The two top qualifiers were knocked out in the Borton Cup semi finals played on Saturday. At Whitestone number one top of the table Union was ousted by a well organised Albion side which was rated fourth in the playoffs with Albion scoring a comprehensive 105 run win.
Waitaki Boys High School which finished second in the qualifying round did not have the batting power to pass Valley’s meagre total of 133 and finished 25 runs short at Milner Park.
Union won the toss and elected to bowl first against Albion. Solid innings from Peter Carwright(23) and Brad Kernahan(23) and a rollicking 36 from Matt Day saw Albion through to 174 for nine at the end of its 50 overs. Matt Lilley and Paul Johnston took two wickets each for Union.
Albion’s Paul Odell sparked his side when had Union opener Glynn Cameron with the fourth ball of the innings and it was all down hill for Union from then on. Albion captain Cartwright marshalled his field intelligently. Accurate Albion bowling saw wickets fall regularly, 29 for three after 11 overs, 47 for seven after 17 overs and the final wicket fell at 69 in the 25th over. Scott Guyton took five for 17 off seven overs and Odell, four for 26 off nine overs.
Valley won the toss at Milner Park and decided to bat first. Openers Hayden Tisdall(21) and Cameron Leckie(22) gave Valley a positive start and at 48 without loss after 12 overs looked set for a big score. Scoring slowed as Valley went to 79 for two after 23 overs Valley lasted a further 17 overs but lost eight wicket for only 54 runs before the innings closed at 133. Nathan Smith, Riley Rooney and Stephan Grobler took three wickets each for Waitaki Boys.
Apart from Matt Munro(32) the Waitaki Boys batting lineup failed to fire and the side was dismissed in the 32nd over for 109. Reuben Simpson took five for 33 off nine overs while Hamish McKenzie and Hayden Tisdall took two wickets each.
Valley’s effort in making the Borton Cup cricket final next Saturday will probably mean that its Citizens Shield first round club rugby game against Maheno set down for next Saturday at Weston will probably be played next Thursday evening.
Short Scorecard(s)
Senior - Borton Cup - Semi-Final
Albion Senior vs Union Senior at Whitestone Cont. Stadium
Albion Senior 174-9 ( M. Day 36, P. Cartwright 23, B. Kernahan 23, P. Johnston 2-18, M. Lilley 2-32 )
Union Senior 69 ( S. Guyton 5-17, P. Odell 4-26 )
Albion by 105 runs
Valley Senior vs Waitaki Boys 1st XI at Milner 1
Valley Senior 133 ( C. Leckie 22, H. Tisdall 21, S. Grobler 3-18, N. Smith 3-22, R. Rooney 3-37 )
Waitaki Boys 1st XI 109 ( M. Munro 32, R. Simpson 5-33, H. Tisdall 2-8, H. McKenzie 2-24 )
Valley by 24 runs