Old Boys were convincing eight-wicket winners in the first round WestpacTrust Trophy cricket match which was finished before tea on Saturday.

Reigning champion Riccarton and East Christchurch-Shirley also took maximum points against Sydenham and Marist while the Old Collegians-Burnside West-University game was drawn.

Before the season began the fate of the Old Boys club lay in the balance after a Canterbury Cricket club advisory committee recommendation that Old Boys were most at risk if one of the three Hagley-based clubs had to lose its senior standing. Eight senior sides is the preferred number next season.

Captain Brendan Fahey said the early-season crisis provided a motivational spur for the side.

``We were pretty determined to do well and especially first up against another club on the park.''

Old Boys dominated the match throughout with St Albans producing another disappointing batting effort against the demanding Old Boys seam attack.

If Old Boys had any worries about being without leading bowlers Geoff Allott and Chris Flanagan from the first day they were erased by the performance of replacement Sam Davis.

Davis, who delivered his out-swingers impressively to capture five wickets, was well supported by Sam Martin and Shane Bond, who chipped in when arriving after an examination.

Only all-rounder Stephen Cunis stood firm, his unbeaten 58 coming from 122 balls and 100 minutes at the crease. He shared a 42-run stand with the experienced Mark Priest which halted the slide after St Albans had been 28 for five.

Old Boys required just 57 to win and only lost two wickets although St Albans dropped several catches.

Reigning champion Riccarton had some anxious moments before taking 16 points against a Sydenham side which missed injured all-rounder Hamish Barton.

Riccarton, which wanted 105 for first-innings points, had slumped to 95 for nine before Nos. 10 and 11, Lee Borcoski and Darren Walker, combined to carry the side through and beyond with an unbroken stand of 24.

Sydenham's batting again struggled in favourable conditions for the bowlers and wickets tumbled with only an aggressive Todd Harris, promoted to No. 3, and Colin Wood making some headway.

Riccarton approached the target of 80 positively, and although it lost several late wickets, used just 30 overs for the win.

Sydenham stalwarts Greg O'Reilly and Ken Julian both recorded milestones in the match, O'Reilly taking three wickets in his 100th appearance while Julian claimed his 200th senior victim.

Marist gave a miserable batting performance at Burwood Park losing by an innings and 74 runs.

Steve McCloy set defensive fields at the start but with limited success, East scoring 58 runs in 45 minutes before declaring. Marcel McKenzie drove strongly in achieving his highest senior score while Simon Granger was the pick of the bowlers.

Again, the promising pair of East opening bowlers, Michael Ford and Dave Neil accounted for the early Marist wickets, but Shaun McWhirter showed fight and was only the second Marist batsman to reach double figures. Black Cap Craig McMillan, bowling at brisk pace, took three wickets in four balls to finish a one-sided game.

Burnside-West University batted solidly for 79 overs to take first innings points over Old Collegians on an even but slow pitch at Burnside Park.

Three partnerships of note were produced by Burnside's batsmen, Sean Craig and Mark Lumsden opening with a steady 42 in 70 minutes, while a fourth-wicket stand between Campbell Ogilvie and Aaron Laraman added 46, Ogilvie scoring seven fours in his 51. At the finish Scott Blackman and Dominic Maxwell carried Burnside through adding 39 together.

Most interesting of the Old Collegians bowlers was Greg Crean, a 17-year old seventh former at St Bede's College who bowled slow left-armers with fine control of length and direction.

Scores

Marist 54 and 81 lost to East Christchurch-Shirley 209-6 dec (Marcel McKenzie 77no).
St Albans 88 and 119 (Stephen Cunis 58no; Sam Davis 5-17) lost to Old Boys 152-7 dec and 57-2 by eight wickets.
Sydenham 105 and 93 lost to Riccarton 119-9 dec and 80-6.
Old Collegians 174-9 dec and 71-3 lost to Burnside-West University 175-6 dec (Campbell Ogilvie 51) on the first innings.

Points:

Old Boys, Riccarton, East-Shirley all 16, Burnside-West 4, Old Collegians 1, St Albans, Marist, Sydenham 0.