Wairarapa College first to seize cup

TRIUMPHANT: The successful Wairarapa College squad. Jacob Harp (back left), Frank Dickson, Guy Percy, Josh Pepperell, Liam Hare, Tom Simpson, Chad Coley, Hugo Wakeling. Michael Brewster (front left), Lucien Burt, Brad Griffith, Matt Perry. PHOTOS/SUZANNE OLIVER

It was a notable success when Wairarapa College beat Dannevirke High School by 182 runs in their first XI boys match at Wairarapa College.

Up for grabs for the first time was the William and Alice Hartgill Memorial Cup presented by Simon Burt and Phillipa Steel in memory of the Hartgills, two early residents of Dannevirke. The couple built "Cannon Heath", an historic home moved from Dannevirke to rural Carterton in 2001 and in which Burt and Steel now live.

William Hartgill had a range of interests and was a Dannevirke cricket player. In 1899, he was elected captain of the Phoenix Cricket Club, which became the Dannevirke Cricket Club in that year. In November 1907, the newspaper at the time, the Bush Advocate, reported Dannevirke High School had set aside a football and sports ground behind the school and "a square of 30 yards in the centre was twice ploughed and sown down especially as a cricket pitch, and levelled off by hand". It was recorded that special thanks from the school board was given to William Hartgill who provided the special grasses for this pitch.

Burt and Steel were keen to recognise the links between Dannevirke High School and Wairarapa College with this piece of Dannevirke's history and the fact the Hartgills had close connections to Dannevirke High School cricket.

Wairarapa College won the toss in Sunday's game and elected to bat first on a good pitch. After losing Josh Pepperell (4) in the first over, a solid second-wicket partnership of 64 between Guy Percy (18) and Lucien Burt got the home team back on track. Burt, whose parents donated the cup, hit his first 50 off just 16 balls.

On Percy's dismissal he was joined by Brad Griffith (31), adding another 61 for the third wicket. Burt reached his maiden century from 64 balls, stroking the ball around the ground in an impressive batting display. He was finally dismissed for 121 from 79 balls, in an innings which included 19 fours and three sixes. Tom Simpson took over the responsibility in the middle working around 42 runs and sharing profitable partnerships with Jacob Harp (15) and Michael Brewster, who ended up on 47 not out. Brewster's knock came from 32 balls, including five fours and two sixes.

Wairarapa College ended the 40 overs on 305-6 which was going to be a challenging total for Dannevirke High School to overcome.

A wicket in the first over to Brad Griffith did not stop Dannevirke's top order batsmen playing their shots and at 60-1 in the ninth over they were well placed. Frank Dickson was the Wairarapa College bowler to strike twice in two balls. The left-armer went on to take 3-19 from his six overs and played an important role slowing the run rate down.

Hugo Wakeling again impressed with his leg spin, taking 1-22 from his eight overs. However, the best bowling figures for Wairarapa College were recorded by Matt Perry who took his best figures of 5-16 off 5.2 overs.

The off-spinner cleaned up the last five wickets, leaving Dannevirke High School all out for 123.