a trophy home at the end of it.”
Throughout the day, they played five games with three pool games, then a semifinal and a final, which saw them go through to the title unbeaten.
Some outstanding batting and bowling all day saw the Raptors a step ahead of their opponents.
“They had made a big deal of it. Each team had their picketed off areas, the trophies were magnificent. There were spot prizes for the biggest sixes. They really turned it on and created a fantastic day.
“I have done a few sixes tournaments in my time and that is the best one I have been to in terms of organisation. It was brilliant.”
A nice touch from the Seddon Cricket Club was the pieces of picket fence engraved with the teams’ names on them.
“We only had six players, so we got an extra picket and have given it to our sponsor, Mortgage Express, so they can put it up in their office, too.
“It was nice to be able to give them one.”
Parsons said the team intended returning for the second edition.
“We have this massive trophy for a year. We will certainly go again and probably take the same team and try and hang on to it. We will go back and give it a red-hot crack for sure.”
