CRICKET - Rain foils chance of upsets in last round

Kaipara Flats will face City Cricket Club on December 16 to decide who will be the Whangarei premier grade one-day champions after the final round-robin games were washed out on Saturday.
The rain robbed the competition of any last-minute excitement, instead allowing the two top teams to cruise through to the finals unchallenged.
Kaipara were in a spot of bother against Kamo at Kamo Recreation Ground, with Jas Standen's 32 not out getting the side to a total of 168 for seven. Kamo's Richard McPherson finished with the best figures of three for 31, while Aaron McIntosh led the way with a great spell of bowling with one for 11 off nine overs.
Kamo were stranded on 11 without loss when the rains came.
Conversely, City were in the driver's seat against Bledisloe in their match. They were 31 for one in reply to Bledisloe's 101 all out when the match was abandoned.
Owain Hopkins and Parry Spick took three wickets apiece for City, while Will Smart was the only batsman to cut loose for Bledisloe.
The match between Maungakaramea and Onerahi was abandoned after just 15 overs of play.
Whangarei Boy's High School, who had the bye this weekend, finished third in the competition, with Maungakaramea fourth. Now both teams will join Kaipara and City in the premier grade first division for the two-day competition starting next week.
Kamo, Onerahi-Central and Bledisloe join the leading reserve grade team, Boys' High School 2nd XI in the premier grade second division, while Kamo High School, Kaipara, City and City-Pompellier make up the reserve grade first division.
Dargaville, Mangakaramea, BHS 3rd XI and Kamo make up the final group for the two-day competition.