‘Genuine competition for places this season’,Robbie Tallott not the only T15 threat

KEY PLAYERS: High School Old Boys co-captain Jak Rowe (left) puts everything into this delivery to OBR opening batsman Craig Christophers. Rowe, returning from injury, is desperate to regain his place in the Bollywood Stars Poverty Bay team to play a Twenty20 game against Counties Manukau in Tauranga on December 2. Christophers, who forms a solid and experienced opening partnership with Kieran Venema, is one of the best all-rounders in the district. The performances of Rowe and Christophers could decide which of their teams take pole position ahead of next week’s semifinals — when one will play four and two will take on three. Watching the action is umpire Tony Lee. Pictureby Paul Rickard

CRICKET

HIGH School Old Boys co-captain Jak Rowe is fired up and ready to reclaim his place in the Poverty Bay team.

“I feel that there’s some genuine competition for places in the team this season and that I have to prove myself,” said Rowe, who will be a key man for Bollywood Stars HSOB when they play Bain Construction OBR in a top-of-the-table Doleman Cup game at Harry Barker Reserve tomorrow.

Rowe — whose side lead the competition on 13 points, three ahead of OBR — would have been an automatic choice for the Bay side had he not picked up a rib injury in pre-season training.

“I really wanted to make the reps this season and worked hard in pre-season getting fit, but in one of the net sessions I felt something go in my side.

“I’m not 100 percent but was happy with the way I bowled against Pirates — getting the ball to swing and through at a quick clip.”

Rowe’s return to the attack is timely as Carl Shaw, who has been opening the bowling, is unavailable. Medium-pacer Marshall Norris may also be unavailable.

“We’ve still got a varied attack with Inder Singh David Salmon, Parminder Kulaar and me,” Rowe said.

Right-arm leg-spinner Kulaar took 6-18 off 6.2 overs last week.

Rowe said he was enjoying the role of co-captain with Scott Tallott.

“We’re both pretty much on the same wavelength.

“Scotty’s one of the most attacking batsmen in the district and when it comes off it’s exciting to watch.

“I tend to have more to do with the bowlers.”

'HSOB the team to beat - 4 wins from 5 games with one abandoned'OBR club captain Ian Loffler said HSOB were the team to beat — four wins from five games with one abandoned.

“They have winning momentum and have built confidence,” Loffler said.

“They have a long batting line-up. Our bowlers will have to step up.

“Robbie Tallott has added some depth and can take the game from you quickly. Ajay Kumar is dangerous in the lower order and all their bowlers are solid performers.”

OBR will be missing one of their stalwarts, opening bowler Jimmy Holden, and batsman Carl Carmody but hope to have both available for next week’s semfinal against Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates or Gisborne Boys’ High School, depending on the outcome of tomorrow’s matches.

OBR have been boosted for tomorrow with the return of Hamish Evans and Nick Greeks. Timoti Weir will be playing, too. He returned to action last weekend and hit a six and four fours in an unbeaten innings of 41 off 29 balls.

“We now have a more solid middle-order,” Loffler said.

“Graham Hudson is also a huge asset for us with bat and ball.”

OBR have one of the strongest team cultures in the competition. Craig Christophers has played for the club for 20 years, Loffler for 19.

“Cookie (Matt Cook) and Jimmy (Holden) are not far behind,” Loffler said.

“We’ve built a fight-to-the-end culture and we work hard for each other. That has enabled us to win games we might otherwise have lost.”

¦ Pirates are in third place but that could change.

For that to happen, player-coach Josiah Turner and his Boys’ High team would have to do something they haven’t done all season . . . win.

“It doesn’t really matter who we play in the semifinals; the other three teams are good,” said Turner, who is in his first season as player-coach.

“The main thing for us is that the boys enjoy their cricket and use the Doleman Cup as preparation for the Super 8, which starts in January.”

Boys’ High welcome back skipper Drew Scott, who missed last week’s loss to OBR because he was playing for the Northern Districts under-19 team.

“Because Drew won’t be available for the Super 8, I’ve made Paul Stewart captain from here on in,” Turner said.

“Paul has the potential to be a good captain. He’s had a good season and is well respected.

“Travis Mtchell and Year 13 student Ben McNeil have also impressed me. Unfortunately, we won’t have Rob Schwass, who is injured, and Adam Whibley, who is unavailable for tomorrow.”