ACTION OPENS WITH PLUNKET SHIELD GAME

Posted: Tuesday, 2 October 2018

Bay Oval

A Plunket Shield match, will open the professional cricket season at the Bay Oval this season, when Northern Districts play the Otago Volts in a four day match starting on Wednesday 10th October 2018.

In October 1906 the (then) Governor-General of New Zealand the 5th Baron Plunket donated a shield for cricket competition in the Dominion. The New Zealand Cricket Council allocated the Plunket Shield to Canterbury, who were considered to have the best record the previous season, having been the only provincial team to have beaten the touring MCC side.

Beginning with the 1907-08 season, the Plunket Shield winner was decided by challenge matches between Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and on two occasions Hawkes Bay. Auckland defeated Canterbury by an innings in the first Plunket Shield Challenge match played in December 1907.

In the 1921-22 season, the four provincial teams (minus Hawkes Bay who had lost their first class status) played each other in a single round robin series. Central Districts entered the Plunket Shield competition in 1950 with Northern Districts in 1956.

The Plunket Shield (Photograph courtesy of New Zealand Cricket)

For many years the Plunket Shield was known under a sponsor’s name. In 2009, NZ Cricket stated that the naming rights were no longer for sale and that the Plunket Shield would again become the sports first-class prize. The Plunket Shield Final was also abolished meaning the season winner would be determined by the point’s leader at the conclusion of the double round competition.

The ND professional side, who utilize the Bay Oval as their alternate home base have already spent time at the Blake Park ground this season. as part of their annual spring training.

They will return to the Bay Oval in earnest next week, as they wrap up their final preparations for the their initial first-class encounter of the new season, against the Otago representatives.

The ND Spring Training is a return home for five of the Northern Districts professional players who are registered to Bay of Plenty cricket clubs.

Plunket Shield R1 – 10/13 October @ Bay Oval Mount Maunganui – 10.30am start

ND Spring Training 3/5 October @ Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui

For Further Information Contact

Kelvin Jones Bay Oval Trust 021 508 837

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