Horouta captain David Situ says his side will be at their strongest tomorrow.
“HSOB are always passionate; it should be a good game.
“The key for us is to keep consistency in all three disciplines — batting, bowling and fielding.”
HSOB want to bounce back after a tough loss to GBHS last weekend, captain Carl Shaw says.
“Horouta are never to be underestimated,” he said.
“They have some really good players and anyone, on their day, can turn a game.”
He said his team were looking to take ownership of their innings with the bat and enjoy the game.
“No special game plans, just people improving their own game.”
GBHS coach Mal Trowell said his team would be without some of their key playmakers tomorrow.
Among four players unavailable were last Saturday’s century-maker and competition topscorer, Nick Hendrie, and the competition’s leading wicket-taker, spin bowler Liam Barbier.
All-rounder Dan Watts has been called up from the GBHS second 11 to bolster the line-up.
“He’s added to our bowling ranks, but he’s handy with the bat, too,” Trowell said.
With so many players unavailable, Trowell will also take the field tomorrow.
“We back ourselves to get up around 200 (runs) . . . put some runs on the board and restrict them well in the field.”
GBHS would look to their key bowlers to step up in Barbier’s absence and continue bowling well, Trowell said.
Matthew Foster’s great line and length challenged HSOB last Saturday, and he snared the key wicket of Tyler Phelps to break the opening partnership.
Cohen Loffler is one of the players unavailable for GBHS, so — this week at least — he will not face off against his father, OBR skipper Ian Loffler.
Loffler senior said it was unfortunate he wouldn’t have the chance “to get one up on the young fella”.
He said it was exciting to have a fourth team in the premier competition and he praised the leadership that Boys’ High’s adult players had given the young players.
“It means the rest of us have to step up,” he said.
“It’s awesome how Mal (Trowell) has got them all together . . . they’re all playing for each other.”
Loffler said OBR would look to use their abundance of experience, and this could be a big factor in the result.
Bowlers like Jimmy Holden, Matt Cook and Cody Andrews were among the best in the district, he said.
OBR would also have all-rounder Dane Thompson and Poverty Bay representative player Paul Stewart returning to play for them this weekend.
Both games are at Harry Barker Reserve, with Stewart Patrick umpiring the Horouta-HSOB game and Jason Trowill umpiring GBHS versus OBR. Play starts at 1pm.
