Takapuna District Cricket Club

Two of Takapunas finest picked up awards at the annual ACA Awards Dinner held recently at Eden Park.

Young Cricketer of the Year - Brad Cachopa
A fitting reward for a quality season of cricket from Brad where he was the third highest run scorer for the Aces in the Plunket Shield. The perfect illustration of his rapid improvement and ability to learn was provided in his debut match for the Aces when following a second ball duck after being asked to open the innings, he bounced back to post a patient and composed 66 in the second. The season proved that despite his inexperience he is blessed with a temperament and maturity that mean he should have a long career in front of him.

Men's Batsman of the Year - Lou Vincent
Lou Vincent in good form is a joy to watch and in the one day competition this year he was in possibly the form of his life. Two scores in excess of 150, another hundred, plus two more fifties on the way to plundering 642 runs at an astonishing 71.33 - stats don't come much better than that. He also contributed heavily to the Aces HRV Cup success, especially in leading an outstanding Aces fielding performance. His performance this season also made him the second highest run-scorer in one day cricket for Auckland.

It was touch and go over the weekend but in the end the weather played its part and we were left to celebrate becoming the first two time winners of the Hedley Howarth trophy as Auckland 2 day Premier Champions.

 "Last season we caught everyone by surprise when we just got into the top six" said Coach Fletch. "This time no one took us lightly, without Paul Hitchcock who retired at the end of last season, it was tough - but in the end we got home"

And we did get home - just -  by 1.12 points.

Fletch says "While Ryan Scivier (captain) was not our top performer he has grown as a captain and is well respected by the players. Our success has been based on both our batting and bowling. Craig and Brad Cachopa have been the key with the bat while James Cowell has been the unsung hero with the ball. He has taken 51 wickets , which I think is top in the competition"

Captain Scivier said the triumph was "very satisfying" even if a little nerve wracking. As a warning to other teams Scivier said that as far as he was aware all the players will be back next season.

Three in a row for the lads?? "Why not?" said Fletch. It would be a brave man to bet against this champion side!

Not to be outdone our Premier Reserve side also grabbed the title, having largely sewen it up going into the final round. The club bids farewell to an outstanding and loyal servant in the form of Scott MacKenzie who is hanging up his boots after a long career. Scott belted 102 last weekend in his final innings - a fitting way to go out for this trail blazer. Well led by big Simon Mathewson it was a superb way to cap off an outstanding season for the senior mens club.

Well done to all the players and coaching staff. It is a historic achievement defending the Hedley Howarth trophy and one that you can all be extremely proud of.

Under blue skies and hot sun, the Premiers won the toss against Eden Roskill on Saturday and chose to bat first on a pitch which had a bit of grass on top but was hard underneath. They knew if they could get through the first hour or so it would flatten out, the openers Elliot Herd and Ryan Scivier, batted the first hour without loss, this built the foundation of what was to come. Scivier got out shortly after lunch for 35. Craig Cachopa then came to the show, with a good partnership with Robert O’Donnell who made 22 on debut. The there was a 190 run partnership from Blake Douglas (63) and Craig Cachopa. They piled this on in 80 minutes. Craig went to make and outstanding 196, before being caught at midwicket. The 196 from Craig was a very special innings, with plenty of balls being hit onto and over Onewa Rd. Takapuna then declared with 28 overs left and managed to get Eden Roskill 99/3. A superb day for Taka and Craig, one which will be remembered for years to come.

It was a battle of two of the early season form sides and the match proved an enthralling contest with Suburbs managing to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.  Suburbs managed a very competitive tally of 239/8 and with contributions from Craig Cachopa (76), Blake Douglas (41) and Elliott Herd (40) Takapuna were always in with a chance. However James Nolen's four wicket haul helped slow the run chase and the home side were eventually dismissed 23 runs short.

Suburbs New Lynn 239/8 (Max Montgomery 79, Greg Hay 63, Ian Smallburn 4-42, James Cowell 3-36) defeated Takapuna 216 (Craig Cachopa 76, Blake Douglas 41, Elliott Herd 40, Michael Bates 4-19, James Nolen 4-34) by 23 runs.

In an eagerly anticipated clash, it was a non event as Birkenhead were bundled out for a paltry score and consigned to a heavy defeat. Jason Donnelly grabbed a five wicket haul (5/10) to send Birkenhead tumbling out for just 70. Debutant 16 year old Jordan Sussex also bowled with pace and fire to take 2/13. That total unsurprisingly proved no problem for Takapuna with Blake Douglas smashing 55 of the 71 runs scored. The win means we head into the final round just needing to secure victory to book themselves a semifinals berth.

Birkenhead City 70 (Jason Donnelly 5-10) lost to Takapuna 71/2 (Blake Douglas 55) by eight wickets.

The Prem Reserves had a great weekend maintaining their early season form with 2 wins in the double header weekend. On Saturday we batted first against SNL and got to a respectable 230 off 47 overs. Mark Farmer, J Sole, Scott Mackenzie and Peter Van der Kooij made meaningful contributions before stalwarts Scott Mackenzie and Andy Macdonald tore the heart out of the SNL batting line up to bundle them out for 204 in 44 overs.

Takapuna 230 (J Sole 55, M Farmer 37, P Van der Kooij  34) defeated Suburbs New Lynn 204 (S Mackenzie 4-60, A Macdonald 3-43)

It was a bloodbath on Sunday at Onewa as Takapuna plundered a hapless Birkenhead side. Debutant Robbie O'Donnell battered 181 runs off only 110 balls to help the home side rack up 380 off 46 overs. It wasn't even a contest as we then rolled the visitors for a paltry 71. Mike Tillett and Mark Norman proving unstoppable in a rampaging victory.

Takapuna 380 (R O'Donnell 181, J Sole 43) defeated Birkenhead 71 (M Tillett 4-27, M Norman 3-8)