The two Bay of Plenty teams at the Northern Districts Senior Secondary cricket tournament being played in Gisborne had an outstanding day with both teams posting wins on day three.

BOP Coastland provided the icing on the cake, when they cruised to victory in one semi-final to earn a berth against Hamilton, in the two-day final to be played out on Thursday and Friday.

Facing Counties Manukau, who were runner-up in Pool A, the Bay side simply crushed the Counties sides bid for a finals berth. The Bay side bowled first and the opening pair of Brody Gilroy and Henry Conway ripped through the opposition top and middle order.

At 32/7 Counties were in desperate trouble, before the sides tail-enders gave their side a little respectability, before they were bowled out for 80.

Brody Gilroy from Katikati College ripped the heart out of the Counties batting attack taking 5/29, with Henry Conway grabbing three wickets. Coastland captain Tom MacRury anchored his anchored his sides seven wicket win with a sterling 61 runs.

Coastland coach Peter Swan said 'the side has played in a exceptional professional manner, considering the majority of the team are making their ND senior secondary debut this season”.

When asked about the prospects of his charges in the final against archrivals Hamilton, Peter replied, 'we are good enough and with our well balanced bowling attack, we should be able to make a real game of it with Hamilton”.

An extra training session scheduled after yesterdays heavy loss, paid immediate dividends on day two, when BOP Lakeland chased down Waikato Valley Plains total of 233.

The Waikato Valley team set a good sized target for the Bay side. However the Lakeland bowlers toiled away with Tom Casey (4/58) and Sam Murdock (2/35) in good form.

The lessons of concentrating on looking for the gaps, learned from the extra training session, were well heeded by the Lakeland batsmen who reached the target with five wickets to spare.

Pip Thickpeeny was in sublime touch as he hammered an unbeaten 105, with Jonty Keaney also in good form with a fine 79 runs. The partnership between the pair produced 139 runs.

Coach Tony Wolsey said, 'the team put on a quality performance and performed with both bat and ball and in the field”.

'The win should have been a seven wicket victory as we were just three down with only two runs required”.

The Lakeland side will play off for fifth place against Poverty Bay on the last two days of the annual tournament.

ND Senior Secondary Cricket Tournament – day thee

Counties Manukau 80 (Brody Gilroy 5/29, Henry Conway 3/21) lost to BOP Coastland 83/3 (Tom MacRury 61)

Waikato Valley Plains 233 (Tom Casey 4/58, Sam Murdock 2/35) lost to BOP Lakeland 234/5 (Pip Thickpenny 105no, Jonty Keaney 79)