Ngatapa reign supreme

Hope cup champions: The Ngatapa Green Caps team who retained Poverty Bay club cricket's Hope Cup title are, back row (from left): Jimmy Maher, Heath Hawea, Phil Cook, Jeremy Darby, Cambell McNaught, Jeremy Castles, Murray Cook, Jock Spence, Will Faulks, Mike Gibson (c), Jack Jefferd and Simon Wilson. Front: Angus Orsler, Grant Walsh and Chris Hurlstone. Picture supplied

It will be remembered for its intensity.

Ngatapa Green Caps' 33-run Hope Cup final win over High School Old Boys Presidents to retain the mantle of Senior B club champions was a closer affair than the margin suggests.

“It was another all-round performance — not bad for a social team — and the game was played in good spirit by both sides,” said Civil Project Solutions Ngatapa skipper Mike Gibson.

“I was nervous about getting over the line until halfway through my last over as Jake Theron (HSOB) looked like he wanted to be the hero at the end.”

Theron (19 runs from 27 balls) timed the ball well at No.7 in the Bollywood High School Old Boys Presidents' run chase.

But he would have needed a near-miracle of six sixes in the last over to surpass Ngatapa's total.

HSOB captain Isaac Hughes won the toss and opted to bowl.

Opening bowler Glen Udall (two wickets for 19 runs off six overs), off-spinner Simon Blaker (2-39 off 6) and seamer Theron (1-42 off 6) were the wicket-takers as Ngatapa grafted hard to finish at 167-6.

First-drop Jeremy Castles was the stand-out. His 56 from 76 balls in 111 minutes was a controlled knock notable for his quick and sure footwork.

Simon Wilson (34 off 28) and Gibson (23 off 14), provided Castles with excellent support.

Gibson swept powerfully against Blaker but the offie finished his spell creditably, having bowled an attacking line throughout.

HSOB started solidly. Ollie Needham (28) and Udall (36) put on a 59-run opening partnership before Ngatapa claimed the prize wicket of Udall halfway through the 13th over.

Udall top-edged the ball from an attempted pull shot from the bowling of Grant Walsh and Jack Jefferd took the vital catch at backward square leg.

Walsh (4-22 off 6) and off-spinning compatriot Castles (3-21 off 5) applied immense pressure with good line and length and clever change of pace.

There was even a bit of comedy relief in the form of a Castles no-ball that bounced twice on its way to the striker.

No.7 Jeff Chambers played a busy hand for 21 off 27 balls. He placed the ball well in a gritty 27-run stand with Theron for the sixth wicket.

Both ran hard but the rate of scoring required quickly became double-figures, too much for HSOB to chase down, and Ngatapa were once again worthy champions.