The following is a report posted by Year 5/6 coach Blair Camplin

Good evening to you all and a good one it is - as the boys beat a good Otago Country Team.

My thanks especially to the parents as it is a long way to travel (especially with a weather front coming) but wasn't that rewarding!

Also a big thanks to parents helping - the scorers - keeping the batters ready - score board (have to buy one of those they're neat!) - interactive training etc. - you know who you are - thank you.

This team have come in leaps and bounds in skill sets and although there is a lot more leaps and bounds yet to make let us enjoy the moment! I could do ! And ! All email - lol.

The boys made an impressive 154 holding their composure right through the batting order with some good old fashioned guts. Then they bowled remarkably - bowling Country out for 90.

So a win by 64 runs.

Tom Dempster bowled so well with 2 wickets for 16 off 4 overs. Tough on the batting Tom as that was a beauty of a delivery. Great keeping!

Joshua Camplin hit a great 24 and bowled the last wicket - two catches at mid-off with one being a forward dive.

Oliver Kinzett bowled one wicket for 13 runs off four overs keeping a lot of pressure on the opposition - like Tom it was a beauty of a delivery you went out on Oliver.

Jack Martin made four runs but kept the them ticking over and took a screamer of a catch at mid-off - I say screamer because of how much ground he had to make to get there.

Toby kept amazing pressure on with his bowling with only 9 runs off his three overs.

Blake Martin had a massive day starting the wicket taking with 3 for 28 off five overs and then batting well with other partners to make 26. The deep fine leg catch was awesome.

Andrew McKenzie hit one of the shots of the day - a straight front foot six down the ground and then took a wicket off 3 overs for a measly 3 runs.

Sam Clulee hit a fantastic 9 runs in another partnership and kept the score ticking over - nearly having a run out from great boundary fielding.

Sam Senior had a rough day and got a little beat up but his front foot driving was a highlight and with 1 wicket off 3 overs for 17 runs. Big heart.

Ben Paton wicket kept well like Tom and finished the scoring with a very quick 9. To put Ben and Tom's job in picture they only let 5 byes through!

Ben Mavor went for it at the end and rightly so - nearly had a run out from backing up on one of the byes and then finished all off with one bowl - one wicket on their 12th man.!

Only 23 wide's this time round - still high but as coach I was not too worried because most wide's were on the off side which gave little ability for Countries pulling ability. Only six boundaries hit off our bowling!

Well done to you - as coach I am proud of you all and I know your parents are too!

The best part of this team is that through the medium of cricket strong friendships are forming and the encouragement of each other on the field is humbling to see. Thank you to all the parents as I am privileged to coach these kids - what a great group.

Again - that was ‘mean’ and as the kids say today really ‘tank’.

One thing that many will not know - the cricket ball went through the stumps when Blake was on about 2 runs (rule is bails need to be dislodged) - Blake you're under age to buy a lotto ticket - ask Claire to.