Cricket: Geyser quick to bubble again

Angelo Pereira (right picture, centre) celebrates after taking a wicket for the Eastern Pirates on Saturday. Photo / Stephen Parker

Geyser City Cricket Club have picked up where they left off last season.

The local club dominated the Rotorua/Taupo reserve-grade competition last season - picking up all three trophies on offer.

On Saturday, they registered their first win of the new campaign, defeating John Paul College at Neil Hunt Park.

Geyser 1 captain Matt Collier said they were eager to keep their winning form going, starting with the Pre-Christmas Senior Championship.

"The club has aspirations of having a premier team in the near future and for us building on last year is huge," Collier said.

They had added to their playing roster this year.

"I'd like to think our side this year is stronger. Predominantly a lot of [our team] is the same but there are a few older heads that have come back to the game and a few younger guys as well."

Geyser posted a good score in their 40 overs on Saturday before restricting John Paul College with some tight bowling.

Collier said they posted about 227 runs before the first XI school team replied with about 140 in their 40 overs.

"It was a very slow-scoring game from their point of view but our bowlers were very accurate and did the job," he said.

The Rotorua/Taupo reserve grade includes nine teams.

In the other games on Saturday, which marked round two, the Rotorua Indians defeated Eastern Pirates after posting 250. The Pirates' chase ended at 112.

The Taupo Wanderers showed they are a team to be feared, beating Geyser Development by 93 runs. Central reserves had the bye and Taupo Colleges beat Taupo Old Boys.

Results
Pre-Christmas Senior Championship results on Saturday (round two):

• Geyser 1 defeated John Paul College
• Rotorua Indians 250/8 defeated Eastern Pirates 112
• Taupo Wanderers 253/5 (Ray How 88, Blaine Inch 35, Zank Desai 31no) defeated Geyser Development 156 (Ray How 3/14, Craig Corbett 3/23)
• Taupo Old Boys lost to Taupo Colleges
• Central bye