The other finalists are Kamo Intermediate (ND), Kings Prep (Auckland), Medbury Prep (Christchurch), Hutt International (Wellington) and Balmacewen Intermediate (Otago). The teams will play two games a day in a twenty/20 format on a round-robin basis with the winners taking it all.
Coach Scott, who has Lincoln Doull as assistant coach/manager, says the youngsters have been practising with orange balls which will be used in this tourney.
"If they play as they did this season then they'll have a chance," says Scott who feels Hereworth are a "very strong" bowling side who can bat.
The villagers' prep school boasts offspinners in Harry Mowat, Bailey McDonald and Brandon Roberts although the first two are equally adept with a bat.
"When the top order has not fired, the boys at the bottom have got us through."
Hereworth beat Havelock North Intermediate by six wickets in the Bay final, avenging their loss last year.
They beat Palmerston North Intermediate by 62 runs in the CD semifinals with Mowat (62 not out) and McDonald (55 not out) putting their hands up.
Hereworth crushed Auroa School (Taranaki) by seven wickets in the CD final with Lowe (4-11) and Roberts (4-12) stifling the opposition.
"The boys are a credit to the school and Nigel Brooks [CD selector] complimented them in the CD finals for their conduct both on and off the field."
Middle-order batsman Lowe walks in the footsteps of his father, Bay entrepreneur Andy Lowe, who was captain of the second XI at Hereworth in his heyday.
The left-arm opening swing bowler says his father was really excited when he learned of his captaincy and was happy for his appointment in his second year with the team.
Asked if he is a better cricketer than his dad when he was at the school, a grinning Lowe says: "I'd like to think so."
The pair will play against each other when they return from the tourney this week in a Heretaunga Old Boys v the incumbent team at the school.
Explains Scott: "It's a non-limited overs game and we bat first to make as many runs as we can."
The following Saturday the Old Boys lock horns with Wahi Pai CC match which Tim Nowel-Ustick organises as an annual fixture.
Bar Medbury, the Bay schoolboys have little knowledge of their rivals or their prowess.
"We went to Christchurch for our annual prep school sports and beat them there."
Lowe has received coaching from Bayleys Real Estate premier cricketer Mohammad Al-Saharia Rokon for the past three years.
Doull, the 2013 coach, and Scott have helped with captaincy and field placements.
"Sam Kelt coaches me at his home sometimes on his tennis courts."
Lowe practises every week day, bar Tuesdays, and plays for his school on Saturdays and the Havelock North club age-group side on Sundays.
He echoes the sentiments of Scott, believing they can win if they perform as a unit.
"We used to be a strong bowling side but we have more balance now."
Hereworth hasn't produced a Black Cap yet but they have had past pupils who have displayed some pedigree then went on to other sports.
They include Hawke's Bay Magpie and Blues pivot Ihaia West who scored 140 not out in 2003 and ex-Magpie Richard Kinnear (103 not out) who has represented the Bay in golf, too.
James De Terte was a Hawke's Bay senior men and CD Stags representative while Ben Absolom was a Bay one.
James Nation, of Waipukurau, went on to become a Black Sticks hockey international.
It is understood the last Bay-born Black Cap was Shayne O'Connor, an ex-Napier Boys' High School seamer who didn't represent CD. He shifted to Otago after CD opted for Andrew Penn.
The only other Bay-born NZ rep was the late TC Lowry, of Fernhill in Hastings, who played from 1929-31. He died in 1976.
Tourney details
For the New Zealand Active Post Knockout Cup cricket finals for the annual intermediate boys' schools in Palmerston North this week:
HERETAUNGA FIRST XI:
Hunter Lowe (c), Harry Mowat, Charlie Bayly, Cosmo Graham, Max Devonshire, Bailey McDonald, Ben Vautier, Brandon Roberts, Sam Ferguson, Steven Black, Alex Philip and Fred Mowat.
Coach: Ian Scott.
Ast coach/manager: Lincoln Doull.
ROAD TO FINALS:
HB final: Havelock North Intermediate 9-70 in 25 overs lost to Hereworth 4-71 in 18.2 overs (Hunter Lowe 19no).
CD finals T20 format:
Semifinal: Hereworth 1-139 (Harry Mowat 62no, Bailey McDonald 55no) bt Palmerston North Intermediate 3-77 by 62 runs.
Final: Auroa School (Taranaki) 70 all out (Lowe 4-11, Brandon Roberts 4-12) lost to Hereworth 3-71 in 13 overs (Mowat 33no) by 7 wkts.
NZ FINALS (in T20 format):
Starts tomorrow in Palmerston North with two games on the first two days and culminating with one on Friday on a round-robin basis (Hereworth games below):
Tomorrow: v Kings Prep (Auckland), v Medbury Prep (Christchurch), both at Ongley Park.
Thursday: v Hutt International Boys (Wellington), v Kamo Intermediate (ND, Whangarei), both at Manawaroa Park.
Friday: v Balmacewen Intermediate (Dunedin, Otago) at Ongley Park.
