Our junior cricket grades are up and running again after the winter break and it was great to play in warm sunny conditions last weekend with plenty of players putting in strong performances. In WK 4th grade Nathan Brooke-Taylor took 3 wickets for 5 runs for Renwick Rockets but they were edged out by Wairau Blue for whom Josh Harris top scored with 25. WV Springlands were too strong for WV Tuamarina, Will Turner with 35 and Lachlan MacNeil 37 while Ted Small then had the outstanding figures of 5 for 7.

In 3rd Grade Barend Lindreque impressed for Celtic with 41 and 2 wickets but Renwick came out on top thanks to 37 from Peter Trevathan and 29 to Lennox Crowe. Wairau Valley were the other winners over Wairau thanks to 3 wickets apiece for Jethro and Henry Moran who also top scored with 32 while Lachlan MacNeil was again in the runs with 20no.

In 2nd grade performance of the day was Wairau Valley’s Greg Stretch (111 and 5 for 25) in their crushing win over Celtic Gold for whom Matt Morley battled hard with 24no and 4 for 39.

It was a disappointing start to this season’s TPL campaign for both Marlborough teams. The Marlborough Labour Hire Dolphins will rue missed opportunities as they fell 20 runs short against WTTU on Horton 1. Joel Pannel, Will Smith and Tom Sutherland all had 3 wicket bags but WTTU recovered from 83 for 8 to post 146 with the Dolphins batsman unable to give support to Tom Leonard who top scored with 64. The Falcons were blown away by last season’s champions ACOB who posted 274 and then dismissed the Falcons for 50 to record the only bonus point win of the round. Bailey Andrews-Kennedy continued his strong start to the season with 4 wickets with Tarin Mason also picking up 4 but they will be hoping for a better effort when the two Marlborough teams face off on 28th Nov.

The Marlborough Senior Rep side came agonisingly close to regaining the Newman Shield as they fell 25 runs short with Tarin Mason left unbeaten on 97 when Josh Clarkson (5 for 40) took the final Marlborough wicket with the last ball of his spell. It was a fine effort by the Marlborough lower order after they had fallen to 77 for 7 in pursuit of Nelson’s 196 (Bailey Andrews-Kennedy 3-23). Marlborough will hope for better things this weekend as they travel to Levin for the Central Districts Chapple Cup competition taking on Whanganui in their first game on Friday.

A reminder that it is not too late to register if you are keen to play cricket this summer. For more information about any of our cricket playing or coaching programmes please email development@marlboroughcricket.co.nz or call the office on 5779050