Tauranga Boys College Finish Second in 2020 ND Gillette Cup

Posted: Wednesday, 9 December 2020

Holland Beckett Law Tauranga Boys College First XI, continue to be entitled to be ranked in the best schools cricket sides in the nation, after they lost an absolute thriller in the 2020 ND Gillette Cup title decider played on the 12th November 2020.

The Gillette Cup (Secondary School Boys First XI Cup) is a secondary school competition for year nine to thirteen boys. The Gillette Cup began in 1990 and is amongst the longest running competitions in secondary school sport. Over the years many Black Cap and professional cricket players have played in the tournament.

Squaring off with Tauranga Boys for the Northern Districts spot in the Gillette Cup Nationals Finals, were longtime rivals Hamilton Boys High School. The two schools have become perennial contenders for ND Gillette Cup honours and Super Eight titles, with both having won the Gillette Cup National title in the past.

Tauranga Boys College won the Gillette Cup National title in 2005, with four of the TBC players going on to make an indelible impression on New Zealand and Bay of Plenty cricket. Kane Williamson is widely regarded as one of the best cricketers in the world, while Peter Drysdale, Matt Golding and Tim Clarke who are still playing Baywide premier cricket, all earned Bay of Plenty representative selection.

The ND Gillette Cup title decider took place at the Bay Oval, with Tauranga Boys College taking first use of the batting strip. Tauranga Boys were bowled out for 184 with two balls remaining in their turn at bat. Chris Mascall hit a neat half century, with Liam Collett (43) and Niven Dovey (38) providing valuable support.

With 143 runs on the board and seven wickets in hand, Hamilton appeared to be cruising to the ND title. Enter Tauranga Boys bowler Liam Collett, who took a stunning hat-trick, to have Hamilton go from 149/3 to the same score for the loss of six wickets. Three further Tauranga Boys wickets, saw the Waikato visitors in real trouble at 159/9, before a Hamilton tenth wicket partnership of 26 got them home with three balls to spare.

Liam Collett, finished the encounter with a rare hat-trick and bowling figures of four wickets at a cost of 44 runs, with Tim Pringle taking two wickets.

Tauranga Boys College cruised into the ND Final, after restricting St Paul’s College to 179 for the loss off nine wickets, in their semi-final contest in the Waikato region. Finn O'Loan-O'Brien did plenty of damage with the ball returning 3/18, with Tim Pringle taking two wickets.

The Bay of Plenty sides victory was a walk in the park, losing just two wickets on the way. Opener Chris Mascall top scored with an unbeaten 77, with Tim Pringle (49no) and Niven Dovey (41) providing valuable support.

Tauranga Boys College opened their ND Gillette Cup campaign with a match-up with fellow Western Bay of Plenty School in Aquinas College, at Nicholson Field. Aquinas batsman Spencer Wills innings shone out like a beacon, as he posted 43 runs, in his sides total of 104 all out. Darcy Collett was the best of his sides bowlers with 3/23.

New Zealand Under 19 player, Tim Pringle, led his team to an eight wicket win with an unbeaten 44, while Chris Mascall also got into the action with 32no.

Perusal of the 2020 ND Gillette Cup statistics, revealed that Chris Mascall finished second in the batting stakes with 159 runs, with Liam and Darcy Collett finishing in the top two spots on the bowling list with seven and five wickets respectively.

ND Gillette Cup 2020 Final @ Bay Oval 13 November 2020

Holland Beckett Law Tauranga Boys College 184 (Chris Mascall 50, Liam Collett 43, Niven Dovey 38) lost to Hamilton Boys High School 185/9 (JM Parker 62; Liam Collett 4/44, Tim Pringle 2/25)

Semi-Finals @ St Paul’s Collegiate 4 November 2020

St Paul’s 178/9 (C Robinson 62; Finn O'Brien-O'Loan 3/18, Tim Pringle 2/46) lost to Holland Beckett Law Tauranga Boys College 179/2 (Chris Mascall 77no, Tim Pringle 49no, Niven Dovey 41)

Round One @ Nicholson Field 29 October 2020

Aquinas College 104 (Spencer Wills 43; Darcy Collett 3/23, Liam Collett 2/12, Niven Dovey 2/18) lost to Holland Beckett Law Tauranga Boys College 106/2 (Tim Pringle 44no, Chris Mascall 32no)

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