A win for H¯awera
Ha¯wera United and Woodleigh received dispensation to play Saturday and Sunday last weekend with Ha¯ wera coming out on top after giving away a healthy first innings deficit.
Woodleigh won the toss and batted first. Ha¯wera struck two early blows to have Woodleigh at 31 for two before opener Jesse Vertongen combined with Taranaki keeper Phil Barraclough for a 117 run partnership. Vertongen was dismissed for 86 while Barraclough batted throughout the innings for 118 not out off 195 balls to allow Woodleigh to declare on 310 for eight.
A 49-run opening stand between Liam Fowler (36) and Luke Kerehoma (11) was the biggest partnership the Ha¯ wera side could muster. However, there were a number of mini partnerships to see Ha¯ wera get through to 209 before they were all out early in the first session of the second day. Sam Conway batting at seven was top scorer with 62 off 54 balls.
With a lead of 101 and 80 overs in the day’s play left Woodleigh would have had a score in mind to set Ha¯ wera a realistic yet difficult run chase. The top order started off at a run a ball and soon found themselves 92 for three after 15 overs. The introduction of seamer Jack Fowler turned the game on its head as Woodleigh lost seven wickets for the addition of 31 runs to be all out for 123, Fowler finishing with figures of six for 22 off 5.5 overs.
This left Ha¯wera requiring 224 off approximately 50 overs. Opener Liam Fowler was bowled first ball by Tyler Slingsby but it was Adam Keene who took the game by the throat, scoring 96 off 77 balls. Keene combined with Rob Northcott for 102 runs in 14 overs as Ha¯ wera completed the outright victory by four wickets. Northcott finished on 44 off 40 balls.
In the other matches only day one was completed and NPMU hold the advantage over Inglewood. Inglewood were dismissed for just 142 with Taranaki seamer Shay Smith picking up five for 35. In reply New Plymouth Marist United (NPMU) went to stumps at 142 for three with opener Dean Robinson 57 not out.
New Plymouth Old Boys (NPOB) travelled to Stratford where the home team batted first. Stratford found themselves 65 for one after 17 overs with Finbar Moriarty scoring 50. From there the brakes went on for the majority of the day as Chris Coombe scored 47 off 158 balls and Paul Lightoller 30 off 110 balls. Number 11 Grant Commerford came out swinging as he scored a run a ball 30 including two fours and three sixes, Stratford being dismissed for 212. In reply NPOB went to stumps at 62 for three with Davis Mills 28 not out and Oli Burbidge 15 not out.
In the final game of the round New Plymouth Boys’ High School clocked up 285 for seven against Francis Douglas Memorial College (FDMC). FDMC were cautious in their reply getting through to stumps at 41 for two after 26 overs.