Piercing shots

HUNTLEY HERO: George Pearce had a dream run with ball in hand for Huntley School taking three Hereworth wickets for just two runs from his 10 overs at the weekend.

Regular wicket falls, great fielding and superb catches combined to get Westmere home narrowly over Hunterville Maroon in the Year 5 and 6 junior cricket clash at the weekend.

Hunterville won the toss and elected to field first. Hunterville started well and had Westmere 30-3 before a great partnership between Cole Julian (23) and Connor Rees (22) put on 56 to get Westmere through to a handy score of 115.

Hunterville were in a hurry from the start of the second innings taking 16 off the first over and were 50 after 8. However, regular wickets and some great fielding and catching, especially two superb catches from Lana O'Connor managed to peg Hunterville back.

Cody Campbell and Zac Lamont chipped in with vital wickets. Hunterville needed 10 off the last over, but only managed 5 allowing Westmere to get home by four runs.
Cole Julian from Westmere was named MVP.

In the other Year 5 and 6 match Marist took on Wanganui East at the superbly-prepared Cullinane College Oval wasting no time to haul in the small target of 36.

Winning the toss and batting first Wanganui East were soon in trouble with Lachlan Fisher ripping through the top order taking 4/9 along with a wicket apiece to Angus Stanbrook-Mason, Aliza McClachlan, Luke Bullock and Ollie Hutchins who were backed up with some excellent fielding.

Batting for Wanganui East Logan Ripley (5) and Ryan Meredith (7) where the best. Meredith was last man standing batting for eight overs before his team was all out for 38.
Marist knocked the runs off quickly with Hutchins (15 not out) the best while a wicket apiece to Noah Jones and Luke Melville and a good catch to Tyler Turner rounded out the best Wanganui East performances. Man of the match for Marist was Fisher.

Meanwhile, Huntley bowler George Pearce produced an outstanding performance of note during the 2nd X1 match against Hereworth from Hawkes Bay.

The Ray White Wanganui Under-12 rep produced figures even international bowlers would struggle to achieve.

Pearce claimed three wickets for just two runs off 10 overs. His 10 over spell included 9 maidens.

What makes it even more incredible is the two runs came off his first ball, the next 59 balls were either dots or wickets. Then to top it off, while wickets fell all around him,
Pearce steadied the ship and carried his bat through the entire innings, a truly remarkable feat for one so young.

The draw for this weekend is a little light with most Huntley teams unavailable, and Hunterville Year 7&8 teams are also out.
Year 5 & 6
Marist vs Huntley at Springvale 2 (Corner Parson and Carlton Pitch)
Wanganui East vs St Georges at Springvale3 (Parson Street Pitch)
Hunterville Black vs Westmere at Hunterville (in the middle of nowhere pitch)
Hunterville Maroon a bye
Year 7 & 8
WIS B vs St Georges Springvale 1 (Carlton Ave Pitch)