Tomorrow, Thompson and his teammates get an opportunity to bounce back when they take on a Bollywood Stars side looking to make it four wins in a row.
HSOB have been strengthened by the return of skipper Scott Tallott’s brother Robbie (from university) and opener Carl Shaw, who missed last week’s 129-run win against Gisborne Boys’ High School.
“Having Robbie back is massive,” said Scott Tallott, who went to the top of the batting leaderboard after scoring 84 runs off 73 balls last Saturday.
Scott also shared a 95-run partnership with Ajay Kumar (31 runs off 53 balls) for the fourth wicket, after HSOB were 50-3.
“Robbie flew in from the South Island on Wednesday so he hasn’t had much training with the boys, but that won’t be a problem,” Scott said.
“He’s still recovering from a knee operation so he won’t bowl until the new year.
“He’s had two games for Otago A and that experience will be great for his confidence.”
HSOB are the form side, unbeaten in three Doleman Cup games, but Tallott said Pirates were a side with good players . . . “you’re just never sure who is going to turn up on the day”.
“They’ve also got James Torrie back from uni, which will strengthen their squad.”
OBR club captain and top-order batsman Ian Loffler said his team were about 20 runs short last week on a pitch that was doing a lot.
“But we knew if we bowled well and in good areas, and backed ourselves, we could win.”
Loffler said his side were a bit up and down at present.
“We’ve had a lot of players away with different commitments but when everyone’s available we’ll have a strong squad.”
Loffler said all-rounder Graham Hudson, from South Africa, was a welcome addition.
“Graham’s fitted into our environment well.
“He’s very competitive and sets himself high standards.
“He’s already shown he’s a strong all-rounder — a real asset.”
Boys’ High have yet to put a bowling and batting performance together this season but, under the guidance of player-coach Josiah Turner, they are improving.
They will need their senior players — Turner, Drew Scott, Paul Stewart, Travis Mitchell, Robbie Schwass and Jack Faulkner — to lead from the front with bat and ball if they are to have any chance of winning.
It will be interesting to see how the schoolboys cope with the pace and accuracy of Hudson.
Hudson, opening the bowling attack in tandem with Jimmy Holden (who missed last week’s game), could be lethal.
Add Matt Cook, Arun Kurup, Craig Christophers and on-field skipper Jonathan Purcell, and this attack should be too strong for Turner’s boys.
¦ In the Hope Cup Senior B competition, leaders Campion College (nine points from three wins) have the bye, giving their rivals a chance to close the gap.
Second-placed OBR (2) take on third-placed Ngatapa. Both teams are on three points.
Bollywood Stars HSOB Presidents meet Horouta Coastal Ultrasound, with both teams looking for their first points.
Ngatapa, in their first season at this level, picked up their first win last week with a 49-run win against HSOB Presidents.
Batting at No.3, Chris Richardson scored 66 not out off 82 balls. His innings included six fours as Ngatapa posted 135-6. Richardson received solid support from opener Tom Holden (33 off 46) and Andrew Knight (16no).
Jock Spence (5-25) was the chief destroyer as the Presidents were dismissed for 86.
If player co-ordinator Chris Hurlstone can keep the Ngatapa side together — many of the players have work and travel challenges — they could be the dark horses of the competition.
