Cricket: Rotorua suffer first round loss

Rotorua's Andrew Gibbs bowls to Tauranga captain Jono Boult during an Attrill Cup cricket match at Pemberton Park on Sunday. Photo / Joel Ford

Rotorua's hopes of winning the Attrill Cup took an early blow when they lost to long-time rivals Tauranga in the first round of the 2013 cup competition.

Rotorua batted first in the fixture that was transferred from Fergusson Park to Greerton's headquarters at Pemberton Park on Sunday.

Bay of Plenty batsman Bharat Popli was the backbone of the Rotorua side, crafting 71 runs from 101 balls in his time at the crease.

The Bay of Plenty Indians batsman was patience personified as he stroked the ball around Pemberton Park before his team were removed for 174.

Liliesh Solanki also provided some genuine resistance, with a gritty 28 runs.

Greerton bowler Campbell Thomas grabbed three wickets at a cost of 42 runs.

One bowler to impress was Tauranga Boys' College youngster Gareth Wallace, who returned 2/9 and sat on a hat-trick at one stage.

Attack was the cornerstone of the Tauranga reply, with an opening partnership of more than a 100 runs put on by skipper Jono Boult and Joe Carter.

When Boult was dismissed for 52, Tom MacRury continued the assault on the Rotorua bowlers.

Carter finished with an unbeaten 71 with MacRury posting 39 not out.

Rotorua will need to win their remaining two games to have an outside chance of winning the Attrill Cup, which has been contested in the Bay of Plenty since before 1938.

In the other match, Te Puke/Mount Maunganui played under the banner of Western Bay of Plenty and were even more dominant than their Tauranga counterparts, easily dispatching Eastern Bay of Plenty (Whakatane) in Te Puke.

The combined side batted first and set a huge target when they reached 362/8.

Bay wicket keeper Tim Clarke retired when he reached 116, with Peter Drysdale also retiring with a neat century against his name in the score book.

Mitch McCann contributed a handy 36, with Alex Yates taking three wickets for the visitors.

Tauranga Boys' College spin bowler James Boyd, who was invited into the Eastern Bay side after a late withdrawal, finished with two wickets.

When Eastern Bay master blaster Yates was run out cheaply, the writing was on the wall for the visitors, who were removed for 118 to hand the combined side a 244 run win.

The combined wickets were shared around with Tony Goodin, Alex Gooding and Daniel Hill all sharing in the spoils.

The Attrill Cup action continues next Sunday when round two will be played out in Tauranga and the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Attrill Cup results on Sunday:

Rotorua 174 (Bharat Popli 71; Campbell Thomas 3/42, Gareth Wallace 2/9, James Birchall 2/34) lost to Tauranga 175/1 (Joe Carter 72no, Tom MacRury 39no, Jono Boult 52)

Western Bay of Plenty 362/8 (Tim Clarke 116 retired, Peter Drysdale 100, Mitch McCann 36; Alex Yates 3/36, James Boyd 2/45) defeated Eastern Bay of Plenty 118