It was all done and dusted. A good season, a hit with the locals, players responding to new training methods, sound leadership of a young emerging side and a re-signing of professional forms ready for the 2010 April launch.

The Ribblesdale League season couldn’t come quickly enough for Kiwi Brent Findlay as he prepared himself for another season at Settle after a successful stint on and off the field.

That was, until disaster struck last month when searing pains down both legs led to a specialist who diagnosed a stress fracture of the lower spine.

The end result is a five month lay off from the game and withdrawing from his contract with the Marshfield outfit.

A body blow to both camps and something which at this late stage in the professional recruitment season, the Dales club could have really done without.

Four weeks, numerous e- mails and telephone calls later and emerging out of the rubble of such a cavenous collapse is a young man who is going places in New Zealand cricket.

The name Harry Boam will not send the old stagers on the Marshfield bank into fits of delirium, nor the quaffing car park throng into a conga dance.

However, if they do click on to Google, have links to the New Zealand hierarchy or have just got that extra bout of inquisitiveness on the finer happenings in the game, then they will quickly understand that Settle have just captured the signature of a schoolboy superstar.

Back in Wellington fine cricketer in the making Harry Boam is destined for big things.

All-rounder Boam is as English as Wensleydale Cheese.

Birmingham born, he left as a youngster when his parents decided to move down under.

His progress on the New Zealand cricket scene has been remarkable.

An outstanding performer for top cricket public school side Wellington, he cracked three centuries in the 2007 season including a massive 185 no.

Similar performances at national schoolboy level caught the eye of the Wellington State selectors .

Within months Boam was fast tracked from a 17-year-old tuck shop raiding schoolboy to full-time professional cricketer under the astute captaincy of former New Zealand Black Cap Stephen Fleming.

Wellington cricket history was made as Boam become the first schoolboy cricketer to earn a $19,000 Firebirds contract.

In January he played for New Zealand U-19s in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup.

Boam comes with the full backing of Wellington’s Coaching team.

Former Test keeper Robbie Kerr, Boam’s school coach, said: “Harry is an outstanding young man and brilliant cricketer who is highly likely to play for his country in the next three to four years.”

“Off the park Harry is just what Settle are looking for. He will be hardworking, very well liked by people of all ages in the community and a great role model for young children.”

Former Test star John Wright, now NZ Coaching director, said: “Harry is a very promising all rounder, he is an extremely hard worker and an excellent young man who will fit well into the Settle club.

“He is very ambitious to play at the highest level and will benefit from playing a high standard of league cricket and I am confident he will give a good account of himself.”

Settle Cricket Club Chairman Andrew Davidson said: “The challenge for the young Kiwi has been thrown down. A first season on English puddings and green toppers, being away from home for a five month period, a rural area without the fancy dan distractions.”

Davidson seems pleased with his new recruit.

He said: “Harry seems a sound lad who is eager to do well for us both on and off the park. Brent has given him an insight into the club, warts and all.

“I have also spoken to Shane Deitz, Harry’s high performance coach at Wellington Firebirds, and he is delighted that he is coming to us and he feels he will do well and be a proper clubman/professional, which is exactly what we have been looking for.”