Openers propel Te Puke to victory
The Williams Cup, which Te Puke have won a record 16 times since first contested in 1933, seems to bring out the best in the Te Puke Baywide side.
A century apiece from the Te Puke opening batsmen against Tauranga Boys’ College on Saturday set the platform for a match that produced more than 500 runs in the third round of the competition.
Tai Bridgman-raison and Blair Mckenzie produced an opening stand of 243 runs to anchor their side’s total of 283 for the loss of three wickets. Bridgman-raison belted 128 runs while keeper Blair Mckenzie, who finished with his second three-figure score in eight days, hit 112 runs. Bridgman-raison posted a new Western Bay and Te Puke Club mark of 15 centuries with what was his second ton against Tauranga Boys’ this season.
The Tauranga students weren’t fazed by the big target and set out on the run chase at a solid clip.
While the Te Puke bowlers won the battle between willow and leather, Tauranga Boys’ got through to 232 before defeat.
Niven Dovey and Taylor Bettelheim continued their sterling run of form to post half centuries, with Cameron Templer reaching the 40s. Former Tauranga Boys’ player Mikaere Leef took three wickets for the victors.
Te Puke’s second XI share top spot in the WBOPCA Championship standings after easily beating R&A Sangha.
The Sangha XI batted first and were bowled out for 97, with Cameron Murray the main destroyer as he took five wickets for 29 runs. Te Puke cruised to victory with eight wickets to spare with Johnny Coulter and Scott Struiksma both reaching the 30s.
In the B Grade Championship, Pa¯ pa¯ moa Wanderers defeated fellow club team Papaomas, while Pa¯ pa¯ moa Tangaroa failed by seven runs to chase down the Mount Maunganui total of 169 for the loss of six wickets.
RESULTS Williams Cup round three WBOPCA Reserve Grade Championship
R&A Sangha 97 (Cameron Murray 5/29) lost to Te Puke 98/2 (Johnny Coulter 35, Scott Struiksma 33) WBOPCA B Grade Championship Mount Maunganui 169/6 (Danny Pokai 3/27) defeated Pa¯ pa¯ moa Tangaroa 162/5 (Sam Pulis 48, Aaron Barber 44, Matt Short 32) Papaomas 186/7 (Andrew Goldsmith 44, Rhys Grosvenor 40; Regan Collins 3/31) lost to Pa¯ pa¯ moa Wanderers 187/7 (Rob Ferrari 32, Chris Uden 32; A Goldsmith 4/20). New World Te Puke 283/3 (T Bridgman-raison 128, B Mckenzie 112) defeated Bond & Co Tauranga Boys College 232 (N Dovey 62, T Bettelheim 54, C Templer 48, B Vyver 25; M Leef 3/46, R Crossley 2/26, H Wilde 2/36)
Points table (provisional) Cadets 18, Mount Maunganui 12, Central Indians 12, Te Puke 6, Greerton 6, Tauranga Boys College 0, Lake Taupo CC 0.