CRICKET: Bay champions left trophy-less

ANENDRA SINGH
Hawke's Bay are the 2006 under-14 girls' champions after the cricket tournament ended in Masterton yesterday. There's only one little problem: They have no silverware to show for their efforts.
Sport Wairarapa boss Doug Bracewell told the jubilant Bay cricketers that defending champions Wellington did not have the trophy.
"That's because the Bay team who won it in 2004 did not hand it over to Wellington," he said. "So when you guys find it, please hand it over to us so we can engrave the names of Wellington and the Bay," said the brother of national coach John Bracewell as Bay coach Alan Davies was left scratching his head.
The Bay girls inflicted a 63-run loss on Wellington in the match of the two undefeated sides to claim the honours. Bay skipper Sophie Davies won the toss and elected to bat but the players realised they needed to field and bowl like demons after scoring 162-9 in their 40 allotted overs.
Davies led by example with 55 runs while Waipukurau's Hester Nesbitt supported with 26 and Hastings batsman Kate Bradshaw had to retire on 26 after a delivery to the knee left her hobbling.
Wellington bowler Suzie McDonald was the chief destroyer with a five-wicket bag.
However, the capital side's run chase went horribly wrong in the 29th over when they were all out for 99. Only Maddie Chapman put up some resistance with 37 runs.
Bay bowler Lisa Kitchin claimed three scalps while Raureka School pupil Maneka Singh had two caught and bowl wickets to end the match.
Undeterred by her swelling knee, a hobbling Bradshaw came out for her team after putting an icepack on the injury, to nail a match-winning catch at cover to leave the Wellingtonians reeling.
Tori Forshaw also made two crucial catches at point from Kitchin's bowling.
Seven Bay players were named in the Central Districts Under-14 team to play Wellington at the Rathkeale College grounds in Masterton on February 17-18. The Bay players are Davies (captain), Nesbitt, Bradshaw, Nicole Baird, Kitchin and Tori Forshaw. Bridget Dick was named the 12th man.
On Sunday, the Bay amassed 248-9 against Wairarapa and had them one wicket down for three runs when torrential rain abandoned the match.
On Monday, the Bay crushed Taranaki by 205 runs after they amassed 276-6 before bundling out Taranaki for 71. Wanganui Collegiate pupil Nesbitt scored 114 runs and Davies 73.
The batting and bowling of Taranaki left little to be desired. The Hutt team has amalgamated with Wellington.