The two Celtic teams will contest this Saturday’s SBS Bank 2nd grade 40 over final after final round wins put them level on points with Renwick with final placings coming down to their superior Net run rate. Liam Young took 5 for 30 as Kaikoura were bowled out for 106. Celtic Green lost 7 wickets in chasing down the total, Louis Woollcombe and Tom Sloan top scoring with 25 each. Celtic Gold did well to defend a below par score of 99 against Wairau with skipper Jassi Brar taking 4-23 in a 28 run win. Crucially this kept their NRR high enough to edge out Renwick who had a comfortable win over Wairau Valley scoring 173 (Benji Nation 45, Tim May 37) and bowling Valley out for 121 (Jethro Moran 56, Mike Anstis 6-13).
In the 2nd grade T20 competition there were wins for UCVC and Celtic Gold. Tarin Mason (71) and Duncan Grigg (39) were main contributors in UCVC making 150 (Cody Golding 4-14) which proved 31 too many for Renwick – Andrew Marshal with 30 and Simon Muir 4-18. Jassi Brar top scored with 29 in Celtic Gold’s 144 with Wairau Valley falling short on 126 despite Lachlan MacNeill’s 44no. In division 2 games Thomas Kendrick top scored with 46 in Wairau Awatere’s win over Renwick Veterans. Celtic defaulted its game to Renwick Rugby Club.
Top performers in WK 4th grade games included; Blake Nation (35), Paddy Girling (32), Dom Alexander (34), Josh Harris (51), Charlie Booker (3-14), Louis Hickman (39), Tom Heagney (34), Fionn Heagney (30), James Litchfield (3-23), Pania Dallarosa (18), and Reon Holdaway (20). Unfortunately 3rd grade T20 and WK 5th grade fell victim to Friday’s rain.
In SBS Bank Senior grade T20 competition games holders Celtic suffered their 2nd straight loss, this time at the hands of Wairau. Andrew McCaa (59) and Harry Boyce (61) led the way in Wairau’s total of 175 for 3, Celtic replying with 151 (Joel Logan 38, Jonathan Mackay 3-17). Wairau Valley were the other winners over Renwick for whom Piers Landon-Lane top scored with 41 out of 105, Sam Boyce taking 3-14. Jamie McVitie and Sam Boyce both made 49 in a comfortable 9 wicket win.
Marlborough suffered their second 1st innings loss in successive weekends, this time at the hands of a strong Canterbury Country side. The Hawke Cup holders bowled Marlborough out for 126, Corey Bovey top scoring with 55. Zac Foulkes made 101no as Country posted 329 for 4 before declaring. Marlborough fared better second time around finishing on 106 for 4 to earn a draw with debutant Luke Pannell unbeaten on 43 from 93 balls. Marlborough’s final game is home to Nelson on 14-15 January.