Three centuries in Gisborne’s big GDCA win, including a pair of maiden tons

Young guns Wil Mackay and Spencer Jones scored their maiden centuries as Gisborne’s big win over Rupertswood sent officials searching the record books.

Gisborne’s stunning seven-wicket win over Rupertswood has sent the GDCA club searching the record books.

The Dragons piled on the runs at Salesian College on Saturday, amassing a staggering 461 all out from 101 overs.

Young guns Wilhem Mackay and Spencer Jones scored their maiden senior centuries, while Riley Vernon continued his outstanding form with his second ton of the campaign.

Coming in at No.13, 17-year-old Mackay scored 122 from an extraordinary 227 balls, hitting 18 boundaries and a pair of sixes.

Vernon joined him with Gisborne in trouble at 3-45 on day one of the match and the pair combined for a match-winning 198-run stand.

The Dragons run-machine eventually out for 111 from 152 balls with 17 fours.

Jones, 19, batting at No.8, didn’t come to the crease until the game was well won but still smashed a rapid 108 from 107 balls, including 11 boundaries and three sixes.

Captain-coach Jarryd Vernon was proud of his centurions - all club juniors who have risen through the ranks together.

“It was pretty impressive, we set ourselves at the start of the day to bat all day because outright was out of the equation,” he said.

“We wanted the guys to spend some time out in the middle and they certainly did that.

“For Wil and Spencer to hit the first hundred at any level, obviously rapt for those two guys.

“Those two put in a lot of work in the pre-season to get to this point, so I was very proud of them (on Saturday).

“Obviously, Riley is having an outstanding season so far, we just expect him to make a hundred the way he’s going, it’s just a normal day.”

Darcy Thomas in action for Gisborne. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Mackay and Jones showcased their potential.

The pair came together for a 62-run seventh wicket stand before Mackay’s epic knock came to an end at 7-319.

Jones then combined with Jay King (48 not out) for a 122-run eighth wicket partnership to keep the runs flowing before falling at 8-441.

Vernon said each had gained a lot of confidence.

“Wil’s was a really mature knock, he might have given one chance for the whole innings,” Vernon said.

“He and Riley batted with good intent, they made it look easy to be honest, especially for Wil – we’ve spoken to him about getting past 30 and making a big score.

“From ball one, Spence had really good intent, he did it at a run a ball.

“For his confidence, he’s more of a bowling all-rounder but the work he’s done on his batting in the past four or five weeks, he’s got reward for it.

“I don’t think he gave a chance at all.”

Last weekend, Rupertswood was dismissed for 147, with a rear-guard fightback from Ned Crotty (72) saving the Sharks from a potential outright loss.

Skipper Vernon was the main destroyer with the ball, claiming 4-30, while Darcy Thomas finished with 3-21 and Jones took 2-15.

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“Bowling a side our for under 150 in a two-dayer, you take it every day,” Vernon said.

“I think we had them for 7-80, it would have been nice to roll them for under 100, but we fell away from what we were doing well.

“I’m not going to complain, our bowling and fielding was really good, and Ned batted really well, they’ve got some young talent coming through and he’s one that is a promising youngster.”

Gisborne now faces Romsey in a top-of-the-table blockbuster at Gardiner Reserve, while Rupertswood will look to bounce back against Sunbury Kangaroos.