Eels slide into top 4

Last Saturdays Turangi and Avatiu Electric Eels cricket match was as competitive an affair as had been promised.

Batting first Turangi managed 205 runs through opener Sepa Tangimetua (50) while 3 Eels bowlers collected 3 wickets a piece to restrict the Turangi batters.

The Eels batting started strongly, however co-captain Hamish Weir pointed to John Rowes innings as the match winner.

Johns 64 was pretty special, he played with superb skill under pressure and took us home in style, commented Weir.

Batting first against the Avana All Stars, the Red Backs set the pace early.

Team manager Andrew Forbes credited a captains knock of 50 by Apii Mamanu which included a 100 run opening partnership with Pare Rongokea, a knock of 46 by Nga Emile and a fantastic effort by Tom Vea (7 wickets for 12 runs) as the key catalysts for the win. Despite Tom not getting any runs with the bat he more than redeemed himself with the ball, says Forbes who is delighted his side took only 14 overs to dismiss the All Stars for 23.

A solid opening partnership between David Leeming and Ray Raumanu was much needed as Matavera struggled to 116 runs against the tila boys form Tupapa.

Team manager David Leeming sighted a strong all round team bowling performance in defending their total.

Opening bowlers Campbell Hockin (3 wickets) and Moni Uini (3) had a second solid week with the ball taking regular wickets and applying the match winning pressure, says Leeming.

They were well supported by change bowler Steven Kavana (2) handing them the win in the 15th over.

Spurred on by the home crowd the Titans bowlers started well to have the Creeps in trouble at 116 for 8, however a late charge from the tail enders pushed them to a competitive 174.

Mike Hoff belted 47 runs while Titans Rob Samuel was the pick of the bowlers collecting 4 for 46.

In reply the Titans couldnt get any forward momentum.

We never really got going, some poor shots put us under pressure and in the end we fell 50 runs short, explained Sexton.

Titans captain Hori Miller provided some resistance with 31 runs.

Takuvaine and Panthers fans will have to wait untill November 5 to watch their teams duke it out as their match has been rescheduled due to a passing in the village.