The first Western Bay of Plenty junior cricket team has returned home after four days of action packed cricket at the annual Riverbend age group tournament in Hawkes Bay.

There were plenty of individual highlights in the WBOPCA Year Eight Blue side, who came home with a two win and three loss record.

Day one saw the Western Bay side make a winning start to their week of cricket, with an outstanding win against Porirua. The Western Bay side batted first and posted a remarkable 195/1 in the 45 over per team contest. Taylor Bettelheim was in rare touch blasting an unbeaten 104, with Lachie Jeffrey still there at the end on 51 runs. Porirua were then bowled out for 89, with Joel Hayes taking three wickets at a cost of just six runs.

A win and loss were the results of the day two 30 overs matches. Mitchell Kale top scored with 59 not out as side reached 110/9, before Wellington Collegians chased down the required target. In the afternoon encounter the Western Bay side won a thriller against Waikato Piako Knights.

In spite of Taylor Bettelheim (41no) and Logan Brill (29) batting well against Upper Hutt, the Western Bay of Plenty representatives tasted defeat when they mustered 144/9 on day three. Havelock North cruised to victory over the Western Bay boys on the final day.

On January 11-15, the two Year Seven teams and the Year 11-13 will be in action at the popular Hawkes Bay tournament.

WBOPCA Year Eight Blue at Riverbend Age Group Cricket Tournament results:

Day One

45 over: WBOP 195/1 (Taylor Bettelheim 104no, Lachie Jeffrey 51no) beat Porirua 89 (Joel Hayes 3/6)

Day Two

30 over: Wellington Collegians 146/4 (Taylor Bettelheim 2/16) beat WBOP 110/9 (Mitchell Kale 59no)

30 over: WBOP 124/9 (Sahil Doel 26, Cameron Templer 18, Darcy Hoskin 14) beat Waikato Piako Knights 123 all out (Joel Hayes 2/7)

Day Three

50 over: WBOP 144/9 (Taylor Bettelheim 41no, Logan Brill 29, Mitchell Kale 19) lost Upper Hutt 146/6 (Logan Brill 2/16)

Day Four

40 over: WBOP 69 all out lost Havelock North 71/1

Played Five - Won 2, Lost 3.