Century puts gloss on Templeton's weekend

Hamish Templeton had a memorable weekend.

The 23-year-old scored his maiden century for Karori, had a night at the Westpac Stadium watching the All Whites, then a trip to Christchurch yesterday to celebrate his grandfather's 80th birthday.

Templeton enjoyed all three occasions but it is his unbeaten 121 for Karori against University that earned him the plaudits.

Templeton batted from the 15th over at Karori Park, sharing in a 95-run stand for the third wicket with Marc Ellison to help the home side reach 278-7.

In reply University could only manage 209, Colin Owens showing age has not wearied him by top scoring with 60.

Templeton is a former Wellington College student whose leadership qualities led him to captain the Wellington under-17 and under-19 sides.

The Telecom sales worker has been at Karori for five seasons but Saturday was his first breakthrough with the bat, after several scores in the 80s.

"It's been a while so it feels good," Templeton said. "A lack of time has held me back in the past, and perhaps a lack of discipline as well, but everything fell into place this time."

Templeton also credits competition within the club and the coaching of Glenn Pocknall as reasons for him taking another step forward.

A split is already occurring in the Pearce Cup with Eastern Suburbs (23 points), Karori (19), Hutt Districts and North City (both 16) having skipped away from the other four clubs.

Easts beat Taita by 48 runs with the defending champion's top scorer being Josh Stuart with 46. Wellington Firebirds batsman Josh Brodie backed up after the Plunket Shield match against Canterbury but fell cheaply.

Besides Templeton, the other standout individual efforts in the Pearce Cup came from North City's Michael Pollard with the bat and Onslow's Liam Chrisp with the ball. Pollard caught the eye the previous week when he smoked a quickfire 80 and he followed up with 135 off 121 balls in North's 34-run win against Hutt.

Chrisp's 5-38 provided Onslow with their first win of the season by 19 runs over Naenae.

Corey Larsen inspired Wellington College to an upset victory over Johnsonville, by 73 runs in the Hazlett Trophy. The son of former New Zealand one-day star Gavin Larsen scored a gritty 29 not out at the tail and then took 4-37 as Johnsonville were rolled for 78. Larsen was not a one-man band, the real damage with the ball being done by Tom Gibson, who took 5-7 from eight overs.

Wellington Collegians, Norths B and Petone Riverside were the other winners.

- © Fairfax NZ News