Valentine's Day for Central

Central were without two key players, sitting in sixth place on 21 points from three wins and a tie and in danger of finishing even lower in the baywide Williams Cup cricket competition.

Their Mt Maunganui opponents needed a win to cement second place and, having lost only two games, arrived at Smallbone Park in Rotorua on Saturday as firm favourites.

However, Central enjoyed a late comeback to cement their Rotorua top club title for 2004/05.

Winning the toss, the Mount elected to bat first. Matt Mclaughlin, who had been finding wickets hard to come by in the Williams Cup, was full of purpose as he steamed in and, with a wicket with the third ball of his first and second overs, he had the visitors regretting their decision.

A 31-run stand for the third wicket took the score to 34 before Mclaughlin struck twice in one over sending Dale Swan (16) and Simon Crean packing.

Mclaughlin had 4-20 off his opening spell of six overs.

Scott Valentine was given the task of keeping the batsmen on the backfoot and when he bowled Khan Grieg (15) and took his second wicket with the score on 92 in the 20th over he had done just that.

Danny Sczygiol, who had hit six boundaries in getting through to 34, posed the main threat. But when Crispian Stewart bowled Mark Divehall (17) the Mount were 112/7 with Sczygiol running out of partners.

He should have been run out on 48 but survived, to reach his half century with a cover drive to the ropes, followed by a six and another boundary to move quickly to 62.

Andrew Hoogstraten (16) was Valentine's third victim and when he bowled Sczygiol for 88, the Mount had been dismissed for 187. Valentine's gift to his team - 5-36 off 7.1 overs, with Mclaughlin taking 4-25.

Central were 11/1 when the in-form Eugene Moore went to the wicket, but just when he was looking to get into his stride he was dismissed for 11. Tony Goodin had 2-17 with Central at 37/2 in the ninth over.

Kane Vanner looked assured, bringing up his 50 in the 30th over and put on 101 in partnership with Kane Spiers before Spiers, who had reached 45, was surprisingly given out caught behind when there appeared to be daylight between bat and ball.

At 138/3 Central needed 50 runs from 19 overs. The loss of Stewart (14) and Vanner, bowled by Goodin for a well compiled 62, meant the home side were still 22 short of their target.

Dave Hunt and Mclaughlin played out consecutive maiden overs before a boundary apiece released the pressure.

The end was an anticlimax with Central achieving victory with the help of two wides. For the Mount Tony Goodin had 3-33 from 10 overs - the win assuring Central of the Rotorua top club title for 2004/05.



Over the road, Eastern Pirates had only three first choice players available for their game against bottom placed Whakatane United.

Although winless, the team from the Eastern Bay, which is made up of youngsters and old hands, put their all into every game with their enjoyment of playing obvious to all.

Pirates captain Mark Rawson won the toss and opening the batting had cruised to 48 before he was out, chasing a wide delivery.

Jarrod Christoffersen (18) followed his captain's example next over and Pirates were 86/3. Daniel Fluker was in control and with young Vince Whareaitu taking the score to 176 before he was dismissed for a breezy 64, which included two sixes.

While Fluker took off for 40 minutes of pre-season rugby, Whareaitu was growing in confidence at the crease reaching his highest score, 41, before he was run out.

Warren Berry was left 19 not out and with a significant contribution of 57 from extras the innings finished on 248/9. Daryll Clarke took 4-18 for the visitors.

James Nash had 2-15 of three overs and with Warren Berry 2-16 the pair ensured the Whakatane chase never gained any traction. Mike Young struck four boundaries and a six in getting to 32, with W Graham contributing 29.

Both were out when Nash started his second spell, and when he had wickets with consecutive deliveries the field was brought in for the hat-trick delivery.

It was a pearler which whistled over middle stump by no more than a centimetre, no hat-trick but Nash finished with 4-37 as Whakatane were dismissed for 124 in 25 overs. M Rawson 2-5 and W Berry 2-16 were the other main wicket takers.



Meanwhile, Trident High brought the curtain down on Rotorua Boys' High School's Williams Cup season at Rex Morpeth Park.

Beau MacFarlane confirmed his early promise when he made 70 of the Rotorua total of 159. At 103/3 Trident were cruising, but Phil Anderson's 3-30 and Henry Shand's 2-37 had them struggling at 127/7.

Once the threat posed by the two spinners was removed, James Mitchell (55) and Dean Butterworth (24no) saw them through.

The Gillette Cup match between Tauranga Boys' and Rotorua Boys', that will be played in Rotorua next Friday, was to double as a Williams Cup catch-up.

It has now been decided that the points will go to Tauranga.