Nelson College Perform Well
The Cricket 1st XI committed three days of hard graft in January at their Annual Quadrangular tournament held at Rathkeale College in Masterton. Although they did not quite win the tournament, they got within three runs as close encounters were the order of the week.
College lost their first game to Hutt International Boys School by just two runs as Kaleb McKay, who top scored, could not squeak the necessary runs in the final over. On day two things were reversed as skipper Fergus Hughes and wicket keeper Patrick Wilson ensured them a total they could bowl at. Ronan Restieaux was the pick of the bowlers and he stood out again on day three against the old foe Marlborough Boys College.
While Rathkeale traditionally presents good pitches in their tranquil grounds, this week the decks got lower and slower as the week progressed. Although the setting is sublime, and the conditions were hot the scores decreased as the week went on. Noticeably all the chasing teams were defeated, albeit by the smallest of margins.
Hughes was the pick of the Nelson batsmen as he is in the middle of something of a purple patch at the moment. He will be looking to continue this on in the TPL and will also hit some rucks come winter time. Off spinner Mason Lund bowled well and also scored vital runs against Marlborough. McKay is developing into a useful all rounder as he in now scoring handy runs to back up his medium pace deliveries. Restieaux had a good tournament as did the Raxworthy twins. Luke Kilworth is continuing his development and is becoming a vital all rounder in the Nelson unit.
Catching, running between the wickets and bowling accuracy were the three areas that stand in coach Garry MacDonald identified as the major areas of improvement for the team as they move forward into the D’Arcy Cup campaign in mid-February. While the fielding was generally substandard and is a major work on for Nelson, Jackson Harris was a ball of energy in the outfield as he waged something of a lone hand to maintain pressure on the batsman.
RESULTS:
Hutt International          222        Mason Lund 3/34
Nelson College                220        Damian Aitken 37, Kaleb McKay 37, Luke Kilworth 35, Fergus Hughes 35,
Hutt International won by 2 runs
Nelson College                180        Fergus Hughes 63, Patrick Wilson 34
Rathkeale                          178        Ronan Restieaux 3/38
Nelson College won by 2 runs
Nelson College                161        Mason Lund 44
Marlborough Boys         151        Ronan Restieaux 2/21
Nelson College won by 10 runs