One scalp key for Ngatapa’s hopes

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

UNBEATEN Hope Cup cricket championship leaders Ngatapa clash with High School Old Boys Presidents at the Harry Barker Reserve tomorrow, and one man holds the key.

Glen Udall has scored two centuries to date this season and is the best batsman in the grade: he didn’t open against the Gisborne Boys’ High School Colts last weekend (his regular partner Ollie Needham and Matt Jefferd — with a match-winning turn — did the honours last Saturday), but second-placed Bollywood High School Old Boys may revert to Needham and Udall or stick with the pair whose 52-run stand gave the side a solid base.

The Civil Project Solutions Ngatapa Green Caps under Mike Gibson are coming off a two-wicket, last-over win against team No.3 Coastal Ultrasound Horouta and have themselves shown a willingness to give as many batsmen as possible time in the middle — as when second-drop Jock Spence retired not out on 50 in R1.

Ngatapa player/club co-ordinator Chris Hurlstone said of the upcoming match that the Green Caps knew they would have to work hard to remain unbeaten, while HSOBP captain Isaac Hughes. Skipper Hughes said: “It’s a top-of-the-table clash, so we’re looking to build batting partnerships and run well. We want a strong performance.”

HOROUTA take on a Campion College team whose bowling attack will be back to full force with Blake Marshall and Luke Hurlstone in the fold, and the return of regular wicketkeeper-batsman Liam Spring.

Although Campion lost to Rawhiti Legal Old Boys Rugby by 75 runs last Saturday, Max Briant stepped up for the college with 3-36 off six overs, 24 runs from 12 balls and a run-out. That their senior players are now capable of picking up slack is heartening.

Horouta captain Heyan Ranasinghe, like Udall of HSOB a Hope Cup century-maker this season, is still in Sri Lanka for family reasons. The big man will be much-missed. He is a good batsman who punishes the bad ball but Campion have come far enough along with their bowling since Udall’s ton in Round 1 to suggest that if they bowl well, a first win for the Mark Naden-coached school team is not out of the question.

“We love playing Horouta,” said Naden.

“It’s always fun and competitive — and they also hold the Taylor/Naden Trophy, which we wouldn’t mind winning for the first time.”

Greg Taylor was the chief organiser and driving force behind the Horouta Cricket Club for more than a decade, and Mark Naden’s father Pat is a former president of both Poverty Bay Cricket and Poverty Bay Rugby.

There’s no substitute for experience . . . or getting away from Craig Christophers and Ian Loffler.

Affectionately known as Pipi and Lap-lap, the OBR stalwarts have opted to play in the Hope Cup this season, giving the likes of ex-GBHS first 11 captain Paul Stewart and Boys’ High teammates Travis Mitchell and Jack Faulkner an opportunity in OBR’s Doleman Cup side.

Christophers thwarted HSOBP with the bat on an artificial pitch at Nelson Park three weeks ago and Loffler (3-9-5 with three maiden overs) proved very difficult for Campion to score from. GBHS under Daniel Stewart cannot afford to let either Loffler or Christophers settle with the ball — and they would underestimate Matt McFatter, Ben Brick and Mana Taumanu at their peril.

The Colts will be without their best-performed batsman of R5, Daniel Watts, tomorrow. A score of consequence from either of their two Year 11 players would be handy.