City makes Pearce cut

Upper Hutt have played their way into Wellington cricket’s top tier Pearce Cup competition.

After a slow start to the season, Upper Hutt surged into the sixteam cup by winning their last three games including Saturday’s bonus point win over Collegians.

With 27 points they edged out Onslow, the defending champions who were consigned to the bottom-six Hazlett Trophy.

Winning Pearce status for the first time in four season represents top success for a young side which has both found good form and a positive team culture.

Led by new player-coach Kedarnath Rajamoney and captain Daniel Henderson, Upper Hutt welcomed back Firebird Ollie Newton on Saturday.

While his taking the opening two wickets was important the 66-run win was based on an allround team effort.

Young Callum Mclachlan’s 79 off 60 balls was backed up by 50s from Navroz Singh and Matt Bacon as Upper Hutt hit up 306.

Collegians were than dismissed in 40 overs with four bowlers taking wickets

Meanwhile the club’s Matt Taylor hit seven sixes in a 38-ball innings of 56 to steer the Firebirds to a win over Otago in the first round of the Ford Trophy.