Kinnerley winds back clock for Marist | Manawatu-Wanganui Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Manawatu-Wanganui

There's no substitute for a bit of experience.

 Marist's 244-7 was probably going to be too much for Collegiate to chase on Saturday anyway, but after the wily Marist medium-pacer Peter Kinnerley had finished his bowling stint, all Collegiate was doing was have batting practice for its present match with Kings College in Auckland.

Kinnerley wheeled up his "experienced" version of slow-medium to medium for 10 overs for just 14 runs and two wickets.

His method?

"On wickets like this you just try to bowl line and length and keep the runs down - and put pressure on their batsmen to put it through the infield," said former Englishman Kinnerley.

He's been in Wanganui for some years and has produced a couple of medium-pacer sons in Ross and Fraser, who are back at university.

They had started their club careers for Marist and United this season, and the reason 49-year-old dad was playing on Saturday was as a replacement for them.

"I didn't play at all last year, and just two second grade teams the year before. Then I had one second team game and came back straight into the top team after Christmas because of all the call-ups for the rep team."

With a younger Kinnerley possibly able to return for the likely final between Marist and United, dad says he's only too happy to step down.

But after figures like that?

"I've told Don (team manager Don Cameron) that if they're short, I'm willing to play, but if they've got anyone else, they play first," says Peter.

In the end Collegiate ended with another disappointing score of 108 in reply to Marist's 244-7, their problems being exacerbated by their poor running between wickets leading to a rapidly rising run per over target - and rash shots as a result.

Captain Jonathan Steward was easily the best with 34, while left-arm spinner Mark Fraser picked up 4-27 as the youngsters tried to attack him.

Ben Smith batted very soundly in reaching 82 not out for Marist. Perhaps answering the call of his rep coach Drew Morrison for players to show more batting dedication, Smith batted 178 minutes and faced 141 balls.

In the end it was a match-winning innings because it placed Marist out of the reach of a struggling Collegiate batting outfit.

Meanwhile in Marton, the local side Saracens were confident of defending the 182-8 they scored against Wanganui High School - but couldn't thanks to a partnership of youth and experience between 14-year-old Chris Sharrock (54) and team coach Bevan Hunter (45 not out).

Saracens finally batted 50 overs, thanks to a fine 64 not out by Chris Rayner, playing straight and gaining the profit, and the promising youngster Matt Hicks.

Hicks played very straight and very soundly, showing an old head on young shoulders.

 Medium-pacer Matt Thomson and leg-spin Dominic Lock bowled tidily.

 Hicks  bowled usefully for 1-15  when WHS batted, and Oliver Gordon grabbed three wickets, but Hunter saw the boys home.