Followers looking to become the leaders
A new team could be on top of the Taranaki premier one-day cricket competition after this week’s action, with Ha¯wera and Inglewood looking to knock Woodleigh down a rung.
But to have a chance to do so, one will have to beat the other.
Second and third on the table respectively, Ha¯wera and Inglewood will square off at the TSB Hub to try to stake their claim.
With three wins, a loss and one match abandoned, Ha¯ wera (16) sit three points ahead of Inglewood, who have won twice, lost once and had two matches abandoned.
While Woodleigh sit top on 19 points, a loss to New Plymouth Boys’ High School this weekend could open the door for Ha¯ wera or Inglewood to jump ahead.
Woodleigh will be one of a number of teams impacted by the Taranaki squad playing in Wanganui this weekend’s Hawke Cup qualifying match, with in-form opener Peter Ingram, Phil Barraclough and captain Moriz Hartmann among the representative squad.
With scores of 77, 86 and 112 in his three innings the season, Ingram’s production will be hard to replace at the top of the order and Boys’ High could look to capitalise on their under-strength opponents.
Elsewhere, New Plymouth Marist United will look to find some form with the bat when they take on Francis Douglas Memorial College.
While they sit fourth on the table, Marist have scored the second-lowest number of runs this year, with their 475 runs for only better than Boys’ High’s 254.
In the final game of the round, New Plymouth Old Boys will be on the hunt for their first win of the season when they play host to Stratford.