Trophy stays with Cornwall

Players and umpires from the Horouta-versus-Cornwall Oaks cricket match at Nelson Park, Gisborne, on Saturday . . . back (from left): umpire Stewart Patrick, Gurishwar Singh (Horouta), Ryan Majstrovic (Hor), Jagroop Singh (Hor), Jesse Taylor (Cornwall), Stanley Blake (Hor), Amit Vyas (Hor), Jacob Henderson (Corn), Craig Kenny (Corn), Colin Bennett (Corn), George Kenny (Corn), Clarence Campbell (Hor), Mark Setford (Corn), Luke Henderson (Corn) and umpire Jason Trowill. Kneeling: Jack Pyott (Corn), Luke Rurawhe (Corn), Blake Taylor (Corn, captain), David Situ (Hor, captain), Koman Rameka (Corn), Ben Brick (Hor), Harmanpreet Singh (Hor), Vinay Patel (Hor). Front: Rory Merwood (Corn), Riley Horsfield (Hor). Picture by Greg Taylor

Cornwall Oaks have retained the Brough-Thompson Trophy.

The Hawke’s Bay Division 4 2B side beat local Senior B stalwarts Breakers Horouta by eight wickets at Gisborne’s Nelson Park.

Former Poverty Bay men’s senior representative Blake Taylor, who led the visitors, explained the significance of the fixture.

“Dad (former Horouta club captain Greg Taylor) and I came up with a way to honour former Horouta cricketer Vaughan Thompson (died August 8, 2019) and Cornwall Club chairman and life member Mike Brough (died June 5, 2019) — a 40-over pre-season match for the trophy and a T20 hit-out the day after, on a home-and-away basis.

“Cricketers who had played alongside Mike and Vaughan were a part of it. Cornwall won the first game at Cornwall Park in 2020, Horouta won at Harry Barker Reserve the following year and Cornwall won at Lindisfarne College last season.”

Before the trophy match on Saturday, Te Waka skipper David Situ won the toss and opted to bat in glorious conditions.

Horouta reached 151 before No.11 Clarence Campbell (1) was run out five balls into the 31st over.

Second drop Harmanpreet Singh made 27 with support from ninth man in Jagroop Singh (21), left-hander Ryan Majstrović (19 at No.8) and opening batsman Stanley Blake (17).

The Hawke’s Bay outfit attacked the stumps: six of Horouta’s finest were out bowled. Rory Merwood, medium-pace fourth-change bowler, took 3-41 from eight overs, spearhead Taylor taking 2-9 from seven and 16-year-old left-arm swing bowler Jacob Henderson 2-20 from three.

The high-bouncing artificial No.1 pitch saw Taylor’s new-ball partner Henderson drop short to Blake and a top-edge from Blake’s attempted pull-shot clear the fine leg boundary.

But the rising delivery did account for first drop Situ (8).

He fell to a superb — for judgement of angle and depth — catch by Merwood at deep fine leg off Henderson.

Cornwall No.4 Luke Rurawhe made an excellent, unbeaten 58 — the highest score in the match — and put on 74 for the third wicket with left-hander Matt Setford (21).

Setford struck the winning runs with a lofted straight drive for two off leg-spinner Vinay Patel (0-12 in four balls).

Koman Rameka (25) and Craig Kenny had earlier reached 58 as a pair before Kenny was caught by the Waka’s gloveman Riley Horsfield from the bowling of Blake, second-change medium-pacer, for 28.

Rameka fell to Amit Vyas (1-42 from six overs) with the score at 78.

“It’s always a highlight to play opposition from outside the district and it’s something that’s crucial for the growth of cricket here,” said Poverty Bay Cricket committee member Majstrović of Gisborne High School Old Boys’ Club fame, who made his Brough-Thompson Trophy debut in 2020.

“The Brough-Thompson Trophy is about honouring past teammates and friends of the Horouta and Cornwall club by getting together to ensure they’re remembered.

“The great spirit between the teams was evident here at the weekend.”