A very warm early summer’s day saw a youthful Willows side confront the Northwest Schools XI, a team that is a combination of players from Burnside High School and Papanui High School, for the first time. Despite a bouncer flying off Tinius Huyser’s helmet for four leg byes in the first over of the match, this was to be a day for the batsman, as by the day’s end a total of 580 runs had been scored for the loss of only 12 wickets.

An outstanding partnership of 163 between Bill Walsh and Carl Huyser (who was also the coach of the Northwest XI) laid the foundation for The Willows score of 304 for 5. Bill scored 100 (before retiring as customary) and Carl 84, both scoring at about a run a ball. Tim Barringer also chimed in with a bright 39.

In reply the North West XI started positively putting on 48 for the first wicket. The runs continued to flow as the young Northwest batsmen took the game to the Willows bowlers. Young Chris Warner was outstanding, striking a magnificent 83 not out including taking 24 off an over of one hapless Willows bowler who shall remain unnamed. He was well supported by Eddie Commons who scored 56. Unfortunately the challenge of scoring three hundred plus proved too much for the valiant Northwest team and they fell 28 runs short.