The Poverty Bay Year 8 boys' cricket team who won four of their five games at a tournament in Hawke's Bay are, back: Manager Richard McMurray (left) and coach Grant Walsh. Front: Arthur Cave, Callum McInnes, Cody McMurray, Jack Roberts (captain), Ged Cook, Hunter Irwin, Jed Reynolds, Max Egan, Reuben Walsh, Jack Williams, Cole Hogarth and Archie Gillies.
Photo / Christine McInnes
The Poverty Bay Year 8 boys' cricket team who won four of their five games at a tournament in Hawke's Bay are, back: Manager Richard McMurray (left) and coach Grant Walsh. Front: Arthur Cave, Callum McInnes, Cody McMurray, Jack Roberts (captain), Ged Cook, Hunter Irwin, Jed Reynolds, Max Egan, Reuben Walsh, Jack Williams, Cole Hogarth and Archie Gillies.
Photo / Christine McInnes
The Poverty Bay Year 8 cricket team were outstanding in Hawke’s Bay last week.
The Jack Roberts-led side won their first two 30-over matches - by 48 runs against Takapuna on Wednesday and 61 runs versus Taradale on Thursday morning - then lost to Havelock North by eight wickets in their third 30-over game Thursday afternoon.
On Friday, they won a 50-over thriller against Rodney Rebels by 11 runs and on Saturday won a 30-over nail-biter against Waitakere by two runs to end a great campaign under coach Grant Walsh and manager Richard McMurray.
“It was a fantastic week in the Year 8 Black tournament, not only getting four wins from five games but also showing pride in representing Poverty Bay, themselves and their families,” Walsh said.
“All of our boys performed above expectations ... and had a great experience due in large part to the support of Poverty Bay Cricket’s Kim Shaw (president) and Lexi Cheyne, and Joey Turner of Northern Districts.”
Poverty Bay Year 8 boys' team opening batsmen captain Jack Roberts and Jack Williams, who retired for 52 and 61 respectively in a 101-run partnership against Takapuna.
Photo / Molly Roberts
Game 1 v Takapuna at Clifton Country Cricket ground, 30 overs: Poverty Bay posted 190-4 on the back of a 101-run opening stand between captain Jack Roberts (52 retired) and Jack Williams (61 retired). Leg spinner Arthur Cave, bowling first change, took 2-10 in four overs. Hunter Irwin took two great grabs at short mid-on and his fine work in close was reinforced by swooping stops in the deep from, among others, Ged Cook, whose throwing strength probably saved 10-20 runs per game. Paceman Jed Reynolds and off-spinner Archie Gillies each took 2-13 from four overs. Reynolds bowled Takapuna captain Amber Fawkner for 27, and caught and bowled their top scorer, Zac Beswick for 33, to finish the game.
Game 2 v Taradale at Memorial Park, 30 overs: Poverty Bay reached 180-5 on another artificial wicket. Skipper Roberts again retired, this time for 53, and Williams made 35 in an opening stand of 83. Cody McMurray (25), Gillies (15), Cole Hogarth (14) and Reuben Walsh (11 not out) helped lay the platform for another good showing by the bowlers, notably medium-pacers Williams (3-6 off 4 overs) and Irwin (1-3 in four balls). Walsh held a super leaping catch at mid-off and later snaffled another. The Bay boys were energetic and sharp in the field, affecting two run outs.
Game 3 v Havelock North Gold at Clifton, 30 overs: Poverty Bay, in keeping with the spirit and purpose of the Hawke’s Bay Cricket Camps, made changes to the batting line-up. Williams made 13, Cave 15 and Gillies 15 as Gold off-spinner Hugo Dooney took 4-9 in three overs. The Bay were all out for 89 in 24.3 overs but resolved to work hard against capable opposition. Callum McInnes, at mid-on, took a steepling catch and Irwin at mid-off held a good catch. Gold’s Fletcher Lochhead (22) and Boschi King (32) put on 50 in a gritty partnership and eight wicket-win in 14.1 overs.
Game 4 v Rodney Rebels at Cornwall Park, 50 overs: The Bay returned to their winning ways on a grass wicket against a side who they were quartered with at Napier Boys’ High School over the week. Roberts won the toss and opted to bat and Poverty Bay found themselves in a little trouble at 4-31. Enter Hogarth, who produced a vital 45-ball knock of 23. Reynolds contributed 18 and his and Reynolds’ stand of 54 was key to the Bay reaching 120 in 34.4 overs. Williams took 3-13 off 8 and McMurray 1-18 off 7 with the new ball. Reynolds (2-10 off 5), McInnes (2-6 off 4) and Gillies (2-8 off 4,4) also bowled tightly. Wicketkeeper Max Egan’s caught behind of classy Rebels captain Cooper Adams (19) from the bowling of McMurray helped turn the game, followed by a run out from the arm of McInnes. Gillies bowled the Rebels’ No 11 in the 42nd over to dismiss them for 109.
Game 5 v Waitakere at Clifton, 30 overs: Batting first, Roberts shared a 25-run opening stand with Irwin (6). Roberts (35), Gillies (20) and Williams (29) all made starts - the Gillies-Williams pairing putting on 64 for the third wicket as Poverty Bay posted 157-7. In response, Waitākere forged five partnerships of 20-plus - opener Jeremi McEntee top scoring with 28 before McMurray pierced his defence. Walsh took 2-24 off 4 overs with good swing and accuracy, and Egan shone at ‘keeper, including a stumping off Gillies. Four balls into the 30th over, Xavier Stein - on 20 from 22 balls and having just hit McMurray for six - attempted to run two on Williams at deep cover. Egan gathered the outfielder’s rocket return on the bounce, took a shy and ran Stein out. Waitākere ended on 155-8, two runs short of their target.
“We were electric in the field, bowled and batted well, too,” skipper Roberts said of their week. “I couldn’t be happier or more proud of how well the team came together and performed.”
