Wanganui Year 8's travelled to the Hawke's Bay for a youth development tournament against sides from around the North Island at the end of last week.
Lindsay Hobbs, one of the team's three coaches, said they played five games against sides of varying levels of ability across several different over formats.
First up after the van ride over was a eight wicket loss to home side Havelock North in a 40 over match.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Wanganui was dismissed for 73, with Carter Hobbs (22) and Blake Hoskin (13) making the only scores of note.
Havelock North chased down their target for the loss of two wickets, picked up by Josh Allpress (1/27) and Tom Wilkinson-Smith (1/25).
The Wanganui batsmen had a better dig in their second game, a 30 over match against Eastern Suburbs, however they lost the close match by two wickets.
Put into bat, Wanganui scored 151-8, with Harvey Meyer 52 not out, with the other top scores from Allpress (19) and Daniel Burgess (29).
Eastern reached the target despite the efforts of Allpress (3/16), Wilkinson-Smith (2/9) and Hobbs (2/14).
The third game was later in the day and Wanganui picked up their first win of the weekend over Wellington Collegians in another 30 over game.
Wellington won the toss and chose to bat, with Wanganui restricting them to 152-9 through Allpress (2/19), Kane Symonic (2/7) and George Pearce (3/30). Wanganui then batted well to set up a comfortable seven wicket win, led by the unbroken partnership of Hoskin (53no) and Hobbs (25no).
The fourth match was a 50 over game against Onslow from Wellington, who won the toss and put on 224-8, as Hoskin (2-24) had the best bowler return with the rest of the wickets shared around.
Wanganui got the win in 44 overs on the back of a brilliant 102 not out off 112 balls from Daniel Burgess, with the next highest contribution being Hobbs (22).
Burgess' century was one of only three hundreds scored in the entire tournament and easily Wanganui's highlight from their five games.
The last matchup was with the undefeated Whakatane in another 30 over game.
Wanganui were put into bat and scored 135-8, with the best scores being Meyer (56no) and Symonic (22).
Whakatane reached their target with four wickets down, with Wanganui's highlight being the excellent run out by Daniel Austin.
Lindsay Hobbs said as this was a development tournament the coaching staff were very happy with the improvement of all players over the four days.
"Every member of our 14 player squad contributed in one way in a game or two."
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Meanwhile, it was not a good weekend for Whanganui's representatives in the Central Districts teams.
In Palmerston North, the CD Hinds' Hallyburton Johnstone Shield first game with Auckland Hearts on Saturday was washed out with Auckland making 265-6 from the only innings, as Jessica Watkin took 1-51 from her ten overs.
On Sunday, the Hinds were dismissed for 157, Watkin making 13, with the Hearts reaching the target for the loss of just two wickets, Watkin 0-47 from ten.
Also on Sunday in Auckland, the CD Under 17's lost by 34 runs to Wellington, with Collegiate's Sam Sherriff dismissed for 5 as Central Districts were bowled out for 222 chasing 256.