A second-grade stalwart put Celtic to the sword, as one- day club cricket returned to South Canterbury.
Sam Wilson took four wickets for six runs for Timaru to ensure a half-strength Celtic side were skittled for just 79.
The five-wicket win may count for little, however. Timaru face the possibility of being stripped of their competition points for the win, after playing opening batsman Srinivas K S, who was named in the South Canterbury team to play North Otago over the weekend.
Meanwhile, a steady 89 from Star captain Phil McGregor saw his side down a spirited Roncalli College by 12 runs, at Ashbury Park.
Temuka, who were missing a couple of their key players, were dismissed for just 98 at Knottingly Park, as Waimate got home by six wickets.
Timaru’s five-wicket win was set up by Wilson, who took the first four wickets, to leave a below-par Celtic floundering at 22 for four.
The competition champions were missing half a dozen players due to representative duty, but left-armer Wilson, who was filling in for Craig Hinton, tormented a reshuffled Celtic top order.
Lusty hitting in the middle order from Ants de Joux, with 26, and 21 from Nick Cahill, were notable scores as the away side were all out after 23 overs.
Timaru’s reply was held together by Srinivas K S who finished 17 not out.
Timaru struggled to stay with him though, as they lost five wickets on their way to the total.
Josh Smallridge made 18, while Jordan Morrow finished 15 not out.
Paddy Farr was the pick of the Celtic bowlers, taking two for 24.
Timaru captain Hayden Butler said he was rapt.
He said Wilson put the ball in the right areas, and let the conditions do the rest.
McGregor held his side together against Roncalli, overcoming his traditional slow start, to produce a match-winning innings.
His 83-run partnership with George Harper, who made 36, proved the difference, as Star posted 217 for eight from their 45 overs.
Roncalli’s reply was a deliberate one, but it was littered with three run-outs.
Tom Pavletich and Harry Millar combined to hold the innings together, but the required run-rate kept creeping up.
Pavletich made 44, while Millar added 32.
It was left to Bruce Carlaw to find the boundary regularly, as the asking rate climbed above eight runs an over.
However, once he was removed for a brisk 31, Roncalli were always going to struggle. Some big hitting from Robbie Mulvena, with 24, was in vain, as Star hung on to claim victory.
McGregor said he always felt comfortable during his innings, and with the match situation.
“They bowled pretty tight early, and the ball wasn’t really coming on, it was a bit two-paced.
“I think the difference was probably that Pavletich and Harry Millar didn’t get going soon enough.
“I always felt comfortable, but it was a really good game.”
A good all-round bowling performance saw Waimate to victory. Three wickets from Matthew Sew Hoy, and two each from Murray Prattley, Matt Devlin and Alan Reid ensured Temuka’s total, of 98, would not be enough.
Waimate cruised to the target with the loss of four wickets.
Waimate captain Jason Sew Hoy said choosing to bowl first, after some rain in the days leading up to the match, proved vital to their success.
Temuka captain Willy Stone said Waimate used the conditions well and his under-strength team failed to put partnerships together.