Wairarapa Cricket Association

A strong Napier Boys High School side continued a wonderful season by turning aside the best that Wairarapa could offer in a Gillette Cup match played in Napier.

Rathkeale College boast a proud record in Gillette Cup history (having made the finals on three occasions) but this year they found themselves up against an impressive team from the Hawkes Bay.

Batting first, Rathkeale were never allowed to settle and it wasn’t surprising that they failed to complete their allotted 50 overs. Wickets fell steadily under the pressure exerted by Stoyanoff, Sutton, Lennox and Donaldson. With the score reaching 80-7, it seemed that 100 would be a good total. A brave 54 (9 fours) from the young Liam Burling was the highlight of the Rathkeale batting. Along with the ever reliable Ryan Tonkin (16) they were able to keep the game going for another 18 overs to put some respectablility (and hope) into the final total of 147.

Napier BHS made no race of the target set, reaching the total 1 down inside 27 overs. An impressive 93 notout from J Lennox was the highlight of the innings. Best of the Rathkeale bowlers were George Deans and John Ryan (who claimed the only wicket to fall).

Match Scoreboard

Finals Draws.

*** Trophy Presentations for all grades will follow the Senior Final

Day One

Below you can see the scoreboard from the first day’s play of the McBride Peterson Cup match played between the two colleges. A good partnership between Jack Wakeling and Tane Workman thwarted the Rathkeale attack. Rathkeale batted well for 21 overs to see out the day’s play.

Click for Match Scoreboard

Day Two

The annual clash between the two top College teams in the Wairarapa petered out to a tame draw after a promising first day saw the two sides evenly matched.

Resuming on the second day at 55 – 0 in reply to Wai Col’s 222, Rathkeale batted steadily through to reach 238 – 8 before declaring. With just 44 overs remaining in the match Wairarapa College batted positively to reach 85 – 2 before it was agreed that there was no chance of a result.

Ryan Tonkin 7-88

This was a match in which the wicket was the winner. It was extremely difficult for the bowlers to penetrate as indicated by the scores. This made the effort of Ryan Tonkin who took 7 – 88 all the more meritorious. He earnt himself a place on the honours board.

Despite being defeated by St Pauls Collegiate in a one day match prior to this fixture, Rathkeale continue to show pleasing improvement.

Match Report:
Rathkeale 258 – 5
H. Clinton-Baker 58, G. Deans 48, M. McKenzie 47, E. Mason 30, R. Tonkin 33 notout
and 80 – 3, G. Deans 44 not out

St Peters 315
Ryan Tonkin 7 – 88 (34 overs)

Match report coming soon, but you can follow the link below to read the scoreboard.

Match Scoreboard

News from the Quadrangular Tournament in Nelson will be added here throughout the week.

The first quadrangular tournament organised by Rathkeale College was held in 1992. It was held at Rathkeale College. Along with Marlborough Boys College, Rathkeale are the only full survivors. In the origin days, Nelson were there along with Scots College. These two schools have played “tag” for a number of years with HIBS (Hutt International Boys School).

It was fitting that Rathkeale returned to Nelson College 20 years later to join Marlborough and HIBS.

Game One: Rathkeale return to original venue with brave display

This is not the strongest side that Rathkeale have fielded over the years. It is one of the better Nelson sides.

Rathkeale found themselves batting and struggled against some exceptionally disciplined bowling from the Nelson new ball attack. O. Jones-Allen’s impressive figures told the story.

Rathkeale Captain, Harry Clinton-Baker kept things ticking over nicely until he departed with the score at 42 and when Xavier McCluskey was run out the score had slumped to 83 – 7.

A fighting knock by Ryan Tonkin kept the Nelson boys in the field for more than 45 overs, but 123 was never going to be enough.

Nelson had a nervous moment when the score was 45 -3 but the scoring rate was never under threat. Rathkeale will need to curb their tendency to bowl wides if they are to pressure batting sides as the week develops. It may be that Clinton-Baker is making a comeback at the bowling crease for his figures were quite impressive. The best of the bowlers was George Deans, however, who kept the game interesting in claiming all three wickets.

This tournament has always been labelled and played as a development tournament. Already there are signs that Rathkeale will gain much from it.

Scoreboard

 Game Two: Rathkeale struggle with Marlborough Boys

Rathkeale lost the toss and were always on the back foot in their match against a strong Marlborough Boys College team held in Nelson yesterday.

Captain Harry Clinton-Baker continued to develop his off spinners to return the fine figures of 3 -31 (off 10 overs). However, the propensity to bowl wides continues to take the pressure off the opposition in these limited overs matches.

Best of the batting came from Elliot Mason (31) – it was good to see him return to form.

Scores:  Marlborough Boys College  240 – 8 (50 overs) F. McIntosh 72 not out,  Harry Clinton-Baker 3 -31 (10 overs)

Rathkeale College 167 (43 overs)  Elliot Mason 31, Matthew McKenzie 27, George Deans 25,  J. Clarkson 3 – 28

A win to Marlborough BC by 73 runs.