THE ROSS TAYLOR BAT


This is a boys' secondary schools T20 contest introduced by CD in 2018


This season's Finals will take place from Tuesday 16 to Thursday 18 March 2027 in Palmerston North. Entry is open to all schools in the CD region, including Nelson and Marlborough*


Central Stags and BLACKCAPS legend ROSS TAYLOR personally donated the trophy for this competition - it's the blade with which he scored a BLACKCAPS century against England at McLean Park in 2013. Unsurprisingly, this has rapidly become a sought-after trophy!


*Boys' school First XIs can choose whether to enter The Ross Taylor Bat, or, the
CD Boys' First XI Cup but can not compete in both competitions in the same summer






PREVIOUS SEASON ARCHIVES 


2025/26 CHAMPION

Wairarapa College



The Ross Taylor Bat T20 Finals took place on 24-26 March 2026 at Palmerston North's Ongley Park.

Schools that made it through to the T20 Finals tournament:



• PARAPARAUMU COLLEGE Horowhenua-Kāpiti

• WHANGANUI HIGH SCHOOL Whanganui

• WAIRARAPA COLLEGE Wairarapa

• FAHS FEILDING HIGH SCHOOL Manawatū

• ST JOHN'S COLLEGE Hawke's Bay

• STRATFORD HIGH SCHOOL Taranaki



2024/25 CHAMPION

St John's College - Hastings



The 2024/25 summer's ROSS TAYLOR BAT competition was at Manawaroa Park, Palmerston North 25-27 March 2025

St John's College put together a strong campaign, beating Wairarapa College in the Final by 44 runs


The six schools who made it through to the Finals:


• PARAPARAUMU COLLEGE Horowhenua-Kāpiti

• WHANGANUI HIGH SCHOOL Whanganui

• KURANUI COLLEGE Wairarapa

• FEILDING HIGH SCHOOL Manawatū

• ST JOHN'S COLLEGE Hawke's Bay

• WAIRARAPA COLLEGE Wairarapa


2023/24 RESULTS

Finalists for this season were:

FEILDING High School (representing Manawatū)

WHANGANUI High School (Whanganui)

TE PAEPAE o Aotea (Hāwera, Taranaki)

WAIRARAPA College (Wairarapa)

KĀPITI College (Horowhenua-Kāpiti)

ST JOHN'S College (Hawke's Bay)


For the second year in a row, the 2024 Ross Taylor Bat champion was Whanganui High School



2022/23 RESULTS

Finalists for this season were:

FEILDING High School (representing Manawatū)

WHANGANUI High School (Whanganui)

TE PAEPAE o Aotea (Taranaki)

WAIRARAPA College (Wairarapa)

PARAPARAUMU College (Horowhenua-Kāpiti)

HAVELOCK NORTH High School (Hawke's Bay)


The 2023 Ross Taylor Bat champion was Whanganui High School


2021/22 RESULTS

Finalists for this season were:


FEILDING High School (representing Manawatū)

WHANGANUI High School (Whanganui)

HAWERA High School (Taranaki)

KURANUI College (Wairarapa)

PARAPARAUMU College (Horowhenua-Kāpiti)

TARADALE High School (Hawke's Bay)


Three rounds of Finals took place on 9 March at Palmerston North's Manawaroa Park. Heading into the last round, two teams - Feilding and Kuranui - were unbeaten, and were in the box seat to take out the title.

But both schools were beaten in the final round, while Paraparaumu came through with a solid win against Taradale. With four schools finishing with two wins, it came down to Net Run Rate, and Paraparaumu College won The Ross Taylor Bat for 2022! What a great tournament.