Gisborne Boys’ High face mammoth task

All-round effort: Gisborne Boys' High School all-rounder Josiah Turner will look to continue his good form tomorrow in the Doleman Cup final against OBR. Picture by Paul Rickard

Gisborne Boys' High School have a mammoth task against OBR in local cricket's Doleman Cup final at Harry Barker Reserve tomorrow.

Half the Boys' High team competed in the Northern Districts boys' senior secondary schools' tournament throughout the week.

Gisborne Boys' High re-entered the Senior A competition this year with the addition of several experienced senior players who have added depth and mentoring.

OBR have been the most consistent team in the competition and come into the final as favourites.

Although they had an upset loss to Horouta, they are the only team in the competition with five wins.

OBR had a goal of reaching the finals this year, but had created an excellent team culture and atmosphere, captain Ian Loffler said.

“I knew we had the players; it was just a matter of gelling. It's really exciting for our club at the moment.”

Loffler's return to OBR's Senior A team this season was motivated by his desire to help build the team culture and compete in the premier grade.

It's been a successful reintroduction, as OBR have stormed through the competition. They topped the regular-season points table, and Loffler is the highest run-scorer in the competition, with an average of 36.2 runs over seven games.

OBR will be without batsman Dane Thompson and bowler Cody Andrews this weekend after both were ruled out due to injury.

Loffler said the team would be looking to “key players”, such as bowlers Sam Patterson and Paul Stewart, who had been instrumental in building the club culture.

Batsman Nick Greeks had also been heavily involved in OBR's success this year, but Loffler said he could single out the whole team for their individual efforts.

Boys' High will be without key batsman Nicholas Hendrie again, but coach Mal Trowell says his team have what it takes to win.

They won a tight game against High School Old Boys in the semifinals without the help of South Africans Hendrie and wicketkeeper batsman Graham Sharp.

Trowell said his team's strength this year had been with the ball, and they would look to target the OBR batting line-up with their diverse bowling attack.

“We just need someone to bat on, and play around that.”

The game is to be played on the representative wicket, which will encourage more running between the wickets as the boundaries are longer than the other pitches.

Boys' High haven't beaten OBR this season, but Trowell is optimistic.

“We got close in the first game,” he said.

“We'll be looking to ride the momentum from last week.”

He said the team's goal was not to make the final, but to win it.

At a glance:

Doleman Cup Final: OBR v GBHS.

Harry Barker Reserve, tomorrow, 1pm.

Umpires: Jason Trowill and Stewart Patrick.