Geyser City target new year success

Geyser City first XI player Matt Mitchell impressed with the ball for his side on the weekend. PHOTO/FILE

Geyser City first XI are targeting new year success after finishing the first round of the Western Bay of Plenty reserve grade on a low note.

Geyser City bowled first against the already crowned first round champions - Lake Taupo CC first Xl, with the visitors all out for 232 off 50 overs at Ray Boord Park on Saturday.

For the visitors, Abhinav Batta hit a solid 40, with Shaun Davies racking up 36 runs while Geyser City's Matt Mitchell took 5/42.

In the second innings Geyser City were unable to keep up with the set run rate, Pete Walters hit a determined 31 but Lake Taupo's Habib Malik impressed taking 3-31, with the home side losing by 67 runs.

Geyser City club chairman Mike Holmes said he wasn't unhappy with the overall result but added the batsman gave "too much respect" to opposition bowlers.

"We played really well but just let ourselves down with a slow run rate," he said.

"We can live with the result - I just think we let Taupo get away from us at the end of the first innings and so it was a tough target to try to get.

"I then thought we were too cautious at the crease. Our shot selection at times left a lot to be desired and I think we could have gone for it a bit more."

Geyser City shouldn't be too disheartened with the weekend's defeat however, as Lake Taupo finished the first round competition without the stain of defeat in their debut season in Western Bay of Plenty cricket.

The star of the Lake Taupo team was Roger Urbahn, who topped the bowling stakes with 19 wickets with a best of 7-16 and finished in the top 10 of the batting totals.

Geyser City secured just two wins in the first round - leaving them just above bottom placed Cadets on the table.

But Holmes said the team were aiming to make the semifinals in the newly formed Western Bay of Plenty reserve grade in 2017, with the competition splitting in two.

"We got off the bottom of the table and they were two very strong wins," he said.

"We can hold our heads up high. The team spirit has improved over the season and we can definitely make the semifinals next year.

"We don't have to make a lot of changes. It will just be about carrying on and having a better raw attitude. I think batsmen possibly need to place a higher price on their wicket and choose their shots carefully. It's onwards and upwards from here."

WBOPCA Western Bay of Plenty reserve grade results:

Lake Taupo CC 232 (Abhinav Batta 40, Shaun Davies 36, Matt Mitchell 5-42) defeated Geyser City 165 (Pete Walters 31, Habib Malik 3-31).

Whakatane United 105(James Cornelius 3-19, Steve Charman 3-20) lost to Mount Maunganui 106/9 (Pip Thickpenny 3-21).

Cadets 146 (Cameron Dunn 47, JS Sidhu 3-24, LS Bhatti 4-21) lost to R&A Sangha 149/1 HS Gujral 80, GS Mahal 57no).

Sikh Sports 130 (Brad Howard 3-18) lost to Tauranga Boys' College 131/8 (Neil Howard 37, Sunil Gaur 4-41).

Aquinas College 72 (Daniel Elyashiv 6-28) lost to Te Puke 74/5.

Greerton beat Katikati by default.

Final points: Lake Taupo CC 210, Greerton 170, R&A Sangha 151, Mount Maunganui 148, Tauranga Boys' College 145, Whakatane United 139, Sikh Sports 119, Aquinas College 112, Katikati 102, Te Puke 100, Geyser City 94, Cadets 89.