Pollock Cup 2024 commences this weekend at Clearwater in what could be a very open affair with a number of teams having personnel changes, together with the addition of new players to the competition.
Last year’s champions Waimairi Beach have retained the nucleus of their successful side from 2023 with Canterbury Reps Aroha Minhinnick and Zaria Bourne, Aorangi Reps Deanna Matthews and Angela Gerken. Lyn Robertson, unbeaten last year and joint Merle Barley Salver winner with Deanna, and ex Canterbury Rep Georgia Wayman round off a strong, settled squad very capable of going back-to-back.
Beaten 2023 Finalists Christchurch will be looking to go one better in 2024 but have lost the services of the highly experienced Canterbury Rep Catherine Palmer who is expecting a new addition to the family in November. The squad still has the firepower to turn last year’s result around with Canterbury Reps Mel Newburn, Olive Tapu, and Nicola Webb. Monica Tulisi near the top of the order, together with Rachel Cox, Mel Brew, Jennifer Cho, Belinda Richards, and Robyn Gillespie, will all be focused to make it three championships in four years.
Harewood have two new faces in their squad this year in the form of Rangiora’s Lannie Inoue and Harewood's Phoebe Pratt, however they have lost Canterbury Masters Rep Sally Rossiter this season. Lannie will be a great asset for the side leading off at No.1 and be very hard to roll, while Kathryn Maloney, Jaimee Leach, Pam McTaggart, Lynn Brand, Debbie Scott, and Aorangi’s Lynda Brown will provide great support, and consistency will be key.
Semi-Finalists from last year, Clearwater with a very similar squad, stacked with experience, will be looking for redemption. Canterbury Rep Rachel Eder will head their order at No.1 with teenager Lexi Thomson-Hall, Canterbury Masters Rep Jo Kent, Marg-Mary Coughlan, Virginia Faass, Lynda Vieceli, Justine Sheppard, Jo Carolan, Di Kay and Kaz Chappell moving from Waimak Gorge, will have their sights firmly on the silverware after some great results in 2023.
After a tough 2023, Russley’s young squad will be all the better for last year's experience, and they could well prove the surprise package in 2024. Canterbury Reps Alisia Ren, Vanessa Lim and Junie Chang will provide a real handful for other sides at the top of their order with Subin Bae, Alice Fry, Jessie Mercer, Louise Hegan, and debutante Emma Lewis. After going down to Waimairi Beach narrowly in last year's Semi-Final, the potential is definitely there to cause some upsets.
Waitikiri will be out to improve on last year’s finish and have the depth and experience in the squad to challenge any team. Canterbury Masters Reps Kim Moggach, Naomi Wallace and Chris Marple, newcomer and Pollock Cup debutante Shontalia William new to the region, Nicky Muir, Helen Smith together with Jenny Ahn, Sharyn Taylor and Aorangi Masters Rep Ginny Bolderston, can all make their presence felt at this level.
To view the full season draw and follow the results, click - HERE.
