Heat on for semifinal spot
Round six of the Revital Fertilisers premier one-day competition will be a pivotal round for those teams chasing a semifinal spot.
New Plymouth Marist United (NPMU) and New Plymouth Boys’ High School (NPBHS) lead the way on 20 points, New Plymouth Old Boys (NPOB) are two points behind on 18, with Inglewood a further four points adrift rounding out the top four. Woodleigh and Stratford are the only other teams in contention on 10 points.
This weekend’s game of the round is the traditional match between NPBHS and NPOB.
The winner of this match will cement their position in the top four while the loser may have to win their final game of the round.
NPBHS have been the surprise of the one-day competition so far, with Central District U19 prospects Sebastian Lauderdale Smith, Oliver Burbidge and Jordan Gard leading the way.
NPOB will be without the inform Davis Mills, skipper Mattie Thomas and opening batsman Josh Borrell, who are all on representative duty.
NPOB could face another blow with Kyle Pillay on standby for Ryan Watson, who may get the call up to the Stags first Ford Trophy game.
Top of the table NPMU could put the one-day competition semifinals out of reach of Stratford as those two go head to head at Lynmouth Park.
Once again NPMU will be without four key players in Dean Robinson, Michael Blanks, Shay Smith and Watson so Stratford could sniff out an upset in this match.
Woodleigh, having lost their first three games of the season, take on Francis Douglas Memorial College at Sutherland Park and will be looking for a bonus point win to close the gap on the top four.
Jesse Vertongen and Phil Barraclough will be on rep duty but they should still prove too strong for the college.
The final match of the round sees Inglewood take on Ha¯ wera at Karo Park. Inglewood were handed a heavy defeat last week at the hands of NPMU so they will look to bounce back this weekend against a struggling Ha¯ wera side who will be without Adam Keene and Ethan Keller.
All games start at 11am.