The Hawke Cup is back in the cabinet at Pukekura Park

Whoop. Whoop. Taranaki 6 sessions – Hamilton 2.

Whitaker Civil Engineering Taranaki defended the Hawke Cup for the first time in 30 years, and they did it with a certainty that the best teams display.

Once again, the opposition failed to reach 200 and once again Taranaki built a total beyond 300. This cricket machine, made up of a variety of moving parts gelled together by skipper Sam Fastier and coach Chris Coombe, is functioning like an expensive car.

There are little pieces that are not yet in sync, so there is still room to grow, but the absolute dominance over strong opposition in the previous three games suggests that this group could soon match up alongside those of the 70’s and 90’s.

It will be interesting to see who emerges as the new Alistar Jordan, Rodney Brown or Glenn Sulzberger, the best of the best.

Small improvements against Canterbury Country in three weeks’ time will be the aim.

Hamilton showed that they had no Trevor O’Byrne in their ranks as the big fella Ryan Watson sped in for over one and catapulted the third ball into the pads of Farrell. Out – LBW! Taranaki’s only one from a few close shouts. The boys were ecstatic.

Soon the young magician Liam Carr was back in action, claiming his fourth wicket, and moments later Jordy Gard hit the seam and nipped it back. Boom. The stumps were destroyed.

Hamilton was out for 161. Their innings was over in the blink of an eye. Taranaki had a lead of 168.

It was now a matter of building a huge lead and shaking hands at teatime.

Taranaki’s innings started with a blip as Bailey Wisnewski was interestingly adjudged LBW in Rowell’s first over. Were more interesting times ahead?

The mighty Dean Robinson and the solid Fastier then calmly went about their jobs against a barrage of short balls and finally a bit of spin but just as Robinson was looking menacing, Taranaki received their second LBW. 2-41. He had suffered the same fate in innings one just as he had threatened the attack.

For the next extended period confidence was restored with a partnership of 103 between Fastier and the man who looked superior to all on show, the stylish Rupert Young.

Young hit the ball to all parts of the boundary, none better than a six over long on. He was on fire and chasing three figures. Good decisions would get him there.

With Taranaki at 130-2 the game was well beyond Hamilton, so the players started shaking hands and prepared to leave the stage.

Those on the bench were smiling and hugging.

But hang on, the umps enforced the law, and the game could not conclude until 3.40, which was teatime. Players resumed their positions. The umpires had got this one correct.

It was difficult to take things really seriously after this and things felt a bit messy. The intensity that had been a key part of play for nearly eight sessions was missing.

Fastier was another LBW for 39. Young reversed swept on 80 and was given out caught, and Liam Muggeridge and Mattie Thomas came and went.

It would have been nice not to have lost six wickets, but the proof was in the pudding. Taranaki were superior in all aspects and should feel proud of their performance.

The Hawke Cup is retained.

There are always interesting stories intertwined with the Hawke Cup, this one involving four of the current team, Sam Fastier, Ryan Watson, Bailey Wisnewski and Rupert Young.

They were part of the St John Bosco cricket team that never lost a game for three and a half years.

Coach Pierre Maher had the boys in the nets at Peringa Park three times a week with the hard ball aimed down at the batsmen.

A pretty cool story.