The Priest Family Cup – A Proud 75-Year Tradition

This Sunday, the Wanderers Cricket Club is proud to travel north to Whanganui Collegiate for a full day of cricket, with three Wanderers sides set to take the field.

In an exciting showcase of depth across our club, we will be fielding the Wanderers XI, Wanderers Colts XI, and Wanderers Girls XI, who will take on Whanganui Collegiate’s 1st XI Boys, 2nd XI Boys, and 1st XI Girls respectively. All matches get underway at 10am.

The feature match sees our Wanderers XI face Collegiate’s 1st XI Boys in the contest for The Priest Family Cup. Since the mid-1950s, the Priest family has held a strong and enduring connection to Collegiate Cricket. Alec Priest, originally from Dunedin and a former Otago First-Class player, moved to Whanganui with his wife in 1946. His passion for the game saw all four of his sons attend Collegiate: his wife joked it was more for cricket than for education!

In the 1950s, frustrated by the lack of focus on Marris (the Day Boys’ House), Alec coached the team himself, transforming them into a formidable side. Among the players he coached was a young Robert Wake, well known to many current and former Collegiate cricketers. Today, the bell on the cricket pavilion bears Alec’s name, a lasting tribute to his impact.

From 1960 to 1968, it was rare to see a School First XI that didn’t feature a Priest boy. In the 1990s, the legacy continued with Sam Priest (son of Duncan) playing in two Gillette Cup–winning sides under Dermot Payton. After moving to Wellington in 1963, Duncan Priest joined the Wanderers and continued returning for this annual fixture, now marking its 75th year. The match remains a highlight of the Wanderers’ season, creating memories that last a lifetime. The Priest family is honoured to continue providing the trophy for this long-standing event.

Find the Programme HERE