Cricket: Greerton blast into NZ titles

Greerton captain Shane Wineti led Greerton through a weekend's cricket to remember. Photo / George Novak

A towering six bouncing across Fraser St hit by champion allrounder Brett Hampton was a fitting way for Greerton to qualify for the National Club Championships for the first time.

The game at Pemberton Park yesterday decided who would represent Northern Districts at Easter's national finals at Cornwall Park. Northland club Maungakaramea batted first and made 175, with former first-class batsman Neil Parlane hitting 41 and allrounder Nick Stobart 44.

Reliable seamer Dan Spencer was the pick of the home bowlers, taking 5/45 and captain Shane Wineti recorded 2/28 off his 10 overs.

Greerton were struggling somewhat at 47/3 before a match-winning partnership of 78 between Hampton and a typically belligerent Cam Neal (51) stole the initiative away from the pacy Northland attack. Hampton ruled supreme, though, and finished 71 not out to cap off a busy week of cricket.

He played two games for an ND XI against Zimbabwe's World Cup team in Gisborne, highlighted by his magnificent 114 on Friday, which included 12 fours and three trademark sixes.

Greerton captain Wineti was a happy man after the game, reflecting on a special weekend for his team after they beat Mount Maunganui in a key Williams Cup clash at Pemberton Park on Saturday.

"Probably about two years ago we rebuilded and got a lot of new players," he said.

"We changed the culture of the club. It had been like a losing culture I thought for quite a while so a few of us got together and thought we need to change the culture and build something special here. Our goal at the start of the year was to make club champs so it is exciting to be there.

"We want to win every trophy. I think we have a really talented group here, all hard workers, who all want to try and get better and keep winning I guess."

Wineti had special praise for Hampton and Neal, who also batted Greerton through to win the pre-Christmas Baywide Cup final against Mount Maunganui.

"They are two really good players and big match-winners. They batted 15 overs today and pretty much killed the game to be honest.

"They batted well and that's their job."