Samoa: Season continues

Cricket is alive and well in Samoa, with four senior teams playing a regular competition, and other "works" and "business house" teams also playing.

The old Wanderers team, which in most countries would be called a "Golden Oldies", has been disbanded to provide umpires and scorers. The strong Police team will wait until the end of the Rugby season before joining the competition in the second round.

Another team of young players from far away on the South Coast at Lefaga is in serious training to also enter the competition in the second round. It is coached by Ata Matatumua, an opening fast bowler for Otago, back around 1963-64.

The first round of competition has concluded with Apia City winning the trophy. We now have a three week recess.

Already, plans are underway to get the second round organised. This includes building a third prepared wicket, and increasing the number of teams to six. There will also be eight social teams.

The last couple of weekends have seen the national selection trials to select two teams to play against a couple of visiting Auckland teams on October 5. The bat has tended to dominate over the bowl, while there has also been some excellent fielding.

These games will be preceded by 'warm-up' matches between the two Samoan national teams and a 'President's Selection'.

Samoa will then play Auckland in a four team tournament held over the week of the Teuila Festival. Following this, a 12 man squad will be chosen to represent Samoa at the Pacifica Cup competition in Auckland in February, 2001.

Overall, cricket is going well and development plans are starting to produce good results.