Three Suffolk Seniors off to NZ

February 17, 2025

THREE Suffolk cricketers are flying off to New Zealand on Saturday to take part in the Rest of the World Seniors Tour.

Colin Walters is player-manager for the tour, while Derrick Messent is one of 16 players in the squad and John Stuck, the only one of the three to visit New Zealand before, will be umpiring.

Sixty-seven-year-old Colin, who played for Sudbury and still plays for Suffolk Over-60s, is also commercial manager of Suffolk Cricket Ltd.

Derrick, who has just celebrated his 78th birthday, plays for Suffolk Over-70s, and last season made his 200th appearance for Suffolk Seniors, representing Over-60s and 70s in that time

Although now an umpire, John is a former Minor Counties opening bat for Suffolk. He played the majority of his club cricket at Clacton, and last season represented Essex Over-70s and Long Melford 2nd XI. He has scored 217 centuries in his career.

The ROTW team will include players from England, Wales, Ireland, India and South Africa plus one Kiwi.

They will play a series of competitive friendlies versus Auckland, Central Districts, Northern Districts, Canterbury, Otago and Southlands during their 18-day stay in the country.

The tour follows on from the success of the largest Seniors tournament outside of a World Cup which was recently held in the United Arab Emirates, including matches at the Sharjah and Abu Dhabi international stadiums.

Colin played in that tournament for the Dubai Dragons, one of four ROTW sides, and ended up on the winning side.

He said: “This is a bucket list holiday for me and my partner Anne and the opportunity to combine it with playing some cricket in New Zealand was too good to resist.

“We’re actually staying on afterwards for an extra couple of weeks to see some more of what everyone says is one of the most beautiful countries on earth.”

Pictured above (left to right) are tourists John Stuck, Colin Walters and Derrick Messent.

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