Valley retained its lead in Borton Cup cricket, with two rounds of qualifying play remaining, with a one wicket win over Oamaru at Weston. Albion moved into second place ten points behind the leaders with a 118 run win over Waitaki Boys High School while Union share third place with Oamaru after a 42 run win over St Kevin's College at King George Park.
Oamaru won the toss and batted first against Valley and after 14 overs has struggling at 50 for four. The side lasted a further 23 overs before the final wicket fell at 144 with Nick Johnston(43) and Glen Paterson(28) the best of the batsmen. Bowling for Valley David Simpson took three for 19 while Geoff Mavor and Hamish McKenzie took two wickets each.
With Cam Leckie(37) holding the side together Valley after 26 overs was 110 for seven. The winning runs came in the 38th over with the last pair at the crease. David Sewell took four for 13 off his ten overs and a rejuvenated Ronald Senior claimed three for 41.
Albion decided to bat first at Milner Park against Waitaki Boys and scored quickly and after 16 overs was 116 for five. Marshall Smith(76) and Jon Sinclair(51) dominated the bowling with Dylan Winter adding 39 further down the order with the side finally all out for 242 in the 33rd over. Riley Rooney and Adrian Myburgh took three wickets each for Waitaki Boys.
Only Lachie Kingan(41) and Rooney(21) showed any real resistance to the Albion attack and the side was dismissed for 124 in the 27th over. Brad Kernahan took four for 45 and Winter four for 51.
Union after winning the toss set St Kevin's College the task of scoring 260 to win. The foundation of the Union total was laid by Jeremiah Shields(97) and Antony Cromwell(42) with the pair producing an opening stand of 127.Duncan Drew added 31. Matt Lilley was the pick of the College bowlers taking four for 38 while Tim O'Connor claimed two for 44.
Chris Smith(90) gave St Kevin's a positive start but apart from Tim Gourlay(57) the other batsmen failed to produce runs as the side fell 42 runs short. Phil Crossan, Paul Johnston and Duncan Drew took three wickets each for Union.
Short Scorecard(s)
Senior - Borton Cup - Round 10
Oamaru Senior vs Valley Senior at Weston Park 1
Oamaru Senior 144 ( N.R. Johnson 43, G. Paterson 28, D. Simpson 3-19, H. McKenzie 2-27, G. Mavor 2-35 )
Valley Senior 145-9 ( C. Leckie 37no, D.G. Sewell 4-13, R. Senior 3-41 )
Valley by 1 wicket
St Kevins 1st XI vs Union Senior at King George Park 1
Union Senior 259-7 ( J Shields 97, A Cromwell 42, D Drew 31, P Johnston 11, M. Lilley 4-38, T. O'Connor 2-29 )
St Kevins 1st XI 214 ( C Smith 90, T Gourlay 57, P O'Mally 17, B Duckworth 11no, D.J. Drew 3-27, P. Crossan 3-44, P. Johnston 3-56 )
Union by 41 runs
Albion Senior vs Waitaki Boys 1st XI at Milner Park
Albion Senior 242 ( M. Smith 76, J. Sinclair 51, D. Winter 39, A. Myburgh 3-40, R. Rooney 3-45 )
Waitaki Boys 1st XI 124 ( L.T. Kingan 41, R. Rooney 21, B. Kernahan 4-45, D. Winter 4-51 )
Albion by 118 runs