Eastern Bays Trident High School, who played in the WBOPCA Secondary School First XI cricket championship by invitation, took out the inaugural Western Bay of Plenty Senior Boys' Shield when they defeated Bethlehem College in a thrilling final.

Bethlehem won the toss and elected to bat on Saturday afternoon and posted a 50 partnership for the first wicket. Mitch Fairweather reached 39 before falling to a fantastic slips catch picked out by Josiah Atkinson.

While the Bethlehem middle order came and went, Bede Murray dug in to top score a gritty 60 runs, with Tom Rutherford smashing a quick fire 25 as they were dismissed for 169.

The Trident damage with the ball, was done by Cameron Lee and Hamish Wilde, who took three wickets apiece, with the Eastern Bay sides wicket keeper Wade Maloney taking five catches behind the stumps.

While Trident strode the wicket in a confident manner, they were made to work for the victory losing seven wickets on the way.

Trident master blaster Pip Thickpenny, who finished the First XI competition as the leading run scorer, was a rock at one end and was rewarded with his sides top score of 79 not out.

Bethlehem bowlers Dylan Wadsworth (3/22) and Chase Raleigh (3/34) toiled well with the ball to trouble the victors batting attack – however Trident hung tough and won the inaugural WBOPCA First XI prize with three wickets to spare.

WBOPCA Secondary School 1^st XI Final Results 8 December 2012

Bethlehem College 169 (Bede Murray 60, Mitchell Fairweather 39, Tom Rutherford 25; Cameron Lee 3/22, Hamish White 3/28, Pip Thickpenny 2/42) lost to Trident High School 173/7 (Pip Thickpenny 79no; Dylan Wadsworth 3/22, Chase Raleigh 3/34)

Season Honours

Batting

275 runs Pip Thickpenny (Trident HS) HS 136

193 runs Bede Murray (Bethlehem College) HS 83

177 runs Mathew Cole (Bethlehem College) HS 124

146 runs Vaughan Wilson (Otumoetai College) HS 67

141 runs Patrick Davenport (Bethlehem College) HS 105

Bowling

14 wickets Tom Casey (Trident HS) BB 5/14

10 wickets Dylan Wadsworth (Bethlehem College) BB 4/11

9 wickets Tim Klyer (Otumoetai College) BB 3/39

7 wickets Cameron Lee (Trident HS) BB 3/22

7 wickets Chase Raleigh (Bethlehem College) BB 3/34