Cricket: Champions steal the show

Whangarei North's Ben Hyde. Photo / Tania Whyte

Mid Western took another gallant stride toward backing up their 2014 Dargaville Shield title, notching up a round three win to keep Whangarei South cemented at the bottom of the 2015 competition ladder.

The reigning champions, Mid Western, managed to contain Whangarei South in the first innings, bowling them all out for 218 runs after 48.2 overs.

Stealing the show with the bat for Whangarei South, Henry Cooper put on an impressive 115 runs off 134 balls - which included 13 fours and five sixes - before eventually being dismissed by Mid Western's Nick Stobart.

Going on to pick up a four-wicket bag off his 8.2 overs, Stobart removed Whangarei No2 Chamodh Peris as well as dismissing Cooper, Shane Burton and Matthew Kingi.

Also shining with the ball in hand, Mid Western's Joe O'Sullivan achieved 3-51 off his allotted 10 overs.

Linking well in the second innings, Mid Western managed to secure some steady partnerships with the bat.

Kurtley Watson and Mark Southee both scored 37 runs off 51 balls, before No6 Ben Cochrane came in to notch up 80 not-out off 71 balls and help his side better Whangarei South's 218 all out.

Linking up well with Stobart toward the end of the innings, Cochrane played some good shots to help his side take the win, with Mid Western finishing on 222-6 off 48.4 overs.

Meanwhile, the remaining match of the third round saw Rodney pick up a win by just one wicket veagainstrsus Whangarei North at Bourne Dean Domain in Kaipara.

Batting first, Whangarei North took a while to get going and were 177-9 after 39.5 overs.

A clear stand-out for Whangarei North, No4 batsman Ian Page knocked-up a well-deserved century to keep his side in contention for a win.

Page scored a sturdy 100 runs off 106 balls to keep his strike-rate high at 94.34 - in an appearance which saw the ball cross the boundary line 19 times for 16 fours and 3 sixes.

However, the wickets kept falling around him, with Whangarei North's Sam Walker getting the next highest total with 23 runs off 45 balls.

Giving away 26 extras - including 21 wides - Rodney didn't put on the best display of bowling accuracy.

Despite this, A. Rashid played a blinder off his 7.4 overs to take 5-37.

The Rodney batsmen followed this up with a good showing, despite Whangarei North's Caleb Boswell-Smith bowling 4-35, to make it three wins from three for the year.

Top performance

Whangarei South, Henry Cooper made an impressive 115 runs off 134 balls, with 13 fours and five sixes, out of his side's total of 218.