TPL Round 4 Preview

TPL Round 4 Preview

While the major sporting focus in town this week will no doubt be with the Mako at Trafalgar Park, club cricket will still be carrying on. With rain last week cancelling all fixtures the TPL club cricket competition will be hoping for fine weather on Saturday to re-gain traction.  The feature match of the round sees ACOB hosting WTTU at Botanics.  The home team were desperate to get some play in last week and resorted to James Graham using a leaf blower in a vain attempt to dry the pitch and surrounds. Hopefully he can wield the bat this week with more positive results.  They have Jake Milton who was looking in good nick to lead a solid and experienced all round line up. WTTU have plenty of players who are about due including the irrepresible Joey O’Connor.  Tom Cross has had one score and will hope to build on that.

Car Company Stoke Nayland will be expecting to bank more points against the battling Wanderers/Motueka combination at Marsden Rec. Paddy Howes has been in outstanding form and he will hope the week off did not halt his momentum.  Once again Stoke Nayland appears to have a well balanced and strong line up. The combined team will rely on the experience of Hayden Ingham and their English pro Max Mannering.  Others have to begin to put their hands up if they are to be competitive.

Nelson College will travel over to Horton Park to take on the Falcons in Blenheim. Nick Weaver and Matthew Stretch have both looked dangerous with the ball for the home team and while their batting has not excelled, Stretch has been their best performer.  College will need to improve on their previous batting performances to date.  Their bowling has been consistent, but they must have runs on the board to be a threat.

Wakatu also head over to Horton Park to front up to the Dolphins. The hosts have batsman Prabodha Arthavidu who has begun the season well, as have bowling main stays Josh Poole and Jerrym Lamb. Rikki Bovey will also be raring to go after the week off. Wakatu had a solid outing a fortnight ago and will be trying to build on their start.  Fergus Hughes, Tom Argyle and Brad Smith have all had encouraging beginnings to the season and Damian Aitken is the leading wicket taker in the competition. They will have their hands full against the strong Dolphins outfit.

All matches begin at 11:30 am.