Ngatapa skipper Charles Morrison won the coin toss on Harry Barker Reserve No.4, his 10-man outfit batted first and got to 135-5 in 30 overs.
It probably should have been at least 180 as Morrison (37) and No.1 Logan Orsler (20) — who put on 51 at the top of the order — and No.4 Mike Gibson (31) all got starts.
Horouta claimed only five wickets but used nine bowlers in constant rotation.
The dismissal of co-captain and premier-grade quality player Ryan West — bowled by seamer George Judd (1-24 from 5 overs) for just seven — was a seismic event in the game.
Capable opener Stanley Blake (10) looked in good touch for the Waka and hit two boundaries before being caught by Orsler off Gibson (2-15 in 5 overs).
Leg-spinner Orsler bowled well to bag 1-17 in six overs, including two maidens.
But it was the watchful Alan Knight at No.3 who carried the day for the Waka with 49 not out, including four fours.
He is a strong player on the back foot and anchored the innings with a stand of 64 for the second wicket with Greg Taylor (17) and 57 with second-drop Amandeep Kamboj (28).
Knight occupies the crease and punishes the bad balls. Other batsmen should take note.
That committed approach and those two partnerships of 50-plus made 135 gettable and Horouta wrapped things up at 138-3 off the second ball of the 29th over.
“It was a mixed performance,” said Morrison. “Playing with 10 didn't help. We were about 15 runs short at the end of the day and our 32 wides were a killer.
“That said, I'm proud that we were very tidy in the field and we took Horouta to the second-to-last over.”
Taye McGuinness is a batsman stepping up for Campion.
The 14-year-old followed up 21 not out from the previous weekend with 22 at second-drop in the students' loss to OBR.
The aim of 30 or 30-plus after Christmas is a realistic one for him.
OBR are a good side and in the right mood can be superb.
On Saturday, Campion captain Hamish Swann won the toss on HBR No.2 and chose to bat, a brave and worthy call.
Swann is a good young batsman, as are the likes of Connor Starck and Rhys Grogan.
But OBR fielded an excellent pace attack and that quality shone through.
Left-armer Johnathon Gray took 3-13, pace bowler Francois La Grange 2-13 and leg-spinner Ruan Ludwig 2-12.
The second of the Gray boys, David, trapped No.11 player-coach Mark Naden (1) leg-before-wicket off the last ball of the 30th and final over with Campion on 77.
OBR lost Sarabjit Singh (6) and first-drop Heinrich Putter (16) at 28 and 48, but left-handed opener Te-Reimana Gray (31 not out) and wicket-keeper Thom Berry (12no) saw them home in 13.5 overs.
Campion coach Mark Naden made special mention of senior player Jonty Fenn's commitment (4 off five balls) after seven years of service.
That assistance was rendered with humility by a good young man, and his mortar-like bowling — “six overs of thunder in his last game” — snared 2-42 from six overs with the new ball.
HSOB Presidents are a good bunch.
The team spirit of Ollie Needham's crafty veterans has been great to witness this season.
Former Marist, Rugby Old Boys and OBM players bring not just passion but respect for cricket in the same way that former Poverty Bay Cricket Association president Graeme Black, Donald Cook, Gary Coutts and gentlemen such as Murray Murton did a generation before.
That was not lost on the Gisborne Boys' High School second 11.
GBHS captain Nathaniel Fearnley won the toss and chose to bat.
First 11 team member Alex Shanks, who has been helping out the seconds, was bowled for a royal duck by Mike Francis (1-9 off six).
Francis's new-ball partner Nick Armour took 2-17 in four overs and left-arm orthodox spinner Thomas Crosby claimed 3-13 off six.
Boys' High made a dire start at 3-3 before a 59-run partnership between the stylish Fearnley (21) and regular first team member Bekko Page (32 off 40 balls including four boundaries).
The students clawed their way to 100-8 in a show of character over capitulation.
HSOB deserve credit for withdrawing a leg-before-wicket appeal against Fearnley.
With a return to having no official umpires in Senior B cricket, player-umpires are required to stand.
The captain of the fielding side may choose to withdraw the appeal.
In HSOB's turn at bat, opener Paul Jefferson (29no) steered his team home in the 24th over, having lost his partner Jeff Chambers (35) and Armour with the score at 73.
Off-spinner Ted Gillies took 2-21, including a maiden, from five overs.
Having had Chambers caught by gloveman Kavindu Withanage attempting to sweep, Gillies then bowled Armour through the gate first ball to be on a hat-trick.
Left-arm orthodox spinner Riker Rolls made what is hoped will not be a mere cameo. He gave up only 11 runs in four overs and bowled beautifully.
Premier grade club cricket resumes on January 14 with the DJ Barry Cup two-day competition.
Senior B cricket returns for Round 9 of the Hope Cup on the same date.
Hope Cup Senior B grade cricket
(30 overs), round 8
Bollywood HSOB Presidents 101-2 in 23.1 overs (Jeff Chambers 35, Paul Jefferson 29; Ted Gillies 2-21) bt Gisborne Boys' High second 11 100-8 (Bekko Page 32, Nathaniel Fearnley 21; Thomas Crosby 3-13, Nicholas Armour 2-17) by 8 wickets.
Rawhiti Legal Old Boys Rugby 78-2 in 13.5 overs (Te-Reimana Gray 31 not out; Jonty Fenn 2-42) bt Campion College first 11 77 in 30 overs (Taye McGuinness 22; Johnathon Gray 3-13, Francois La Grange 3-13, Ruan Ludwig 2-12) by 8 wickets.
Horouta Te Waka 138-3-in 28.2 overs (Alan Knight 49 no, Amandeep Kamboj 28; Mike Gibson 2-15) bt Civil Project Solutions Ngatapa Green Caps 135-5 (Charles Morrison 37, Mike Gibson 31, Logan Orsler 20; Billy Morse 1-7, Stanley Blake 1-19) by 7 wickets.
