A club stalwart plays his 100th game for the mighty Piwakawaka. Sam “Shuks” Shukla is one of those blokes that has never failed to make an impact since joining the Club in the 2018/19 season. Shuks has truly done it all – he’s been a regular in the Prems, captained the reserves, Club Captain and has recently been appointed Chair!

The only thing more impressive than his bat collection has been just how much Shuks puts back into the Club whether it be sorting game balls on a Friday night, ensuring both the Men’s and Women’s sides are sorted going into each weekend or sorting kit (Shulks also loves kit!). A lot of what Shuks does isn’t always seen by the masses but the Club is reliant and grateful for the many silent hours Shuks puts in behind the scenes.

Cheers to one of the Clubs best!

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Sam will step onto the field for the 50th time for Upper Hutt.

Sam joined us straight out of school and, after a short sabbatical, he rejoined the club at the end of the 2023/24 season. Since then, he has truly made his mark, scoring over a thousand runs last season — including a best of 226*, a club record. During the off-season, Sam was rewarded with his first contract with the Firebirds!

We wish Sam all the best this weekend and can’t wait to celebrate what will surely be the first of many milestones in his career!

Source: Upper Hutt United Cricket Club

24/10/25