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Masterton Trophy 2025
Stewart Oliver27 Jun - 20:30
Update and Review
With our participation in this season’s Masterton Trophy having concluded, it is worthwhile to provide a brief re-cap on how the 1st XI performed in the competition.
The competition comprised two groups, that in which we were drawn being, arguably, the more difficult to negotiate as there were three East Premier League clubs and an ESCA Championship side to overcome if progress was to be achieved.
In the event, the two home matches - against Drummond Trinity and Stewart’s Melville - were won comfortably, while both away fixtures - Grange and Carlton providing the opposition - were lost. At the end of the day, qualification for the semi-finals rested on the outcome of the match between Grange and Drummond Trinity and that between Carlton and Stewart’s Melville. Essentially, we required a Carlton victory in order to progress. Stewart’s Melville, however, overcame Carlton and so qualified for the semi-final along with Carlton.
While both home matches were won comfortably, a failure to take wickets resulted in the away games being lost by considerable margins - although it took until the final over before our totals were passed in both games.
In the matches
• Drummond Trinity opted to bat and reached a modest 77 in their 20 overs. The wickets were shared around, skipper Gareth Weatherall had 3 and Tom Wylie and Gregour Carr both had 2 (the latter for only 4 runs in his 4 overs). The target was reached in 12 overs, Mike Carson top-scoring with an unbeaten 33.
• Batting first against Grange, Oli Hairs led from the front with a blistering 77 in only 31 balls (with 7 fours and the same number of sixes) as the side totalled 194 (for 5) in our 20 overs. Grange skipper Angus Brown virtually mirrored Oli’s innings with 75 in 31 balls before an undefeated partnership of 76 saw the opposition home by 7 wickets from the first ball of the last over.
• The second home match, against Stewart’s Melville, provided another virtuoso performance from Oli Hairs. His eighth century for the club - at the time! - (and third in the Masterton) ended on 132 from 51 balls - including 7 fours and an awesome 14 sixes. The team total of 227 (for 6) was the third highest achieved by the club in this competition. In response, Stewart’s Melville’s batting was dominated by an outstanding knock of 97 (from 57 balls) by Harry Armstrong. However, he lacked support and the innings closed on 165 (for 9). After his innings, Oli added 4 wickets to complete a notable evening’s contribution, while Donovan Du Randt and Gregour Carr both took two wickets.
• The final group match was against Carlton at Grange Loan. With the season’s leading run-scorers falling early for once, our total of 183 (for 4) was principally attributable to an undefeated partnership of 103 between Donovan Du Randt (with his highest score for the club - at the time! - of 89*) and Kenny Rae (29*). Donovan’s early wicket proved to be the only one to fall as an undefeated partnership of 173 by Angus Guy and Daniel Da Costa saw Carlton home with four balls to spare.
Failure to qualify for the semi-finals allows the side to concentrate on the main business of the season: winning the ESCA Championship, and the subsequent play-off, to return to the East Premier League in 2026.
The competition comprised two groups, that in which we were drawn being, arguably, the more difficult to negotiate as there were three East Premier League clubs and an ESCA Championship side to overcome if progress was to be achieved.
In the event, the two home matches - against Drummond Trinity and Stewart’s Melville - were won comfortably, while both away fixtures - Grange and Carlton providing the opposition - were lost. At the end of the day, qualification for the semi-finals rested on the outcome of the match between Grange and Drummond Trinity and that between Carlton and Stewart’s Melville. Essentially, we required a Carlton victory in order to progress. Stewart’s Melville, however, overcame Carlton and so qualified for the semi-final along with Carlton.
While both home matches were won comfortably, a failure to take wickets resulted in the away games being lost by considerable margins - although it took until the final over before our totals were passed in both games.
In the matches
• Drummond Trinity opted to bat and reached a modest 77 in their 20 overs. The wickets were shared around, skipper Gareth Weatherall had 3 and Tom Wylie and Gregour Carr both had 2 (the latter for only 4 runs in his 4 overs). The target was reached in 12 overs, Mike Carson top-scoring with an unbeaten 33.
• Batting first against Grange, Oli Hairs led from the front with a blistering 77 in only 31 balls (with 7 fours and the same number of sixes) as the side totalled 194 (for 5) in our 20 overs. Grange skipper Angus Brown virtually mirrored Oli’s innings with 75 in 31 balls before an undefeated partnership of 76 saw the opposition home by 7 wickets from the first ball of the last over.
• The second home match, against Stewart’s Melville, provided another virtuoso performance from Oli Hairs. His eighth century for the club - at the time! - (and third in the Masterton) ended on 132 from 51 balls - including 7 fours and an awesome 14 sixes. The team total of 227 (for 6) was the third highest achieved by the club in this competition. In response, Stewart’s Melville’s batting was dominated by an outstanding knock of 97 (from 57 balls) by Harry Armstrong. However, he lacked support and the innings closed on 165 (for 9). After his innings, Oli added 4 wickets to complete a notable evening’s contribution, while Donovan Du Randt and Gregour Carr both took two wickets.
• The final group match was against Carlton at Grange Loan. With the season’s leading run-scorers falling early for once, our total of 183 (for 4) was principally attributable to an undefeated partnership of 103 between Donovan Du Randt (with his highest score for the club - at the time! - of 89*) and Kenny Rae (29*). Donovan’s early wicket proved to be the only one to fall as an undefeated partnership of 173 by Angus Guy and Daniel Da Costa saw Carlton home with four balls to spare.
Failure to qualify for the semi-finals allows the side to concentrate on the main business of the season: winning the ESCA Championship, and the subsequent play-off, to return to the East Premier League in 2026.
Further reading