“Ryan has just become a new dad but he’s such a great HSOB man that he turned up and did the scorebook for us last week. I’m hoping we can talk him into playing this weekend.”
Landmark Homes Bain Construction OBR club captain Ian Loffler said his team would be the same as last week, when they beat Pirates.
“Winning builds a positive culture and we fielded well last week so we want to keep building on that,” Loffler said.
“HSOB are a bit of an unknown team but we’ll look to put pressure on them with the ball. Our batters need time in the middle to get in form. So the top five (Craig Christophers, Timoti Weir, Evan Mooney, Loffler and Jonathan Purcell) need to work hard and find the middle of the bat.”
¦ Despite last week’s win against HSOB and Gisborne Boys’ High School’s loss to Horouta, Campion co-captain Caleb Greaves was reluctant to accept the favourites tag heading into tomorrow’s clash between the schools.
“We’ve never beaten them and even though they lost, some of their players have been involved with the Bay rep side and Northern Districts rep sides,” Greaves said.
“Boys’ High will be upset with their performance last week and looking to do better tomorrow. They have their big fish in Robbie Tallott and Jarrod Davenport, as well as young players Drew Scott and Ben McNeil . . . all talented batsmen.”
Tallott scored a ton last time the sides met.
“He has the ability to play both sides of the wicket and is a quick accumulator of runs,” Greaves said.
“He is definitely a prized scalp for any bowler. He’s also a more-than-capable pace bowler and proven wicket-taker.
“Drew has huge promise. He has already been involved with older age-group rep sides. He looks a classy player with immense talent.”
Although Campion upset the odds and played some of their best cricket last week, Greaves said, “As clichéd as it sounds, one upset doesn’t define your season”.
“Against Boys’ High, we have traditionally been outclassed in all facets of the game but I believe this weekend is our best chance to upset our school student counterparts.”
Greaves’s co-captain, James Torrie, starred with the bat last week, scoring an unbeaten 98.
“James Torrie was freakish last weekend . . . it seemed that every ball he hit went to a different part of the field,” Greaves said.
“We were all gutted he couldn’t reach the ton. James has been brilliant for us ever since last season. We’ll look to him to lead the way with his hard hitting as well as his glove work.”
Patrick Mathers (5-45 last week) is another key player for Campion.
“He’s been one of the mainstays of our side over the years,” Greaves said.
“Patrick’s one of our most experienced players, having been with us since our third-place finish at the end of 2010 in the old B Grade.
“He’s improved immensely over the years and that’s testament to the never-give-in attitude he brings to each training session and match. He’s helped us out of a lot of embarrassing situations and has done a lot of good with the many opening spells he’s bowled with the new ball.”
¦ Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates have the perfect opportunity to bounce back tomorrow when they take on Boys’ High (2), who had the bye last week.
“We’re still missing all our students, but it’s a good chance for our guys to get the season going and get time in the middle,” Pirates skipper Mitchell Turner said.
“Last week was tough but there were positive signs. Caleb Robinson bowled well and Brad Reynolds and Olly Tilley played well.”
Paul Jefferson will coach the second 11 and play “somewhere in the middle of the order to help the boys out”.
“We’re a young team with some promising players, including Sam Veitch, a medium-pace bowler, and Peter Kapene, a batsman who we hope can get some runs.”
