While the tears of the weather gods had the biggest bearing on the weekend's Hawke Cup play at Victoria Park, or lack thereof, nothing could wash away the embarrassment of yet another Active Physio Wanganui batting collapse.
Heading into tea yesterday afternoon, Horowhenua-Kapiti had lost key wickets but at 134-7were still only six runs shy of taking first innings points in the rain-interrupted match after Wanganui had folded in the morning with little resistance for 139.
On to a bit of a hiding to nothing as both teams sat around a drenched Victoria Park for the majority of Saturday, the covers finally came off with 90 minutes available that evening, and after 23 overs Wanganui were sitting precariously at 57-3.
Horowhenua-Kapiti would use only three key bowlers and that proved to be all they needed, as Matt Bacon got both new Wanganui openers Morgan Inness and John McIlraith replacing the injured Dominic Lock out cheaply.
Mark Fraser reached 25 from 22 balls, but was also caught in the evening off James McLean.
Wanganui's best hope, Henry Collier, began watchfully and by the next morning was eyeing his first 50 of the Hawke Cup when he was trapped in front by Bacon.
Wanganui manager Justin Lock was not impressed with the decision given how high the ball struck the pads.
Wanganui had re-jigged their lineup with Robbie Power promoted to No5 while regular opener Max Carroll followed him, but after Collier's departure no one could get going as Bacon, McLean and Caleb Gaylard all finished with profitable returns.
In reply, Wanganui's Nick Blundell picked up an early scalp after lunch yesterday, before the rain set in again for a brief period and more exercise was got by those running the covers onto the pitch.
Blundell continued after the resumption before in-form batsman Dion Sanson took control of proceedings with a well-measured 50.
However, Horowhenua-Kapiti experienced some wobbles as captain Dominic Rayner got Sanson to stab at a low full toss and send it straight to the keeper's gloves, then he picked up Bacon almost immediately with a plumb lbw.
However, with only a handful needed to pass Wanganui's meagre total at tea, Horowhenua-Kapiti looked the most likely to take competition points away from the match with around 40 overs remaining for a 7.30pm finish.
