Lions to feel the heat from three-pronged pace attack
A FIRST-CLASS-quality attack awaits University today as a young Lions outfit looks to make its push for a spot in the CTPL Kookaburra Cup final.
Sitting third on the ladder, equal with South Hobart-Sandy Bay (second) on points, Uni heads to Kangaroo Bay to clash with Clarence, before rounding out the 50-over comp tomorrow against the under-19s.
A pair of victories will guarantee a position in the Kookaburra Cup final against the Roos on February 12, but the visitors will have to blunt Clarence’s three-pronged pace attack of Riley Meredith, Sam Rainbird and Cameron Stevenson this afternoon.
The contest will also be Rainbird’s 150th for the Roos, and while not hiding from the daunting prospect awaiting his troops, Lions coach Ben Harrison said it presented another opportunity in the development of his young side. Uni will be without the services of the experienced Rhett Lockyear, with Harrison calling on others to fill the void.
“The way we play our one-day cricket, we will try and stay busy to make sure we can continue to keep the score ticking over,” Harrison said.
“Realistically, we are probably not a 250-280 one-day cricket side at the moment. We will try and stay busy to accumulate a total that will give our bowling attack the opportunity to really fight. If we can bowl and field well, then we have done a good job and we will be competitive.”
“We have a young group, I think they need to take a lot from the time they have been spending with Rhett, it has been great having him back.
“This weekend it is time for a few others to step up.”
While Clarence has already sewn up one spot in the decider being 10 points clear, five other clubs remain a mathematical chance of capturing second. The Sharks could shut the door on three chasing clubs if they can defeat Lindisfarne (fourth, 16 points) at Anzac Park, while the other sides in the hunt in New Town and North Hobart clash at the bike track.
Kingborough travels to KGV to meet Glenorchy in the remaining fixture.