CRICKET: Cornwall trio create history during Old Boys' thrashing

Anendra Singh
Facing the whipping boys of senior club cricket, Napier Old Boys' Marist, three Harvey's Cornwall cricketers woke up on Saturday morning feeling confident they would score a century.
Well, two did - opener Rob Poulgrain (150 runs) and No.3 batsman Andy Broderick (101) - but allrounder Des Rihia didn't. Batting at No.5, Rihia scored 13 not out with two overs left in Cornwall's massive innings of 349-3.
Not to be outdone, the 30-year-old put plan B into action by nailing seven consecutive wickets, including flirting with a hat-trick for a five-wicket bag, as NOBM were left reeling at 99 all out in Cornwall's 250-run victory.
The Cornwall players became the first trio from any grade to make it on the club's honours board in the same match. Players have to snare six wickets or score 100 runs to have their names engraved on the board at the pavilion.
The Hastings club also loosened up the beer taps after every team turned in a victorious scorecard on Saturday.
What was even sweeter for last season's Prem player, Rihia, a Heinz-Wattie's pet-food maker, was that he was having his name engraved on the honours board for the first time.
"I bowled pretty full and straight. I can retire happy now with my name up on the honours board," said the slow-medium right-arm bowler who manufactures outswingers. He had lost count of the number of five-wicket bags for Cornwall but said his best figures of eight scalps for two runs came when he was a Peter Head primary school student. On Saturday, Rihia conceded 28 runs in his 10 overs, including three maidens, for seven wickets.
He is no slouch with the bat either, having scored 98 in the senior grade and 131 in third grade for Hastings Hibernian.
For Karamu High School caretaker Rob Poulgrain, 45, getting on the honours board was no incentive. He hit 16 boundaries, for his 150, grafting his 30th century to date and the eighth for Cornwall, including two against his current club. His highest score is 154 for Old Boys' Marist Prems against Havelock North in his "younger days".
Poulgrain, whose brother Don holds the Hawke's Bay club record of 200 not out, told wife Julie he would score a ton on Saturday.
"He was warming up in the lounge with his bat, mumbling something about getting 100 runs. But then he does it every Saturday morning. All these batsmen, and even bowlers, say that," Julie said dismissively with a laugh yesterday.
Poulgrain said: "It's all about tightening up when heading for the big scores. Batsmen tend to loosen up up when they get 50s and 100s."
Broderick, 36, who came in at No.3, racked up 13 boundaries and a lusty six in his century.
The lawn and garden care manager, who hails from Auckland, scored his first ton for Cornwall but claimed his first century for a North Shore club as a 19-year-old.
"I felt I was going to score a ton because the opposition was not expected to be strong," said the modest left-hander who has scored 71 and 41 runs in his previous two matches this season.