A solid all-round team effort from the Hauraki Plains College senior cricketers resulted in a convincing victory over their Cambridge High School opponents in a clash at Cambridge High on Saturday. After four rounds of the Waikato Valley/ Hamilton Secondary Schools Division 1A competition, Hauraki has moved to the top of the points table and will be endevouring to maintain its unbeaten record over the next three weeks of pre -holidays matches. Although the un-seasonal weather pattern being experienced at the moment threatened to intervene at one stage, the match was played without loss of playing time. Hauraki bowlers maintained the high standards they have set for themselves in recent games, and coupled with the effect of a heavy layer of grass on the oval, the Cambridge team’s run rate was always below what the home side would have been hoping for. Almost every time, lofted shots were attempted to collect quick runs, a safe pair of Hauraki hands were activated with an excellent outfield catch by Osca Muir being the fielding highlight of the innings. Daniel Sproul was Hauraki’s main strike weapon on the day, earning himself the Man of The Match honour after knocking the middle stump out of the ground four times with his accurate medium paced deliveries. Andy Rogers, Cruz Collins and Cullen Crowe were also among the wickets as Cambridge High School were restricted to a modest total, mainly through the efforts of their lower order batsmen. Hauraki’s run chase began at a slow but steady rate against the early Cambridge attack, but when Richie Gemmell joined captain Anthony Barker, the tempo soon changed in spite of the restrictive effect of the outfield on ground shots. These two simply hammered the ball to all parts of the boundary – and several times over it, to secure a convincing victory with plenty of overs to spare. Match details: Hauraki Plains College 125 for 3 wickets Richie Gemmell 5 not out, Anthony Barker 30 not out, Cullen Crowe 20, Daniel Sproul 20. Defeated Cambridge High School 122 all out. Daniel Sproul 4/19, Andy Rogers 2/12, Cruz Collins 2/14, Cullen Crowe 2/20.
Meanwhile, Hauraki Plains College – Waikato Valley Representative selections have been announced for up coming tournaments. Five cricketers from Hauraki Plains College have been named in Waikato Valley Cricket Association teams to take part in Northern Districts tournaments over the next two weeks. Cullen Crowe, Daniel Sproul and Andy Rogers are playing in the Under 17 Tournament in Whangarei this week. The Under 19 age group team for the ND tournament in Gisborne (December 8-12) includes Hunter Crowe, with Cooper Green being named as a non-travelling reserve.
– Mike Cotter
