Grassroots

CRICKET Hawke Cup

Hamilton lifted the Hawke Cup with a 64-run victory over Hawke’s Bay this afternoon, ending a season in which the coveted provincial silverware changed hands in every Direct Challenge. Hamilton, Zone 1 Challengers, had already taken a first-innings lead into the final day, which would have proven enough on its own to lift the Cup so long as Hawke’s Bay couldn’t snatch an outright win. Chasing 335 to keep the Cup over winter the hosts were bowled out for 270.

Bay of Plenty

The four Williams Cup semifinalists were confirmed on Saturday, with Mount Maunganui grabbing the last spot after a big win over Tauranga Boys’ College at Blake Park.

Mount Maunganui batted first, losing their first wicket on the opening ball. Ben Guild and Ben Musgrave then put the hosts in control with a 152-run partnership before Musgrave fell for 62. Guild continued his side’s charge for a big score, before being stumped for 97. Ben Pomare and Tony Goodin also made useful contributions as Mount Maunganui scored 267-8. Niven Dovey and James Gatenby took three wickets apiece for Tauranga Boys. The Mount bowlers took charge and had the Tauranga Boys top four batsmen dismissed for 66 runs. The introduction of spinner Dale Swan upped the ante, with the hosts’ skipper taking four wickets for just three runs as Tauranga Boys were removed for 114 to hand the Mount a big 153-run win.

Central Indians posted a massive total in their match with Te Puke as they head to a top-two major semifinal against top qualifiers Cadets. Central Indians captain Stephen Nicholls opened his team’s innings, blasting 126 off 111 balls, with the hosts in control at 231-3. Lovely Sandhu continued the attack to finish with 123 runs, as the combined team reached 334-7.

The visitors made a strong attempt to reel in the big target, before being bowled out for 250. Christian MacDonald backed up his three wickets with his side’s top score of 81. Gareth Wallace (44) and Blair McKenzie (39) also made useful contributions. Greerton cemented their place in the post section with a win at Lake Taupo CC. Batting first, the visitors were removed for 224, before bowling out the Lake Taupo side for 82. For Greerton, Lee Watkins top-scored with 64 and Shane Wineti took 3-18. Lake Taupo bowler Roger Urbahn took four wickets.

Cadets will host Central Indians at Tauranga Domain in the major semifinal on Saturday, with the winner advancing to the grand final. Greerton will play long-time rivals Mount Maunganui at Pemberton Park, with the victor backing up against the major semifinal loser the following day to find the second finalist.

FOOTBALL ISPS Handa Premiership

Defending champions Auckland City broke the highest-ever points tally record in style while the teams that will face each other in the semifinals were revealed after the final weekend of regular season action in the ISPS Handa Premiership. Auckland had already wrapped up the minor premiership and a home semi-final some time ago but their remaining motivation in this evening’s Super City derby against Waitakere United was to break the long-standing record of 51 points, set by their crosstown rivals back in 2008.

The Navy Blues did just that with a clinical display at a sundrenched Kiwitea Street, outclassing a youthful Waitakere 5-2. Much of the damage was done in the first half, in which Dylan Manickum found the net on two occasions after Fabrizio Tavano had given Auckland an early lead. Substitute Maro Bonsu-Maro added a fourth deep into the second spell before a flurry of late goals, a Tavano screamer being sandwiched by a Matthew Conroy brace for Waitakere.

City will look to continue their remarkable unbeaten run in hosting next weekend’s semifinal against Team Wellington, whose fate in facing the minor premiers was sealed on Saturday when the game between Tasman United and Canterbury United was cancelled due to the terrorist attack in Christchurch.

It was agreed that the points would be shared in a scoreless draw, guaranteeing Canterbury third place and an away semifinal meeting against second-placed Eastern Suburbs due to their superior head-to-head record over Wellington, with whom they finished locked on points.

Now knowing they would be meeting Auckland in the semifinals regardless of today’s events, Wellington had little to play for in their trip to Hamilton Wanderers but would still have been keen to post a win to take confidence into the playoffs. They ticked that box by hitting four, an Angus Kilkolly double being supplemented by further strikes from Andrew Bevin and Aaron Clapham while Stafford Dowling and Xavier Pratt replied for the hosts. Outside of the playoff picture, the Wellington Phoenix Reserves signed off with just their third win of the season, coming from behind to defeat Hawke’s Bay United 3-1. Karan Mandair had given the visiting Bay an early lead but a Kieran Richards equaliser and two goals from Maximilian Batchelor — including one from the penalty spot — gave the ‘WeeNix’ a memorable finale to their campaign.

The Hawke’s Bay cause wasn’t helped by the dismissal of skipper Birhanu Taye with just over ten minutes remaining.

In the only match to take place on Saturday, Eastern Suburbs continued their momentum with a 3-0 triumph over Southern United, Callum McCowatt notching a double before Andre de Jong supplied a third for the home side.

Those players were additionally involved in a tight individual battle to earn the regular season golden boot, which has now been claimed by 18-goal McCowatt, who pipped his team mate by two strikes.

The pair will look to add to their totals this Saturday as Suburbs host Canterbury in the first semifinal while Wellington face a daunting visit to Kiwitea Street on Sunday.