College sport: Batsman's 159 makes it easy for Cambridge

By DAVE WORSLEY

An outstanding performance by New Zealand under-17 representative Keith Vincent helped Cambridge High to an easy win in the final round of the Waikato first XI cricket competition and the top spot in the semifinals.

Vincent scored a massive 159 and was well backed up by Brad Kay with 65 not out, Jake Bezzant 58 and Nick Feast 34 as Cambridge compiled 358-5.

Fraser High were dismissed for 133 with Gareth Wagstaff offering some resistance, scoring 47. James McKay took 5-12 for Cambridge.

Cambridge, Hillcrest and Matamata College all finished on 21 points, but Cambridge finished ahead on the runs-per-wicket formula used to separate teams.

St Peters edged Te Awamutu for the fourth spot with a fractionally better runs-per-wicket rate.

Te Awamutu bowled St Pauls out for 103 and replied with 104-3.

Matamata were the only undefeated team going into the final round.

Their opponents, St Peters, needed a convincing win to secure a semifinal place. Matamata batted first and were soon under pressure from St Peters off-spinners Aaron Bennett (3-20) and Scott Mongston (3-16) as the batting collapsed for 87. St Peters reached 90-4 with Drew Ritchie 21 not out.

Hillcrest confirmed their place in the semifinals with a 192-run thrashing of Morrinsville College. Batting first, Hillcrest hit 301-3 built around a patient and measured partnership of 161 between opener Angus Bruce (62) and Andrew Kedian.

Kedian scored 136 not out off 132 balls (including six sixes) and, with James Baker (47 not out from 26 balls), was able to score over 100 runs from the last eight overs.

Morrinsville were never in the hunt when they collapsed to be 3-3 from the first six overs. Byron Barrowclough (2-7 from 7 overs) and Aaron Goile (2-16 from 5 overs) did the early damage.

Debutant David Tuck (2-42) and speedster Josh Findlay (3-21) were able to finish off the job with Morrinsville all out for 109.

Hamilton Boys High third XI finished the round-robin section at the bottom of the table after scoring 153 against St Johns. At one stage Hamilton were 81-1 before dropping four more wickets on the same score. St Johns reached their target with five wickets to spare.

Awards

This Friday is a big night for college athletes in the Auckland region.

The ASB Bank College Sport Young Sportsperson of the Year will be announced from more than 150 entries in over 30 sports.

This year's awards are being held at Eden Park and will feature some of New Zealand's most promising up-and-coming athletes.

Each sport will have an individual male and female winner and there will be a supreme award for the best boy and girl.

Top contenders are likely to include swimmer Corney Swanepoel (Rangitoto College), netballer Maria Tutaia (Mt Albert Grammar), softballer Amy Irving (Massey High) and yachtie Jo Aleh (Westlake Girls).

Past recipients of the top award include Sarah Ulmer, Jonah Lomu, Beatrice Faumuina, Nathan Richmond, Valerie Adams, Terenzo Bozzone and Sarah Macky.

This week

Friday - Auckland young sportsperson of the year awards, Eden Park.

Saturday - cricket: Auckland 1A and 1B.

Tuesday - Kilikiti: junior tournament, Auckland Domain; volleyball: North Island secondary schools junior tournament, November 23-26, Waitakere Trusts Stadium.