Six of New Zealand’s top secondary schools are gearing up for the Secondary School Girls’ First XI Cup, one of the country’s premier school cricket tournaments with national honours on the line.
Defending champions Tawa College return to nationals for a sixth time in school history, looking to retain the title they claimed in 2024.
They will face strong challenges from familiar rivals.
Takapuna Grammar return for their third consecutive First XI Cup appearance, boasting a squad stacked with returning players.
Takapuna have finished in third place at their last two tournament appearances and will be looking to improve on that result this year.
Ōtūmoetai College, led by Mackenzie Grant, and Palmerston North Girls’ High School, captained by Penny Lovegrove, also return with valuable experience from last year’s tournament.
Otago Girls’ High School returns for the first time since 2022, where they recorded a strong third place finish.
As the former school of WHITE FERNS legend Suzie Bates, OGHS will be looking to add another chapter to their school’s cricketing history.
Rounding out the field is St Margaret’s College, who are making their debut appearance at the First XI Cup.
Their qualification reflects the success of a flourishing cricket programme that has transformed the sport at the school.
Beyond the on-field action, the Girls’ First XI Cup offers players a unique opportunity to connect off the field, strengthen bonds with their schoolmates and build friendships with peers from other schools.
Matches will be scored live at nzc.nz with one match per round live streamed on NZC’s YouTube channel.
SQUADS
Ōtūmoetai College:
Mackenzie Grant (C), Christiana Byrne, Grace Duncan, Willow Grant, Jasmine Griffiths, Aideen Hutchinson, Mianē Le Roux, Hannah Mason, Chelsea Olesen, Miah Smith, Victoria Stronge, Summer Taruia
Staff: Craig Grant, Kim Olesen
Otago Girls’ HS:
Kate Ballantyne (C), Emily Aubin, Grace Barnes, Ellie Cowan, Ava Couling, Freya Glover, Jorja Hobbs, Charlie Hunsche, Olivia McIntyre, Isla Murray, Alice Ussher, Rowan Wilson
Staff: Hannah Gilham, Jenny Seward
Palmerston North Girls’ HS:
Penny Lovegrove (C), Addi Caske, Chloe Easton, Ella James, Aria Kearney, Natsume Macdonald, Emma Morrison, Lucy Myers, Caitlyn Orr, Maggie Rate, Zara Thompson, Tiana Whitton-Walker
Staff: James Lovegrove, Robbie James, Valerie Sampson
St Margaret’s College:
Lily Young (C), Lexie Boon, Pippa Bocock, Isobel Brook, Emma Crawford, Maisie Diver, Jessica Gearry, Sophie Gibb, Ciara Hartland, Elza Harrington, Jemima Nation, Millie Spear, Stella Valentine
Staff: Amanda Hardy, Richard Lough
Tawa College:
Greta Abbott (C), Lily Campbell (C), Tessa Campbell, Grace Dick, Gemma Fouhy, Yvanni Gibson, Emily Frater, Tiana Lowe, Mia Malherbe, Jensen Ngarimu, Bella Roberts, Bella Sheridan
Staff: Micah Conroy, Sarah Campbell
Takapuna Grammar:
Orla Langdon (C), Emmelyn Barber, Lucy Clentworth, Ava Clentworth, Raiha Jeory-Reynolds, Deanna Mathew, Audrey Melhuish, Belle Newman, Louise Pickering, Annabel Priddy, Philippa Priddy, Eva Steckler, Lucia Sweetman, Dorothea Waldron, Isabella Watson
Staff: Juan Le Maitre, Johan Kirstein, Gillian Scott, Johanna Melhuish
