HANDY HAUL: Graham Hudson took five wickets for Old Boys Rugby against High School Old Boys on Saturday. Picture by Liam Clayton
A five-wicket haul for Graham Hudson paved the way for Old Boys Rugby to take the lead in Poverty Bay cricket’s DJ Barry Cup competition.
The South African quick took five for 27 off 13.5 overs, polishing off the tail of High School Old Boys, who were dismissed for 96.
Bain Construction OBR sometimes made hard work of their chase at Harry Barker Reserve on Saturday but overhauled the total, as well as the lead Bollywood Stars HSOB had enjoyed in the competition.
Third-placed Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates had their quest for the title ended by Gisborne Boys’ High School, who won their first game of the season.
With the final round on March 16, it’s now a two-horse race for the title.
“It’s a great time to go top (of the table),” OBR captain Jonathan Purcell said.
“We had a really tidy start with our bowling and our fielding.
“Consistent pressure brought about consistent wickets. They never got a partnership going.”
Bruce Kerr (30) was the big wicket, falling to a one-handed caught-and-bowled by Jimmy Holden.
HSOB captain Scott Tallott said OBR were in the driver’s seat after winning the toss and choosing to bowl.
Hudson bowled “full, fast and straight and got his rewards”.
“We definitely believe it’s not over,” Tallott said.
“I’m disappointed but we’ve got two games to make up for it.
“We’ll keep fighting.”
Key moments went OBR’s way on Saturday.
Needing to get past 100 runs for a batting point, HSOB were dismissed just shy of the mark. In reply, OBR were in pursuit of 126 for a bonus point and HSOB needed just one more wicket to deny them and pick up an extra point themselves.
The wicket eluded HSOB and OBR sent them back in to bat — HSOB needed to survive 10 overs but lost two wickets, allowing OBR to pick up a bonus bowling point.
In a tight race for the title, those points might be crucial.
After getting themselves into a strong position with the ball, OBR almost squandered their advantage when they batted.
They had two run-outs in the middle of their innings, including a direct hit from Marshall Norris.
That reduced OBR to 57-5.
However, Kieran Venema (12), Purcell (19) and Josh Adams (27) — batting at six, seven and eight — steadied the ship.
“I was stoked with Josh and Kieran,” Purcell said.
“After we lost early wickets, they solidified our innings.”
A big bonus came at the end. Purcell mixed up his bowlers and got an lbw himself and then Holden, coming on at second change, bowled opener Parminder Kulaar with his first ball. HSOB finished on 29-2.
On a day when bowlers got the better of batsmen, Pirates scraped past 100 against Gisborne Boys’ High School.
Josiah Turner and Jacob Colbert took three wickets apiece, and Pirates were dismissed for 106.
Pirates captain Dane Thompson made 36 and opener Baxter Mackay, 25.
In reply, Travis Mitchell started brightly for Boys’ High, hitting 58.
Boys’ High crawled past the Pirates total, ending on 115. Matt Crampton took 4-33 off 19 overs.
Batting again, Pirates made 60-3.
Boys’ High captain Paul Stewart was delighted with the win.
It’s a result that’s been coming, with Boys’ High in the contest in other matches but not getting the chocolates.
“We’ve got close a couple of times,” Stewart said.
“We’ve deserved at least one win.”
Mitchell took the pressure off the other batsmen with his knock, Stewart said.
Pirates skipper Thompson said the day summed up his team’s season. Needing maximum points against Boys’ High, they didn’t get close.
The mid-competition scrapping of the final and a late draw change were “demotivating” for his side when they had been on the charge and “we dropped our lips a little”.
“But if we’d played better cricket than we have this season, we would’ve been contenders.”
Thompson had a special mention for newcomer Manaia Ngata, who got his first wicket and first run on Saturday.
High School Old Boys 96 off 34.5 overs (Bruce Kerr 30, Glen Udall 22; Graham Hudson 5-27, Arun Kurup 2-15) and 29-2 off 10 overs lost to Old Boys Rugby 128-9 declared off 35 overs (Josh Adams 27; Jagroop Singh 3-34, David Salmon 2-14).
Pirates 106 off 28.3 overs (Dane Thompson 36, Baxter Mackay 25; Jacob Colbert 3-26, Josiah Turner 3-30) and 60-3 off six overs (Matt Crampton 29 not out) lost to Gisborne Boys’ High School 115 off 47 overs (Travis Mitchell 58; Crampton 4-33).