Time running out for several club sides

Saturday is D-Day for the Wairau and Renwick cricket sides if they harbour any hopes of playing in the Marlborough senior 50-over cricket final in two weeks time.

After the first of four rounds was washed out, Celtic and Wairau Valley opened their campaigns with victories last weekend, putting them in the box seat to contest the November 11 decider.

If Wairau and Renwick lose on Saturday their chances of getting their hands on the first piece of silverware to be decided this season will be gone.

Grove Tavern Wairau take on Biddy Kates Celtic on Horton Park 1. Skipper Jerrym Lamb will be missing from the Celtic line-up, key allrounder Matt McCormick taking over the captaincy. Landon Neal, Ben Blackman, Andy Fitzpatrick, John Porter and Josh Poole provide a very capable batting line-up, while Chris Bolton will make his senior debut this weekend.

Wairau also have a newcomer, Hunter Jones reinforcing their batting, which was below par against Valley last week. Like their opponents, Wairau rely predominantly on a group of allrounders rather than specialists, this season. If they can put a decent target on the board their bowling attack will be hard to score from.

Sileni Estates Renwick will meet defending champions Biddy Kates Cafe and Bar Wairau Valley on Horton 3, also beginning at 11.30am.

Renwick turned in a disappointing batting effort in their first outing, being dismissed by Celtic for 84. They will be better for the outing and field the same team this week. If their top order can score runs, their enthusiasm and energy in the field can see them through.

Wairau Valley are also unchanged for this weekend. Against Wairau, their spinners did the damage. Matt Stretch and Rikki Bovey put the brakes on the opposing batsmen and, although Valley struggled initially with the bat, they got the job done.