Cricket: Northland junior rep season starts strongly

Northland Primary Boys' Development batsman Hugo Waldegrave hits one into the gap against Counties-Manukau at Tikipunga Sports Park. Photo / John Stone

Northland's junior representative cricket season got under way in imperious fashion.

The Primary Boys' two sides had good wins while the Junior Secondary Boys had a win and a loss in their two T20 games against Counties-Manukau.

It was one of the better results for Northland Primary Boys in the annual fixture against Counties.

Northland A bowled first in their contest and while Counties picked up a lot of runs, the home side bowled well enough to pick up wickets.

Lucus James led the way with three wickets while Rueben Crum and Maz Saunders each contributed a pair of dismissals to end Counties' innings at 240 from their 35 overs.

In reply Northland got there in reasonably comfortable fashion, losing just two wickets in their chase.

Cameron Randall started things off with a composed 58 before Ollie Comber (76 not out) and Ben Litchfield (70 not out) rattled off the target with four overs to spare.

They tried to get through a quick T20 on a rain-affected Monday as Northland raced to 193 for 2 with Nick Byles (48 retired), Crum (42) and Mike Robinson (25 retired). They took four quick wickets but rain halted their progress.

Meanwhile the Development side had a comprehensive win over their Counties opponents, smashing them by 131 runs.

Batting first, Northland managed to get through to 228 as George Poad (68) and Kane Howells (41) provided a great platform.

Brendon Marais (27) and Shayden Peele (22) each added quick runs to Northland's cause.

Counties could get to only 97 in reply as Peele starred with the ball as he took 4 for 9 from just five overs, ending any resistance from the visitors.

Meanwhile the Junior Secondary Boys' A Team bounced back from an earlier defeat to top their opposition.

In the first game Counties easily chased down Northland's 115, with only Kian Bird (38) and Nathan Parkes (23) sticking around to contribute.

However they bounced back with interest in the second T20.

Batting first again, Northland found runs a lot easier to come by as they racked up 160 from their innings.

Bird again showed his class with the bat, scoring an exciting 69. He found support in the form of Harry Cooper, who managed 34.

In reply Counties couldn't quite knock off the total as Northland's fielding prowess shone through, grabbing three run-outs.

In the Senior Secondary matches, Northland's two sides each picked up wins over Counties.

Special mention went to Hamish Kidd for hitting six sixes in Northland Blue's victory while Cam Gordon grabbed a hattrick to lead Northland White to a seven-wicket win.