The two Bay of Plenty representative sides in action last weekend both fell at the last hurdle when they were bowled out late in their matches while chasing victory.

Waikato Valley batted first at the Tauranga Domain in the two-day Fergus Hickey encounter and were removed for 180 on Saturday afternoon.

Bay of Plenty skipper Jono Boult picked up another five wicket bag, with Mount Maunganui medium pacer Chris Atkinson taking three wickets at a cost of just 16 runs.

Bay of Plenty opener Tom MacRury was a rock at one end, going to top score with 55 runs, however the loss of regular wickets at the other end saw the home side bowled out for 142 early on Sunday morning.

Waikato Valley were in early trouble in their second turn at bat, losing their first four wickets with just 17 runs on the board. However two half centuries from Chris Swanson and Jake Gibson greatly assisted the visitors in declaring at 202/9. Needing 240 for outright victory, Bay of Plenty opener Stephen Crossan gave his team every possible chance when he smashed a neat century. The Bay opening batsman's maiden minor association three figure total came from 87 balls and included eleven fours and two big shots over the boundary ropes.

When Crossan was dismissed in the 33^rd over, Bay of Plenty still needed 43 runs, with just two wickets in hand for victory. Waikato Valley continued their attacking bowling with Bay of Plenty, finally removed 38 runs short of outright points.

Bay of Plenty Development also bowled first in their assignment with Poverty Bay in Gisborne on Sunday. The hosts reached 232 for the loss of seven wickets with N Hendrie posting a century. Cam Riley and Gurwinder Singh took two wickets apiece for the visitors.

The Bay of Plenty reply went along at a good clip, led by 28 runs from opener Fergus Lellman and a half century from Bay number three Marcel Collett. Rubén Clinton (34) and Iman Singh (23) got starts before the Poverty Bay bowlers won the battle between bat and ball, to bowl Bay of Plenty out for 207 to claim victory.

Fergus Hickey Rosebowl

Waikato Valley 180 (DJ Kelliher 58; Jono Boult 5/36, Chris Atkinson 3/16) & 202/9 (CJ Swanson 54, J Gibson 53; Chris Atkinson 2/6, Sean Davey 2/15, Joe Carter 2/41, Jono Boult 2/41)

Bay of Plenty 142 (Tom MacRury 55, Brett Hampton 25; J Gibson 4/42, CA Andrews 3/29) & 202 (Stephen Crossan 100, Tim Clarke 25; S Sistern-Tate 4/45)

Result: Waikato Valley won by 38 runs

ND Development Competition

Poverty Bay 232/7 (N Hendrie 109; Cam Riley 2/40, Gurwinder Singh 2/43) defeated Bay of Plenty 207 (Marcel Collett 55, Rubén Clinton 34, Fergus Lellman 28, Iman Singh 23; J Rowe 4/37)