United Cricket Club (Counties Manukau) Incorporated

An excellent all-round display by Joseph O'Neill-Gregory & determined fightback by the lower-order batsmen Thomas Halliday & Callum Jude against Pukekohe Metro at Rosa Birch (Pukekohe) ensured that United Cricket Club Reserve 1 stayed unbeaten for the 2008-09 season.
Batting first, the home team could only manage 111 runs before folding-up in 24.1 overs. Joseph O'Neill-Gregory (4/31) was the most successful bowler, while Lawrence Minchinton (2/18), Shane Lovell (2/20), Callum Jude (1/12), Thomas Raybould (1/18) & Liam Jackson (0/9) all bowled impressive spells & were ably assisted by some brilliant fielding & catching.

United's chase started well, with the openers Josh Burgess (16) and Rick Eastham (13) providing a solid platform once again with a partnership of 36. The middle-order, exhibiting some complacency, collapsed & the score read 54 for 6. Thomas Halliday & Joseph O'Neill-Gregory (22 not out) took it to 63 for 7, before Thomas departed. This brought Callum Jude (6) to the crease, who proved to be perfect foil for Joseph & the pair took the score to 106 for 8 with a 43-run partnership. After Callum's departure, the formality was completed by Joseph & Lawrence Minchinton (2 not out)without any further damage, United winning by 2 wickets.
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Senior A conceded 315 for 4 (50 overs) against Karaka at Mountfort Park. Daniel Power (140) & D Hayward (32) remained unbeaten for Karaka, while V Jairam (36) & M Neale (52) also contributed, while the Cole brothers - Josh (1) & Matthew (4) - failed to fire. Fraser White (10-0-56-1) had the most respectable figures for United.

Chasing the huge score, the United openers added 59, before being separated. Thereafter, wickets kept falling at regular intervals & United ended up on 156 for 9 in 34.5 overs, with Anthony Brooks unable to bat due to illness. Russell Harvey top-scored with 66, while Darren Stutter (20), Matthew Forrest (19) & Rajat Malhotra (10) were the others to manage double-figure scores in United's 159-run loss.