Phelps and Simon Blaker (15) put on 30 for the second wicket, the largest partnership of the first innings.
In response, Morrison (28) and Borrie (27) gave Ngatapa an opening stand of 45 and Hoffman Haasbroek made a quickfire 22 off nine balls, including two sixes.
The slow men - off-spinner Blaker (2-22 off four) and cunning left-arm orthodox spin twins Thomas Crosby (1-11 off 4) and Sean Moran (2-14 off 2) - did most of the bowling for HSOB and have been excellent value this season, with 21 wickets between them after three rounds.
“That game could’ve gone either way,” Morrison said.
“I’m just stoked that we bowled really well and got off to a good start with the bat... we had a bit of fun and tried to put the bad ball away.”
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The question before Gisborne Boys’ High Second XI is no ordinary one.
Should they have more of a dip for victory every week?
In round 1, they posted 130-3 batting first against Ngatapa, who beat them by three wickets.
In round 2, they had Presidents 5-59 at the drinks break, but HSOB got to 140-8 then bundled GBHS out for 69.
And in round 3 last Saturday, the Charlie Whitfield-led students reached 103-5 in pursuit of Horouta’s 126-4.
Gisborne Boys’ captain Ted Gillies will play his last game for the side on Saturday against his family club, Ngatapa, where he will join his older brother George and younger brother Archie from next week.
Ted made an unbeaten 45 at No 3 in the seconds’ six-wicket victory over Ngatapa on March 2 to sign off last season. He has grown in the role and as a cricketer.
Having proven twice they can reach 100 with wickets in hand, GBHS are looking to be more positive, post more competitive totals and subsequently apply more pressure on their predominantly adult opponents.
Last Saturday, Horouta captain-keeper Riley Horsfield won the toss on No 2 wicket and chose to bat.
Veteran Tony Bucheler topscored with 28 off 38 at first drop, taking toll of anything loose.
Opener James Craig made a diligent 19, No 4 Jack Williams got 13 and fifth man in Inderpreet Singh Bassi got to 16 before he retiring hurt.
First-change paceman Brandon Fearnley took 3-14 off four overs as the students’ most effective bowler, but the big scorer was wides with GBHS and Horouta serving up 56 between them.
The Boys’ High left-hand, right-hand opening pair of Jordyn Haley (18) and Patrick McInnes (37) gave their so-far winless outfit a strong start - 60 in 10.3 overs - before Haley was caught by Bucheler from the bowling of left-arm orthodox spinner Clarence Campbell. Campbell, who took 2-5 off four, also bowled McInnes on the sweep with the score at 81.
McInnes hit four boundaries in his 50 ball-vigil and is not the first to be undone by the length of Campbell.
From there, scoring became more difficult with the introduction of left-arm speedster Ethan Ngarangione-Pearson, though in terms of shape, Williams - Horouta’s seventh bowler - was as good as any on the day with his outswinger helping him to 2-11 off three overs.
“We made a slow start to put up 126, but then the Boys’ High openers almost got them home,” Horsfield said.
“No matter where I set fieldsmen, Jordyn and Paddy found gaps. They played some outstanding shots.”
