The Willows were pleased to welcome the Hutt International Boys’ School for their first visit to Loburn. The Hutt team was young with the majority in Year 11 and 12, however they looked incredibly well-drilled during their warm-ups. The day was temperate, perfect for cricket and after three attempts at getting the correct toss result on camera, the visitors decided to bowl first.

Sporting two ex-first class cricketers and numerous current and ex-senior cricketers, The Willows team looked ominous. The Willows lost Phil Harris early but Dave Kelly looked in vintage touch and Josh McCarthy accumulated at will with him. The Hutt seamers were loose early but after ten overs started to hit their lines and lengths and were rewarded with a false shot from Kelly on 37.

With good safe batting McCarthy and Matthias Paltridge made it to lunch without further loss at 162/2 in the 35th. Over ham rolls and fruit salad captain Chris Mugford ordered reckless abandon for the remainder of the innings and soon after McCarthy left for 85 and Paltridge for 50. Mugford and Simon Wilson added valuable runs at the end and The Willows closed on 253/6.

The Hutt boys started their response well losing their first wicket at 35. A run-out induced a minicollapse, leaving them precariously placed at 62/4 after 16 overs. Lacking seam options The Willows rotated its spin and slow bowlers but was powerless to stop a 123 run partnership between Lachie Bailey and J. Bamber. Josh McCarthy broke the partnership and then Nick Cooke started to make inroads with his leg spin. At 201/7 off 42 Hutt looked primed, especially with Bailey scoring freely. Unfortunately, when on 98, Cooke broke through with his wicket and the Hutt team fell short.