Cornwall Cricket Club
The club is situated at the picturesque Cornwall Park, Auckland, nestled against the slopes of One Tree Hill, with an atmosphere reminiscent of a traditional English village cricket field.
Cornwall currently has seventeen Senior Men’s teams including one Women’s teams and almost one hundred Junior teams. It is believed to be the largest club in Australasia in terms of membership but beyond numbers it prides itself on delivering an outstanding all round cricket experience to its members.
Cornwall Park has three pitches, with games able to be played on either grass or artificial wickets. The club employs a full-time groundsman who maintains the grounds throughout the year. It also employs a full time manager.
The Clubrooms consist of the Pavilion, together with changing rooms, full catering facilities and a tuck shop. Opened in 1955, the Pavilion houses a licensed bar and a massive 54” television, complete with Sky Digital. It has been the scene of many memorable social events. Cornwall parties have gained a somewhat legendary status in the Auckland cricket scene and this is an area we continue to thrive in.
The club has produced many of New Zealand's finest cricketers, including Martin and Jeff Crowe, Adam Parore, Mark Greatbatch, Rodney Redmond and Graham Vivian.
Cornwall has been named Auckland Club of the Year for three of the past eight seasons. Our Men’s Premier team were the current 2008 Southern Trust National Club Champions Champions. They have also won the ACA Two Day Championship for eight of the last fourteen seasons - an unprecedented feat in Auckland Club Cricket. The NBLS are the reigning One Day 1A champions, Mainstream the 4A Champions and C1 the current 5th grade Champions.
Early History
Cornwall Cricket Club began life in 1895 as Ponsonby Cricket Club. It soon became a prominent force in Auckland Club Cricket by gaining senior grade status and winning the Championship for three years between 1914 and 1917. In 1938 the small club of Balmoral amalgamated and the club adopted the name Ponsonby-Balmoral. During the second world war years it underwent a further change as it joined with the Eden Club to form Eden Ponsonby Balmoral. Thisd did not last long and reverted back to Ponsonby Balmoral in 1945.
In 1952, the Cornwall Park Trust Board granted the Auckland Cricket Association (ACA) a ten acre block known as the Olive Grove adjoining the Greenlane Hospital to be used by the Ponsonby-Balmoral Cricket Club. For two years the club operated under the banner of Onehunga- One Tree Hill and Districts. However, in light of the new venue, the Club actioned in 1956 a more appropriate name change to the Cornwall Districts Cricket Association.
In order to turn the ground into a suitable playing area, tree removal, earth works and grass sowing was completed by the ACA. Around twenty olive trees needed to be removed. Members also undertook a lot of the development work on a voluntary basis. Working bee followed working bee under the guidance of Ces Renwick. Many a ‘practise night’ was spent behind a rake or wheelbarrow.
1955 at Cornwall Cricket Club
The Pavilion
The Club Pavilion was moved onto site by Club members after being donated by the late Lloyd Seabrook. The pavilion was originally a pioneer Epsom house built in the 1860’s and sited in Manukau Rd. Rakes and harrows gave way to brushes and hammers on practice nights as members worked to convert the solid Kauri building into a Pavilion.
The ground and pavilion were officially opened on 10 December 1955 by Sir James Gunson. Parnell and Cornwall played the inaugural match and Merv Wallace hit up the very first century scored on the new ground.
An upper level was added in 1973 which in no way destroyed the original character of the cottage. 1995 saw the addition of the upstairs deck, changing rooms, umpires room, sports shop and electronic scoreboard.
The Cornwall Club was responsible for bringing limited overs cricket to New Zealand and is the home of the National Cricket Club Championship. It also held the first game of Cricket Max, a form of limited overs cricket devised by past player Martin Crowe. Cornwall has developed a reputation for being the 2nd best cricket venue in Auckland after Eden Park and because of this the Park often hosts fixtures of the highest level.
The Club Crest
The crest of Cornwall displays on its seal the arms of the Duchy and fifteen roundels. The roundels originated in the arms of King John’s second son Richard, The Earl of Cornwall and the Count of Poictou.
‘Silve’ is the red lion rampant wearing a gold crown with four roundels. The shield that belongs to Richard, Earl of Cornwall, can be seen in the Quire of Westminster Abbey Church in London
Cornwall Mens Premier Championships
Cornwall Mens Premier Team have won the flagship Two Day title on a staggering nine occasions since 1994/95. They have also won three of the previous four Championships and were National Club Champions in 2008.
Click here for a full history of Premier Mens Team Honours Board.
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