It was honours even after the first two rounds of the Hiwa-i-te-rangi trophy series played at Horton Park last Sunday. After losing the first T20 game by 7 wickets the PakNSave Marlborough Women bounced back in style to win the 2nd game by 6 wickets. Chasing 115 runs to win Charlotte Brooke-Taylor (29) and Carly Englefield (31no) combined to see Marlborough home with one ball to spare. With the ball Liv Roseingrave, Fenella Cooney, Vespa Duncan and Izzy Vickery picking up a wicket apiece.
In Nelson the Year 11-13 boys side fell short in a nearest neighbour game that doubles up as round 1 of the Central Districts tournament taking place in Napier next month. Kobi Kennedy was the pick of the Marlborough bowlers with 3-20 from 6 overs as Nelson made 224 for 8. In reply Alex Neal (34), Josh Harris (46) and Sam Young (36) batted well before a collapse of 5 wickets for 5 runs left them 60 short with 8 overs unused.
Both local sides ended their TPL season with fine wins. Josh Poole scored an unbeaten 111 as Dolphins chased 252 to beat Wakatu. Aidan Conroy (36)and Ben Stewart (37) provided good support while Kayse Holdaway (3-59) was the pick of the Dolphins bowlers. Falcons beat Stoke by 111 runs Griffin Carter (53) and Sam Young (40) the main contributors with the bat while Zariab Karkaria, Sam Boyce and James Bell each took a brace of wickets.
In SBS Bank 2nd Grade 40 over games there were wins for Renwick and Valley Yellow with strong performances from Fionn Heagney (56), Ollie Kennedy (3-13), Kurtis Pincott (4-9), Greg Winstanley (44no), Shakti Singh (39), and Greg Stretch (3-5).
Senior and 2nd Grade T20 grades got underway last week with Senior grade wins for Celtic and Wairau. Rikki Bovey (36), Liam Young (3-22), Ben Stewart (54), Sam Boyce (54), Joel Lavender (36no) and Griffin Carter (35) were standouts.
In 2nd grade T20 action strong performers included Liam Young (4-7), Joel Logan (39no), Caleb Young (35no), Bryn Cotching (53), Michael Mitchell (57), Michael Gibb (33), Andrew Wheeler (3-24), Richie Vercoe (32), Ben Norton (43), Jono Underwood (40), James McLennan (57no) and Ed Gilhooly (37).
In 3rd grade Dave Kennedy (45), Michael Gibb (54) and Maui de Wildt (4-14) helped Celtic to a big win over Renwick, Eva Davey (4-20), Neve Edwards (3-39). Wairau were the other winners thanks to Phil Hurren (39), Mike Russell (36), Paul Murphy (49) and Aidan Batty (3-24) while Flynn Preece had the outstanding figures of 6-39 and Joseph Gilhooly top scored with 56 for Valley.
Top performers in the latest round of WK 4th grade games included; Manawa Doonan (38), Charlie Clark (4-28) Josh Gleeson (32), Jock Murphy (36), Archie Booker (30 & 2-9), Harry Dunn (45), Ollie Gaudin (51), Archie Nightingale (6-33), Archer May (4-1) and Zora Suleiman (2-20).