Cricket: Geyser gunning for silverware in McNaughton Trophy final

Geyser City's Kane Vanner plays a shot during the McNaughton Trophy semifinal against R&A Sangha. Photo / Stephen Parker

A win for Geyser City in the McNaughton Trophy final would be a win for Rotorua cricket as a whole.

The knockout tournament has long been dominated by Tauranga-based sides and standing between Geyser and the title tomorrow are Mount Maunganui, a side who have won the McNaughton Trophy multiple times. The final will be played at Blake Park.

The origin of the Baywide reserve grade prize is a donation of a trophy by the McNaughton family in Te Puke for competition between second tier teams from the Tauranga and Te Puke sub-associations. Several years ago the competition was expanded to include all reserve and B grade sides in Bay of Plenty and is effectively the Baywide Reserve Grade Championship.

In the semifinals a fortnight ago, Geyser disposed of defending champions R&A Sangha on the back of a consistent bowling performance and an inspired 83 not out by opener Liam Kelly.

Mount Maunganui booked their ticket to the final with a convincing win over Katikati in their semifinal. Katikati batted first and were skittled for 84 - team stalwart Ben Warren top scored with 28 runs. Dominic Radich bowled with real enthusiasm to take four wickets at a cost of just eight runs.

Mount Maunganui had little trouble in their run chase as Jason Luke led the way with an unbeaten 29 in his team's seven-wicket win.

Geyser City will be playing in their first McNaughton Trophy final and captain Manny Kumar said he and his teammates felt they were representing all of Rotorua, not just Geyser City, in the inter-city battle.

"From the club's point of view it feels amazing, we're all excited for our first final. [Mount Maunganui] are pretty strong and they've won McNaughton quite a few times, so they've been there, done that and we expect a good challenge from them."

Kumar said his team did not mind being labelled the underdogs.

"We can just play our game the way we've been doing it. So far we've played really well, but there's always room for improvement. The bowling has been on song and the key has been taking early wickets, which the boys have done really well. We haven't had a big score put on us yet.

"Liam [Kelly's] performance in the semifinal was really good, it was amazing to watch - from ball one to the end he was there. It wasn't the easiest pitch to play on but he hung in there and got us across the line.

"The game plan will be the same this weekend, whether we win or lose the toss, just do our best, do the basics right and take our chances. That's what we've been doing. It would mean a hell of a lot to the whole club to win and I'm sure it would mean a lot to the town as well."

Geyser City McNaughton Trophy final team

Joe O'Donoghue, Liam Kelly, Kane Vanner, Richie Downs, Eamon O'Donoghue, Manny Kumar (captain), Cam Ingram, Matt Mitchell, Satpal Singh, Joshua Simpson, Jono Collier.

The road to the final

Round One:
Katikati 214/9 beat Albion 195; Grasshoppers 120 lost to Mount Maunganui 123/4; R&A Sangha 165 beat Cadets Punjab Warriors 95; Te Puke 138 lost to Geyser City 142/8.

Round Two:
Katikati 155 beat Cadets 121; Mount Maunganui 184/9 beat Greerton Sikh 165; R&A Sangha 163 beat Aquinas College 83/9; Geyser City 164 beat Greerton 102.

Semifinals:
R&A Sangha 162 lost to Geyser City 164/5; Katikati 84 lost to Mount Maunganui 85/3.