Cricket: Watson drives Mid Western again

Rodney's Rory Christopherson turns the ball into the leg side during his side's four-wicket loss to Whangarei North at Kensington Park on Saturday. PHOTOS/TANIA NEWMAN

Waipu's Kurtley Watson continued on from where he left off last year, leading his side to a seven-wicket win with an unbeaten 92 in the first game of Dargaville Shield cricket.

The New Zealand under-19 representative was the mainstay for his Mid Western side who overcame a strong effort from Whangarei South, who posted 200 for seven from their 50 overs.

Watson combined well with player-coach Neal Parlane, who chipped in with 50, as Mid Western chased down the total with a handful of overs remaining on Saturday.

Parlane, who is also Watson's Northland teammate, felt Watson had a fine day but said there was still room for improvement.

"He batted like a dream to be fair. He's started where he left off last season, but he's got a little more hard work to do this winter," Parlane, who is a former first-class cricketer himself, said of the youngster.

"But, he'll get there."

Saturday's action marked the start of the season for the Northland Cricket Association, after last weekend having play called off due to the weather.

Getting the season underway came as a relief to Parlane, who is also Northland Cricket's competitions manager.

He said players were keen to get the season under way last weekend but the conditions put a stop to that, adding the grounds were in near-perfect condition - something which was not an easy task after extended winter sport seasons.

"It was a bit touch and go [Saturday] morning as to whether or not we'd play, we considered calling it off but decided to leave it the umpires and it turned into a cracker of a day.

"I think most players were over-excited. After three or four months of training indoors, and last week being called off, players were keen to get out there," Parlane said.

He added the Dargaville Shield, along with the Greg Guy Shield in the reserve grade, was an inter-sub-union competition from years gone by which has been reinstated to ensure a higher level of cricket was played at the beginning of the season.

Now with its first games done and dusted, Parlane told the Advocate it seemed to have gotten off to a good start.

"Our game was a lot higher level of cricket than this time last year, and from what I understand the other game was too.

"There were bits and pieces where guys were a bit over-keen to do well.

"Talking to the reserve grade guys they said they hadn't played a game at that level for a number of years.

"I think [the level of cricket] will improve next week too, because it is on grass and a two-dayer, I think people will step up from there."

In the weekend's other Dargaville Shield match, Whangarei North easily chased down Rodney's total of 142 with four wickets to spare.

Dargaville Shield

Rodney 142 lost to Whangarei North 143/6
Whangarei South lost to Mid Western 200/3