By PJ Taylor
Cricket’s on a roll with the ICC World Cup swinging into action, and Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club’s on an equally exciting high, celebrating their trophy-capturing successes last summer.
Over the past week, HPCC representatives have been out in public touring two coveted cups and a treasured shield, won during the 2018-19 Auckland club cricket season.
The club’s skippers wanted to show and share with their local communities and supporters the club’s men’s premier side’s trophies for their victories in the always tough two-day championship and T20 competition, respectively.
The other trophy is probably the most important – Auckland Cricket’s club of the year.
At the Barrel Inn in Cook Street and at the Howick Community RSA, with cups and shield in hand, were Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club board member Tony Walsh, men’s premier team captain Mike Greenwood, and club captain Wayne McKenzie.
Walsh said they wanted to parade the trophies at the Barrel Inn because money collected by its gaming machines is redistributed by the New Zealand Community Trust to club’s such as Howick Pakuranga.
The NZCT grants funding is distributed throughout the club to benefit all players and grades, he said.
Greenwood said the premier team’s achievements are outstanding, picking up two of the three major trophies in premier grade.
The two-day championship victory was to savour, he said, with the long season decided on the last Saturday.
McKenzie spoke of the pride HP has for being chosen as club of the year, as it reflects the club’s excellent results across the grades and off-field organisation and culture.
When the HPCC trio attended the Howick Community RSA, they were joined by New Zealand international Mitch McClenaghan.
