Trying hard but no winning joy yet

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

They are giving it their all.

The Poverty Bay Year 7 cricket team in the B section at the Riverbend tournament yesterday lost to Taupo by six wickets in the morning and to Cambridge by 81 runs in the afternoon.

But not for want of trying.

“That effort against Taupo was our best batting team performance to date. We made 136 in 29.5 overs,” said coach Andrew Scott. “In terms of fielding, our first 15 overs against a good Cambridge team — we had them 90-7 — were excellent.”

Taupo captain Riley Staddon won the toss in game 4 on the artificial pitch at Windsor Park in Hastings.

Poverty Bay's Most Valuable Player Taylor Scott topscored with 25 off 32 balls at No.6. Captain and second-drop Nathaniel Fearnley made a run-a-ball 18 before being caught by Year 9 student Ethan Staddon.

Taupo seamers MVP Michael Morris (two wickets for seven runs off four overs), Max Hart (2-12 off 4) and James McIntyre (2-20 off 4) were impressive.

Taupo reached 137-4 in 26.5 overs, courtesy of a watchful (111 minutes) 40 by Morris and 39 from Staddon at the top of the order.

Scott (1-10 off 4), Tom Rouse (1-12 off 3.5 overs) and leg-spinner Jett Whitaker (1-21 off 4) took wickets but Taupo coach Matt Staddon regarded Connor Starck (1-22 off 4) as the pick of Poverty Bay's seamers.

Fearnley won the toss in yesterday afternoon's game also at Windsor Park and the Bay bowled Cambridge out for 167 in 27.3 overs.

Fearnley bowled opposition MVP Mitchell Anderson for 41 from 48 balls, No.9 Juan Holten scored 34 and No.7 Thomas O'Leary 24.

Poverty Bay's best bowlers were MVP Tom Rouse (3-29 off 4), Fearnley (2-8 off 3) and Taylor Scott (2-14 off 2.3 overs), with Izan Duckworth taking 1-9 off 1.

The Bay were 86-9 after 30 overs, No.6 Starck topscoring with 13. Only three batsmen reached double figures as medium-pacers Alfie Stowell-Sneyd (3-4 off 3) and Logan Hickey (2-4 off 3) led the bowling charge.

Poverty Bay's last match is against Upper Hutt at Napier's Nelson Park today.