Star v Celtic at MVHS 1 on a sunny opening day for cricket
Celtic’s Glenn Matthews relished the perfect conditions to notch up a century on the opening day of the club cricket season.
Matthews compiled a brilliant innings of 120 and also took four wickets to destroy any chance of Star causing an upset despite Alex McDuff taking a career best 6-45.
Roncalli’s Adam Beck batted through against Waimate only to be left 98 not out as Roncalli/Celtic won by 40 runs.
Johnny Geddis also showed his class with 72 for Temuka as they beat Timaru by 92 runs at Ashbury Park.
The lack of depth in the Star bowling attack will be something they will be looking to address as the season progresses.
They were reduced to part-timers after the opening pair of Jeremy Lane and Alex McDuff had their spells and will miss Craig Hinton for much of the season.
McDuff appeared to thrive under the extra responsibility and a six-wicket bag against any Celtic side is not to be sniffed at. Matthews, however, dispatched the ball to all parts with Andy Scott chiming in with 58 in a century stand.
With Jacob Naylor (33) then adding a 90-run partnership, Celtic were able to post a formidable 298 from their 45 overs.
In reply Phil McGregor was dismissed for 45 as Star began solidly getting to 85 before the second wicket fell.
This seemed to signal a collapse as three more wickets fell for the addition of only four runs before Star consolidated, batting through until the 43rd over before being dismissed for 188.
Roncalli/Celtic travelled south to face a new look Waimate side who won the toss and decided to have a bowl.
Beck made the most of his opportunity before surgery curtails his season with 98 not out, but looking down the scoresheet there will be some worries as only his brother, Liam, with a good 57 and Jarrod Wooffinden 28, made double figures.
Waimate shared the spoils with six bowlers picking up a wicket each as Roncalli/Celtic posted 214-7.
In reply Waimate made steady progress and passed the 100-mark having lost only three wickets, but when they lost the dangerous looking Sam Porter for 40 it became a steady procession back to the pavilion.
Waimate fell 40 runs short to be all out for 174.
Roncalli/Celtic will, however, need to look at their disciplines after conceding 45 extras, including 33 wides, but both teams would have gone away from the match feeling better than they might have about their teams in the leadup to the season.
The third match of the opening round always looked to be intriguing as Timaru hosted Temuka.
It was the experienced Temuka outfit that came out on top with Geddis leading the way with his half century and he was ably supported by Robbie Barry (28) and Adrian Cunningham (26) as they posted a very competitive 199.
Ben Fraser with 2-18 was the most successful bowler for Timaru.
With Kevin Teahen leading the way the Temuka bowlers were soon on top as they bowled a nagging length and only Josh Dick, who finished unbeaten on 39, offered any resistance as they were rolled for 107.
For Temuka, Vaughan Tarrant returned very good figures of 4-8 off nine overs, while Teahen also grabbed three wickets from his spell.
This Saturday Timaru host Star, Celtic play Roncalli/Celtic while Temuka travel to Waimate.