INGLEWOOD TAKES THE TREBLE Out in Inglewood, theyre calling 2014 THE YEAR OF THE MOA! First it was their rugby boys, then their netball girls, and yesterday the towns cricketers played their part in sweeping a rare trifecta of Taranaki championships. Inglewoods three-wicket win at Pukekura Park yesterday, chasing down New Plymouth Old Boys target of 196 with 13 balls to spare to clinch the Taranaki one-day title, was the icing on the cake for the towns sporting year. The towns premier rugby team was the first to wrap up a championship, beating Coastal 35-14 in the final in July, and the ladies did their bit when they beat Tysons 42-36 in August for the netball crown. The cricket teams win yesterday was unexpected and broke a 53-year Taranaki one-day cricket title drought amid emotional scenes at Pukekura Park. But they had to stare down a gallant challenge from defending champions New Plymouth Old Boys in the championship final before reaching the winning target with 2.1 overs remaining in the 50 overs aside encounter. Inglewood supporters and team-mates erupted when number nine batsman Aaron Taylor hit the winning runs, running out on to the pitch to congratulate Taylor and captain Hayden McIntyre who finished the game unbeaten on 67 to complete a top all-round performance after taking three wickets earlier in the day. The underdogs heading into the match and fourth qualifier in the qualifying rounds had done what most pundits were predicting was impossible. After all, Old Boys were unbeaten in the one-day competition this season. This is pretty special, McIntyre said after the match. He helped his side get back into the game after a tardy start when combining with opening batsman Aaron Zame in a valuable 66-run partnership for the fifth wicket. After Zame departed, clean bowled on 54, McIntyre kept his concentration and batted through to the end. We were in a bit of a hole early on but we worked our way out of it and we needed five an over when Aaron [Taylor] came in. I said to him: just get bat on ball and keep [the scoreboard] ticking over. We supported each other well, an elated McIntyre said. He said beating Old Boys was the icing on the cake for the team. We wouldnt have wanted to play any other team in the final. In the 10 years Ive been playing premier cricket, Old Boys have been the best team. It was a great game of cricket and we had to work hard all the way. Earlier, Old Boys won the toss and decided to bat first on the pitch that had been used for the two-day Hawke Cup elimination match the previous weekend. Old Boys would have been disappointed when all out in 46.6 overs for 196. But they only had themselves to blame, several batsmen playing aerial shots only to be caught after making starts. Top scorer for Old Boys, Central Districts rep, Will Young was one, holing out to deep third man when on 76 and looking in good touch and scoring freely. Apart from McIntyre, the pick of the Inglewood bowlers was Martin Keegan who was rewarded for bowling a good line and length, picking up two wickets. Inglewood started their run chase slowly, scoring 39 off the first 10 overs and promptly losing two wicket at that point. They got further behind the asking rate when four down for 62 after 20 overs. Mist and drizzle brought the Duckworth Lewis formula into play at this point the match alive, but fortunately it was not needed. Inglewood needed a partnership and got it with Zame and McIntyre getting the innings back on track. There were some anxious moments for Inglewood supporters when in-form Old Boys bowler J Watkins removed three Inglewood batsmen in his second spell after snaring two in his first. That had Inglewood struggling at 128-7 with 15 overs remaining. But the pressure went back on Old Boys as they failed to stop the flow of runs. Old Boys captain Dean Stewart conceded after the match his team had been outplayed and while clearly disappointed at losing, he was gracious in defeat, congratulating the opposition on their victory. Inglewood coach David OSullivan said the victory was sweet, and the game was played in the right spirit, good and hard. Its something I love, its something Ive got a passion for. Its pretty special, especially as weve got our 125th anniversary this season, OSullivan said. He made special mention of the late Geoff [Fox] Hall, a stalwart of the Inglewood Cricket Club. Foxy will be up there smiling down on this, Im sure. Hes given us so much and he always said youve just got to stick at the game and it will come one day. Just take opportunities. OSullivan gave credit to the leadership of McIntyre and all-rounder Jason Dombroski. Theyve really stood up. Theyve taken on more and being in the rep squad as well its pretty hectic, but they love their club and they play with passion. Im so pleased for them. Its a real club effort and thats how we structure it. And plans on a celebration? I dont know when Im going to see the cows again, quipped OSullivan. Shell be a big one. Scoreboard from the Taranaki premier one-day final played at Pukekura Park yesterday. New Plymouth Old Boys v Inglewood BALLANCE NPOB J Braddock-Pajo c Wilson b McIntyre 0 J Watkins c Boot b Keegan 13 J McDougall c Dombroski b Simpson 25 W Young c, b Dombroski 76 M Shaw lbw b Taylor 1 M Thomas b Dombroski 15 R Young c Rumball b Keegan 34 D Stewart c Taylor b McIntyre 4 W Millar c Shooter b McIntyre 12 C Stuart not out 3 T McDougall c Wilson b Dombroski 0 Extras (8lb, 5w) 13 Total (all out, 46.4 overs) rau-85 196 Fall: 0, 36, 51, 64, 120, 141, 173, 191, 194, 196 Bowling: H McIntyre 10-1-33-3, M Keegan 10-0-37-2, J Dombroski 8.4-1-31-3, M Simpson 8-0-27-1, A Taylor 5-0-33-1, R Boot 5-0-27-0. HTL INSURANCE INGLEWOOD A Zame b Watkins 54 K Dravitzki lbw b Watkins 24 M Simpson c Braddock-Pajo b Watkins 0 J Dombroski c & b T McDougall 2 R Boot c Braddock-Pago 3 H McIntyre not out 67 B Wilson c Braddock-Pajo b J Watkins 2 S Rumball lbw b J Watkins 0 A Taylor not out 39 Extras (2lb, 5w, 1nb) 8 Total (7 wickets, 47.5 overs) rau-85 199 Fall: 39, 39, 47, 58, 124, 128, 128. Bowling: 8.5-0-51-0, J Watkins 10- 1-24-5, M Thomas 8-0-29-0, T McDougall 8-1-23-1, C Stuart 9-0-52-1, D Stewart 4-0-18-0. stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/sport/63927063/Underdogs-Inglewood-ecstatic-to-win-one-day-title
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 20:01:19 +0000
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