The Preview: BWCUCC Championship
Burnside West Christchurch University Cricket Club | September 18, 2025
The Burnside West Christchurch University Championship side heads into the 2025/26 season with plenty of confidence after a remarkable 2024/25 campaign.
Last summer was one to remember. The team lifted both the 2-Day Championship and the T20 trophy, while also reaching the semi-finals of the 50-over competition. The two-day title was all but wrapped up before Christmas, though a post–white ball break slump meant a nervous wait on the final afternoon. In contrast, the T20 final was a dominant performance — a 92-run victory on Hagley Oval.
Standout performances came thick and fast. Will Kennedy piled on 631 runs across the season, while his brother-in-law Alex McDuff topped the bowling charts with 49 wickets. Nick Gibb had an incredible T20 campaign, scoring 600 runs, and skipper Cameron Hardwick led from the front with 37 wickets of his own.
As the side looks to build on that success, we sat down with Cameron to hear his thoughts on the season ahead, the players to watch, and his goals as captain.
Q: What are you most looking forward to this season?
Honestly, just ripping in again. There’s nothing better than playing competitive cricket with your mates and then enjoying a cold beverage together afterwards. That’s what makes club cricket so special.
Q: What do you see as the team’s biggest strength this year?
Our bowling line-up really stands out. We’ve got experience right across the attack, and it’s been a key part of our success in the last couple of years. We know we can take wickets in any conditions, and that gives us a real edge.
BWCUCC's top two grades together after winning their respective T20 finals.
Q: Any players you think might surprise people this season?
Thomas Bird and Aston Growden are two I’m really excited about. Both are in their first year at uni and showed glimpses at the back end of last season with some handy knocks. Now they’ve had a full pre-season with us, I think they’ll only get better and could make a real impact.
Q: What lessons did the team take away from last season?
Winning two out of three trophies and making the one-day semi-final gives us a lot of confidence. But we also learned the importance of consistency — especially after the break when our two-day form dipped. If we can keep our standards up right through the season, we’ll be tough to beat.
Q: As captain, what goals have you set for the group this year?
For me, it’s about creating a culture where everyone is competing and pushing for a premier spot. That sort of competition drives performance and makes the team stronger. Of course, we want to be in the hunt for silverware again, but the bigger goal is about building on last year and continuing to set high standards as a group.
BeaconPoint Wellbeing Clips - The Issue Parents May Underestimate
