top of page
Contact: Contact
Clutch Academy - Riverbend 2027
About the Riverbend cricket camp
In 2026 the Clutch Academy was represented by five teams across junior age groups year 6 - year 10. Teams each get 4 days of valuable cricket immersion - staying together at camp and opportunities to bond as a group on and off the field. Life long friends were established and memories made.
Riverbend 2027
In 2027 we're aiming to enter Clutch Academy teams across a range of age groups. Possible tournament dates (depending on numbers) include:
Year 9: Tuesday 5 to Friday 8 January 2027
Year 10: Saturday 9 to Tuesday 12 January 2027
Year 7 White: Monday 11 to Thursday 14 January 2027
Year 8 Black: Saturday 16 to Tuesday 19 January 2027
Year 8 White: Tuesday 19 to Friday 22 January 2027
Year 6: Friday 22 to Monday 25 January 2027
Capable year 5 cricketers are encouraged to enter the Year 6 team. You will have an opportunity to select more than one grade in your registration if your child feels comfortable playing a little higher (Eg. Year 9's can put their names forward for both the Year 9 and Year 10 team). Grades are based on the year level your child is in term 4 of 2026.
Clutch Academy teams - Purpose
Purpose of year 6, year 8 and year 9 teams: Gain experience
Players in these teams are there with the purpose of all members gaining from the experiences. The goal will be to give all players quality opportunities in a variety of roles. Team batting and bowling orders will be created that balance fostering opportunities with giving the team the best chance to compete on the field.
Purpose of Year 10 team: Competitive
Players in the year 10 team are likely to begin to specialise more as batters or bowlers - preparing them for matches at the senior school level. Talented year 9s seeking a challenge are encouraged to put their name forward for this team.
Clutch Academy team selection
Each team will consist of 12 players. Hopefully we can find a place for all who register in a team. However, if there are more players registered than spaces available, the factors below will be taken into consideration as part of the selection process for teams (in no particular order).
- History of involvement and commitment to Clutch programmes
- Suitability of year level relative to the grade being entered
- Registering on time (before the 14th of July)
Other information
Cost related information:
Expect the cost to be between $480.00 - $530.00. (Hawkes Bay Cricket have not yet released the cost of the tournament - so I am basing this on last year's budget and an expectation that they increase their costs slightly each year)
This covers: Full tournament entry (6 matches over 4 days), 3 nights accommodation at Napier Boys High School hostel, breakfasts and dinners at camp, lunches on 2nd and 3rd game days, 6x match balls, coach (Greg Holt) to stay with team, match day shirts (not to keep), team hats (to keep), 1x full team net session in December..
This does not cover: Transport to and from Napier, additional game day snacks/waters, white playing pants, accommodation for parents (other than team manager), personal cricket gear required to play, additional warm up games as a team (aiming for at least 1 warm up fixture for each side in term 4).
Invoices will be required to be paid in full by the 1st of November.
Once paid, if you child pulls out for any reason before the 1st of December, you will get 50% of your money refunded.
After the 1st of December there will be no refund due to the logistics of finding a replacement player.
Requirement: To play in the Clutch Academy your child must be registered in term 4 to either the Junior or Senior group sessions. If for any reason your child is unable to sign up for either of these, alternative arrangements can be considered (eg. 1:1 sessions through Clutch Coaching). This ensures that players selected to represent the Clutch Academy are part of the programme. Please contact us to make an alternative arrangement if your child cannot join a term 4 programme.
If your child does not wish to stay at the accommodation with the team, they are allowed to stay with parents. However, this will not decrease the cost of the Riverbend tournament as the accommodation does not change their prices for fewer members of the team staying at the boarding house.
Greg Holt will be the coach for all four Riverbend teams. 1 parent will assist Greg in a team manager role. The team manager will be a second adult at the boarding house helping out the team. Other travelling parents will assist the coach and team manager with getting players to the ground each morning.
If you have any questions before registering your child, please send us an email: clutch.coachingnz@gmail.com
Registrations close 14th of July 2026. Team naming will be finalised 20th of July.
bottom of page