Wanganui's poor season continues

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The batting woes of Active Physio Wanganui have not dissipated in the New Year as once again the bottom-of-the-table Hawke Cup team was staring down the barrel of an innings defeat at Fitzherbert Park yesterday.

Playing without some of their leading lights, who are away on Central Districts duty, Wanganui padded up after a day in the field on Saturday where Manawatu scored 362-9 declared after 72 overs.

Local batsmen Dane Cleaver (79), Roald Badenhorst (71) and Tim Richards (69 not out) all had a profitable day in the dry conditions.

Sam O'Leary (3-94 off 17 overs) and player-coach Dominic Rayner (2-92 off 22) got through the most work of the five Wanganui bowlers used, with both the pace of Nick Blundell and the spin of Henry Collier being missed.

But it was with the bat that Wanganui needed the most help as, after finishing the day at 64-3, they were dismissed yesterday for 177 and then made a disastrous start when asked to bat again, slumping to 55-6 with a lot of daylight left by 4.30pm.

Manawatu bowler Bryn Templeman, having come into the team along with player-coach Mike Mason for this game, was the chief destroyer after taking 5-54 from his 19 overs in the first Wanganui innings.

Needing a big score in the absence of Collier and Brett Cameron, veteran Mark Fraser made 31, while John Macilraith got 39 in his return to the team.

Brendan Walker, as he did in his United club's capitulation to New Plymouth Old Boys in the Central Districts one-day club playoff in December, brought a little fight to the tail with his top score of 43.

But there was no one to anchor the second turn at bat as aside from Max Carroll making 23, the rest of the top order folded with little resistance.

Dominic Lock was at bat and trying to survive at press time.

"Poor batting, I would say, the wicket looks pretty good. No excuses," said glum Wanganui manager Justin Lock as he watched yesterday afternoon.

It appears fortunes will not change as Wanganui's dismal Hawke Cup season continues without scoring a competition point, while Manawatu will add to their table-topping 20 points.