HOROUTA’S DJ Barry Cup top-four playoffs hopes took a huge blow when they lost to OBR last weekend . . . but not a fatal one, yet.
The inclusion of Bollywood Stars’ “big three” — Sam Singh, Gary Singh and Ajay Kumar — in the Poverty Bay side for their clash against Hamilton has opened the door ever-so-slightly for Horouta to make the semifinals at the possible expense of tomorrow’s opponents the Stars or Bain Construction OBR.
Horouta are fifth on 61 points while the Stars are second on 84. With 25 points available, a Horouta win, while denying the Stars any bonus point, would move them into the top four. A Stars win, however, could result in them finishing top if OBR (80) beat competition leaders Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates (100).
Tamarind HSOB (67) are fourth but should collect 25 points from their game against Gisborne Boys’ High School seconds.
“If the weather allows, we’ll be looking to build on the strong bowling and fielding display against OBR last week,” said Horouta club captain Greg Taylor, who, along with daughter Phoebe and son Blake, is not available.
Phoebe is playing for the Power team in the Northern women’s premier league while Blake is back at Otago University.
“We’ll also be missing Duncan Gibson, Craig Hoole and Clarry (Clarence Campbell),” Greg said. “But we have Jason Brooks,Vaughan Thompson, Tere Te Moananui, and Sara Stannard all coming back. We still have a strong bowling line-up ,with Billy Morse back playing, captain Mel Knight and regular wicket-taker Chad Collins set to lead the attack. Sukhi Karpania bowled well last week and Pratik Jethwa is itching to bowl.”
Harry Singh will take over as Stars captain tomorrow, with Keegan Martin vice-captain.
Kumar said the Stars were “not a three-man team”.
“We respect Horouta and know they will be hard to beat but we just need three bonus points to make it to the semis. I don’t think we will need that mathematics; we’ve every confidence in the boys.”
Pirates and OBR will be without key bowlers Mitchell Turner (Pirates) and Timoti Weir (OBR). Although only third on the table, OBR have been the team to beat this season.
The Ian Loffler/Jonathan Purcell-led side have already secured the Doleman Cup, are in the Walker Shield final and are now chasing the treble.
“We don’t focus on winning trophies, preferring to concentrate on each player improving every time we play,” said Loffler.
HSOB have three players — captain Scott Tallott, strike bowler Jak Rowe and top-order batsman David Salmon — in the representative team but should still be too strong for GBHS (2) on the artificial wicket at Nelson Park. Glen Udall, Ryan Majstrovic, Matt Jefferd, Beau Minogue-Harrison and Mike Francis are experienced campaigners and with a place in the semis up for grabs it’s hard to see HSOB letting this one slip.
Gisborne Boys’ High School 1 meet Campion College in a bottom-of-the-table clash. The first 11 are seventh on 22 points, eight behind their seconds and eight ahead of Campion.