Taranaki have locked away provincial cricket’s Hawke Cup for the winter at Pukekura Park - the perfect ending for veteran Dean Robinson.
The top-order batsman announced his retirement following the match and an unforgettable final season with his team.
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Robinson broke Taranaki's record as its all-time leading run-scorer in 2023; has the most centuries for the province; and is one of just a handful of cricketers to have played more than 100 matches for the team.
But until this summer, the long-serving, 35-year-old former Central Districts rep from Stratford (a cousin of former All Blacks captain Kieran Read) had never been on the winning side in a Hawke Cup challenge.
Until the current tenure, he had only played in two of them since his February 2008 Hawke Cup debut, but he can now hang up his bat and gloves saying he played in three successful defences.
Taranaki has been celebrating its first tenure since 2006-07 - after which they lost the Cup in the first challenge of the following summer - Robinson's Hawke Cup debut, against Canterbury Country in New Plymouth.
Taranaki's latest tenure began when they uplifted the storied 1910 trophy from fellow Zone 2 district Hawke's Bay in the first challenge this season, having earned the right to challenge by winning Central Districts Cricket's Furlong Cup competition.
They then saw off strong challenges from Hamilton and Canterbury Country in New Plymouth, and on Sunday afternoon finished off South Canterbury to cap their season of dreams.
The victory by an innings and 102 runs came after the ninth South Canterbury wicket fell, with the last man unable to bat.
Taranaki now retains the symbol of provincial cricket supremacy until the next challenge at home in January 2026 (date TBC), when a new top-order batsman will be required.