Ngatapa-HSOB clash too close to make a call

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

There's no way to call it.

Tomorrow's Senior B club cricket final between defending champions Ngatapa and the Isaac Hughes-led High School Old Boys is a mouthwatering prospect.

Bollywood High School Old Boys go into the final having won six of 13 games. They beat Hope Cup holders Ngatapa by 16 runs on November 23 but Ngatapa tasted revenge in Round 11, chasing down 223 for victory with one wicket in hand and three balls remaining in the 30th over.

HSOB rewrote history to reverse a three-loss sequence v Old Boys Rugby to flatten OBR by nine wickets in the 2 v 3 semifinal and go into this last crucible of competition with all parts (batting, bowling, fielding) percolating nicely.

The Civil Project Solutions Ngatapa Green Caps under Mike Gibson go into tomorrow's final as favourites with the best record in the six-team league: 11 wins from 14 matches. They beat Horouta by seven wickets in the 1 v 4 semi and while Ngatapa's focus is enjoyment first, winning second, the Caps are focused.

“Tim Gardner and George Williams are unavailable with other commitments but we don't take ourselves too seriously: that makes for a good team environment and guys that haven't played before this season will come back,” Gibson said.

“The boys are happy to play a good bunch of lads. Win, lose or draw, we'll share a cold one with our opponents and celebrate the season.”

Second-year captain Isaac Hughes is excited about the HSOB prospects going into tomorrow.

“We're looking forward to putting the season's work into one complete performance,” he said.

“We have to bowl full and give our all in the field.”

HSOB include quality veterans such as Ollie Needham, who kept wicket last weekend, and match-winning batsman Glen Udall.

Ngatapa have all-rounders Gibson and Jeremy Castles.

Both are good sides.