Central Otago
By RHYS CHAMBERLAIN
Naseby will contest the final of the Maniototo Eastern Districts cricket competition after it beat semifinal host Ranfurly by one wicket on Saturday afternoon.
Ranfurly, batting first, managed 157 before being all out, thanks mostly to the batting of Ryan Dowling who made an excellent 59, and the Naseby bowlers who leaked 41 extras in the 34 overs before the hosts were dismissed.
Karl McDiarmid bowled well however, taking three for 36, and Hamish McKenzie also took three wickets for 44 runs.
Naseby took the game to the wire. At eight down in the final over and with the scores tied, No 11 batsman Nick van Zoolen, filling in on the day, strode to the crease and proceeded to edge the ball away for the winning run. He was one not out and the hero but it was James Pyle and McDiarmid who had set the platform for the win, making 43 and 40 respectively. Rex Gibson chipped in with 22.
Steve Pringle was the best of the Ranfurly bowlers, taking four for 21, while Mark McCauley had two for 14.
Raymond Hollows could not repeat his effort of last weekend when he took eight wickets but he did bowl well with a wet ball to have two for 38.
• Palmerston and Gimmerburn will play their semifinal this weekend after rain forced the match to be abandoned. If Palmerston wins, the final will be played at Palmerston next weekend.
If not, Naseby will host it.
• Blacks Hill took the Burnett Shield from Albion at Luggate in the Vincent Koford Cup competition after the home side was all out for 111.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Ross McGregor top-scored with 17.
Mike Delgleish bowled well, taking four for 19, and Hayden Hickey chipped in with two for 17.
Blacks Hill made the runs without too much trouble.
Kieran Eathorne (33) and James Henderson (32) made most runs for the visitors while Matt Anderson picked up two of the three wickets to fall for Albion.
• At Anderson Park in Cromwell, Queenstown beat the home side by its net run rate after rain stopped play 20 overs into the second innings.
Queenstown made 259 for the loss of eight from its 50 overs, Jarred Andrew the main run-scorer with 62. Eric Standfield (37) also played well and Michael Ritchie had a good day with the ball for Cromwell, taking three for 45.
Cromwell was in dire straights at 62 for six when rain forced the players from the field. Steve Devonshire and Sean Windle each picked up two wickets and were economical with the ball for Queenstown. Ritchie put up a fight, making 27, before being adjudged lbw and effectively ending the hopes of a Cromwell win.
• Alexandra beat cross-town rival Dunstan by 55 runs at Molyneux Park.
Bowls
It was a great weekend for the RSA bowls teams as RSA 2 and RSA 3 each got three wins in round 17 of the ECNZ Trophy competition in Alexandra.
Roxburgh also got maximum points from its matches while RSA 1 carried on the mantle by getting two wins.
Alexandra W still leads the competition on 64 points after picking up one win on Saturday, while Millers Flat and Alexandra CB are second and third respectively.
North Otago
By TERRY O'NEILL
Union's unbeaten run of 11 matches came to an end when bottom team Oamaru beat it by 50 runs on Saturday. The Waitaki Boys'/Valley game will be decided on run rate per over, as will the St Kevin's/Albion game because play was called off late in the afternoon.
• Oamaru decided to bat first and made 142 with David Sewell top-scoring with 25 while Ben Lewis added 22.
Glyn Cameron took two early wickets to give him his 200th wicket for Union in club cricket and finished with four for 26. Jason Todd and Isaac Shields took two wickets each for Union.
The only Union batsman to fire was Jeremiah Shields (21) and the side was dismissed for 92, Gary Clearwater taking four for 15, David Sewell three for 53 and Scott Wilson two for 24.
• Waitaki Boys' High School batted through its 50 overs to be 226 for 8 at the close of the innings. Stephan Groblar top-scored with 116, while Lachie Kingan added 23. Bowling for Valley, Hamish McKenzie took three for 53 and Blair Malcolm two for 59.
When rain stopped play, Valley was 44 for four, with Sam Wicks having taken three for 16.
• Albion put St Kevin's in to bat at Awamoa Park and with Tim McCormick (57), Tim O'Malley (35), Jeremy Smith (39 not out) and Isaac De Buyzer (36 not out), St Kevin's batted through its 50 overs to be 248 for six. Paul Odell took two for 17 for Albion.
When rain halted play, Albion was 192 for four.
Bowls
The Meadowbank club took the Mills shield and the sevens title on the final day of competition on Saturday.
In the sevens, Meadowbank Gold, with two wins over RSA, finished with 42 points, two ahead of Awamoa Blue, with Phoenix Maroon (36) and Awamoa Gold (30) making up the top four.
In the Mills Shield, Meadowbank Gold, with 26 points, held out Kurow (25), Phoenix Maroon (24) and Meadowbank Gold (23).
Softball
Rebels took an early 1-0 lead against Waitaki Boys' from a Jarred Ovens' hit but Waitaki Boys' came back with four runs. Rebels outscored Waitaki Boys' 4-2 in the second innings, giving Waitaki Boys' a 6-5 lead. Rebels scored three runs at the top of the third but then lost its way with Waitaki Boys' piling on 10 runs, including a home run to Carde Howe and a three bagger to Blayne Howe.
Rebels could only score one further run, giving Waitaki Boys' a 16-9 win.
• Against Kiwi Dodgers, Industries took an early 7-2 lead but Dodgers came back with some strong batting, including a three bagger from Matt Newlove. Top batters were Roly Senior (Industries) and Sean Wansbrough (Dodgers).
• Top batters in the Waitaki Boys' year 12 and year 11 teams were Luke McCabe (year 11) and Blayne Howe (year 12). Year 12 won 8-7.
South Otago
By NORMAN WOODS
The first round of the men's pennant bowls series began on Saturday in overcast conditions, on slow greens after overnight rain.
In division one, Balclutha began its quest for a title in fine fashion, with a big 10-2 win over Town and Country.
For Balclutha, Noddy Thomson had two wins. There was good support from Bill Barron, Blair Thomson and Darren Wolland (one win each).
Bruce Campbell scored T and C's only win when he combined with Fraser Bunting to beat Blair Thomson and Gilbert Tweed 15-11.
• Milton Blue also made a good start when it beat Kaka Point eight to four. For the winners, Sandy McNoe was again in fine form, scoring two wins. Bill McDonald and Gerry Wyber added a win each. Best for Kaka Point with two wins was Peter Twaddle.
• In division two, Owaka began its quest with a 10-2 win over Finegand. For Owaka, Lance Ibbotson had two wins. The best for Finegand came from Jack Harrold and Peter Pomeroy, who nudged out Tom Dallas and Murray Patterson 12-11.
• In division three, Milton White and Milton Gold each scored 8-4 wins.
Milton White's wins came from Alan Philip with two, and Kevin Anderson and Murray Grant one win each.
Best for Clinton came from Dave Mackie and Reuben Piena with one win each.
Milton Gold's wins came from Blake Dyer with two, and Max Taylor and Arthur Mead one win each. For Waihola, John Moana was in fine form scoring two good wins.
Cricket
Overnight rain put paid to club cricket in South Otago.
Although rain cleared by lunchtime, the grounds were considered unfit for play.
