TAHARA has claimed back-to-back Hamilton and District Cricket Association B grade premierships after comfortably accounting for College by eight wickets at Clem Young Oval on Saturday.

The Bluecaps chased down the Eagles’ total of 167 inside 33 overs, in what was a dominating display of batting from the minor premiers.

College won the toss and batted first, as skipper, Jonathan Jenkin and George Huf set about piling on the runs early in the contest.

The pair put on 71 runs before Jenkin fell to Hamish Myers for 44, before Huf was dismissed for 37 with the score on 100.

Ewan Macdonald held up an end and kept the runs ticking over, but wickets started to fall regularly at the other end.

Macdonald’s 47 at number three proved pivotal, with no middle or lower order batsman reaching double figures, as College was restricted to 7-167 after 40 overs.

Jack Rhook and Barnes finished with two wickets each for the Bluecaps.

After the break, Bluecaps captain, Marcus Rhook, and Kieran Barker set about chasing down the total with Barker adding 14 before Jack Kruger rattled his stumps to give College the early breakthrough.

A good piece of deceptive spin bowling from Jude Alexander had Brad Gauci’s stumps disturbed to have the danger man back in the pavilion for 17.

That brought Sam Brewer to the crease to join Rhook and the pair took after the College bowlers, with Brewer showing extra aggression, smashing 13 boundaries and a maximum on his way to an unbeaten 75 from 58 balls, anchoring a 102-run partnership with Rhook to guide the Bluecaps to victory in the 33rd over with eight wickets in hand.

Rhook finished with 60-not-out, with Brewer named Player of the Match for his batting efforts.

The Bluecaps skipper thought the team handled the pressure of the day well and said this season’s achievement felt better than last season’s premiership.

“I think so, it gets better every year,” Rhook said.

“It is always a tougher game I believe when you finish on top, you are expected to win, so it is good to come home with the chocolates.

“I reckon about 190 was probably about par on this ground, so credit to our bowlers, they bowled really well and all 12 of us fielded very well also.”

Rhook’s responsibility at the top of the order ensured the skipper led from the front with bat in hand.

“I felt like I had to get to drinks and get the team in a good position, and the more wickets we had in the shed after the drinks, the better position we’d be in” he said.

“When you can get the runs at the start early, it helps big time and makes it a lot easier.

“We are also lucky that we have eight people who can bowl good line and lengths, so you always know if someone is having an off day, you have someone else you can rely on, it makes it an easy job.”