Northern Districts finished a highly competitive under-17 cricket tournament in second-equal place after last week's national tournament in Napier last week.
Opening batsman Michael O'Flaherty was Northland's sole representative in the team and had a fairly quiet time at the crease, in terms of runs scored.
But team manager Pat Malcon said
his contribution was a valuable one as he was often able to "shore up his end", seeing off the opening bowlers and allowing the middle order to score runs.
Northern's main run scorer was the talented Tauranga batsman Kane Williamson who scored 140 in an innings against Otago, with Northern dismissed for 217.
They lost the points in that opening match which ended up being costly to the team's chances of winning the tournament.
Williamson continued to score well in each of his matches and was the only ND player selected into the tournament team, earning high praise from Malcon.
"He's the best batting talent I've seen come through the Northern Districts juniors ranks in my several years here, I'd even rate him above the Marshall twins at the same age," he said.
Northern won first innings points against Central Districts in their second match before defeating Wellington in the third round, with O'Flaherty contributing in the Northern total of 267.
Round five saw the Northern side defeated by eventual champions Auckland, by just 69 runs, before a two-wicket victory over Canterbury in their final match.
Auckland and Otago claimed three players apiece in the team of the tournament, which was: Greg Dawson, Glen Frew, Peter Breen (all Otago), Rory Christopherson, Sheahan Huri , William Brittain (captain; all Auckland), Kane Williamson (ND), Aaron Pennell (Wellington), Simon Wraight, Codey Rei (both CD), James O'Gorman, Sam Journee (Canterbury)
Final points table: Auckland 16, Otago 12, Northern Districts 12, Canterbury 8, Central Districts 4, Wellington 4.
