West Coast Cricket Association

The West Coast Cricket Association (WCCA) is an association representing the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, with their main ground Arthur Fong Park in Greymouth.^[1]

The current president of the association is Brendan Marshall.

The West Coast Cricket Association promotes youth and adult men age groups to play the sport.

In recent years, Cricket on the West Coast has begun to grow. With the recent founding of the West Coast Junior Cricket,^[2] developing and teaching the sport to the 9- to 13-year-olds, with NZC's Smash Play^[3] programme.

The West Coast Cricket Association actively drives cricket across the Westland and Grey Districts.

West Coast is a district association which sits under Canterbury as a major association. It also receives help from other associations such as, Buller, and Canterbury Country, for things like umpires and equipment. Canterbury Cricket the parent association advertise the sport on the West Coast. ^[4]

The West Coast Cricket Association also develops Indoor Cricket for Adults^[5] in the wetter months, played at the JPIIHS All Saints Gym, formally known as Civic Centre.

Current history[edit]

The West Coast Cricket Association begins their summer with a last man stands competition. A shorter format of limited-overs cricket at Arthur Fong Park.

A week later, the 8-round-T20 competition played in a league format begins with matches being played at either Arthur Fong Park or Cass Square in Hokitika. Between late November to early February with a break for Christmas, and Waitangi Day.

The senior men's West Coast team irregularly plays in one-off matches and festivals and formally played in the Hawke Cup.

The West Coast Cricket Association sent primary-aged cricketers to South Island Cricket festivals in Nelson - 2018, Oamaru - 2019, Westport - 2020, Canterbury - 2021/2022^[6] and, Mandeville - 2023.^[7] With their best success at the 2023 edition of the tournament winning the trophy for the first time.

Senior men's Twenty20 competition[edit]

The competition beginning in late November began in 2017, with 6 teams with the final always being played at Arthur Fong Park, Ground 1. Last year, the competition expanded to team from Hokitika, and created a youth-development team. The 2022-2023 season was won by Railways the first time they won the competition. ^[8][9]

Senior Men's fixtures[edit]

Former grounds[edit]

Racecourse Ground, Greymouth where an English cricket team played a Westland XI on the 20th of February 1877, the match was drawn. ^[21]

Recreation Ground, now the Westland Hockey Turf where they were a number of elimination matches in the Hawke Cup were played between 1948 and 1984. ^[22]

Victoria Park, where Lord Hawke's cricket team played a match against a Westland XI on the 30th of January 1903. Lord Hawke's team won by 5 wickets. ^[23]

References[edit]