Llorne Howell - Sports blogger Former cricket international for the Black Caps, Llorne Howell, gives his views on New Zealand's number one summer sport, both for the Bay and the national team.

From New Delhi. On Monday Otumoetai Cadets won the Wlliams Cup (Bill) in the final against arch rivals Mount Maunganui with a comprehensive display. The Mount only managed 140 odd and Cadets reached the score five down.
Bill has become the premier cup in the Bay club calendar. It is played for by all eight clubs and TBC.

Much of the credit for the Cadets win goes to the new club chairman Paul Wadsworth. A former stalwart of the winning teams of the 80s and 90s Wadsy has used his business acumen to bring stability and growth to the club.
Wadsy has instigated upgrading practice facilities, sought coaching for the top two sides and junior feeder schools, rosters for guys to perform club duties, organised sponsorship with IMF and a strong relationship with Rob and Bryce Dineen of Rosscos Bar on Wharf St.
He, along with captain Jono Boult, and the senior players Matthew Drake, Campbell Wilson, Richard Rice and Ben Christenson have given direction and impetus to the premier side.
This did not mean they would beat the Mount in what is always a hard game but it did mean Cadets would front on the day.
So a lot of praise goes to Wadsy as one of the 'grass roots” guys who do a lot for a club as an unpaid official. With his guidance it allowed the team to just focus on the game on the day.
For the other clubs, the Mount has played well at times but has been stricken with injuries to their impressive attack. Te Puke has developed a good club spirit and seems to be coming along with quite a few young players. Central seemed to be going in three directions at once although they all wanted to win. Greerton lost some of their batsmen so were always a threat but it meant a few players had to score big runs for them to win big games. EP played well early on in the Bill season and must have been disappointed not to go further. TBC had a younger side which showed much promise. They played a very organised game, but it if the younger guys are broken by the power of older guys, it can be hard to bring it back. Kind of like England playing the ABs. If the ABs get 10 in front you would think it is goodbye nurse. Eastern Bay played some top games as they have much flair.
So congrats to Cadets, Paul Wadsworth and Jono Boult on a very good result on the day and for most of the season to date.
News from here in New Delhi.
The preparations for the Commonwealth Games continue at a mad pace. From Metro News in Delhi 'Under fire for running behind schedule, the government has opened all fronts at once turning the city into a heap of debris.”
'Construction in every nook and cranny is on at a feverish pitch.”
To handle the debris of massive building works, 'a number of roads have been turned into dumping grounds by the government turning them into accident prone zones”.
Imagine the side streets of Cameron Road full of old bricks, concrete, twisted metal and bits of wood.
It has caused quite a few accidents as cyclists and cars plunge into bits of debris in the dark – but the huge structures will be finished for the games.
Pictures are from an U19 cricket tournament in Nainital (Lake City) in the Himalayas of India. Notice the outfield is actually stones like we have on our driveways. Other outfields are dried dirt. So you can see why some Indian fielders do not learn to dive as we kiwis do on our grass laden turf. They have the skill, but I am not sure if I would sprawl across a shingle driveway which is what this outfield is. Thing is, as far as the matches are concerned, it is the same for both sides so you just get on with it.