Huntley win fourth straight CD tournament

The Huntley 1st XI pose with the winning scoreboard from the Central Districts tournament in Palmerston North at the end of March.

The Huntley School 1st XI have done it again after winning the Central Districts regional qualifier to book their spot in the National Primary Schools Cup finals in December.

It is the fourth straight time Huntley has won the CD tournament and they will be looking to build on their third placing at the 2017 nationals.

In the March 29 event in Palmerston North, Huntley faced Taranaki's Highlands Intermediate in the semifinals.

Fielding first in the Twenty20 format, Huntley bowled well to restrict Highlands to 97.

In reply their top order batted confidently to chase it down, for the loss of only one wicket, in the 10th over.

Masterton Intermediate won their semifinal in a thriller with Hawke's Bay's Hereworth School, chasing down 124 to win with four balls to spare.

In the final, Huntley lost the toss and were put into the field, with Masterton getting straight on the front foot to the tune of 11 runs per over to surpass 40 runs without loss in the fourth over.

But Huntley doubled their efforts and tightened their line, backed up by good fielding as the entire Masterton order underneath their openers collapsed to be all out for 84.

In reply, Huntley lost their own top order to be in trouble at 7-3 off two overs.

However, a 78 run partnership for the fourth wicket took them to a seven wicket win and a booked a place in the finals in Christchurch at the end of the year.