Weather could be decisive factor

HANGING IN THERE: Gisborne Boys’ High School captain Paul Stewart says his team have been improving, but they face a stiff challenge tomorrow against competition leaders High School Old Boys. Picture by Paul Rickard

CRICKET

THE captains may be keeping a wary eye on the weather as the next fixtures loom in the DJ Barry Cup.

Rain is forecast for tomorrow but the MetService predicts it will ease by the time Poverty Bay senior cricket games are scheduled to start.

DJ Barry Cup games start at 1pm at Harry Barker Reserve. Hope Cup games at the same venue start at 2pm.

It’s been a while since DJ Barry Cup competition leaders Bollywood Stars High School Old Boys have played Gisborne Boys’ High School.

With drizzle about, the captains called off the game on February 2.

That scenario may greet them again tomorrow, although HSOB are unlikely to pull the pin early this time if they can help it.

The two teams haven’t played each other in the DJ Barry Cup so far and the last time they met was on November 10 in the Doleman Cup. HSOB won that game comfortably.

HSOB captain Scott Tallott said tomorrow’s game looked like an opportunity for his side to extend their lead in the competition.

“But we’ve still got to put the performance on the park,” he said.

“We won’t just show up expecting those maximum points.

“We’ve got to be on our toes, for sure.”

Boys’ High captain Paul Stewart said his side had been improving.

They struck a Bain Construction Old Boys Rugby bowling attack that was on song last weekend and that provided a “good wake-up call for the batsmen”, Stewart said.

The Boys’ High batsmen have often been hanging in there for sustained periods at the crease, but Stewart said more was needed from the top order.

Uncharacteristically, Boys’ High were “a little bit asleep” in the field last week and put down some catches.

Stewart hopes last week was an aberration against an overall trend of the side getting more competitive every week.

Their bowling had been good, he said.

If cricket gets under way tomorrow, both Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates and OBR hope Boys’ High prevent HSOB from banking many points.

Pirates and OBR have been duelling for second place on the leaderboard and, due to play each other, tomorrow may be a chance for one to put space between second and third while keeping first place within their sights.

After a mid-season change to the format, the competition will be decided on points at the end of nine rounds. Round 6 is tomorrow.

With a big win against Boys’ High last week, OBR have sneaked in to second place on the leaderboard, one point ahead of Pirates.

OBR, always a threat with the ball, showed what they could do with the bat last week as well, blasting 252 for three in 37.1 overs.

Against a depleted Pirates team, they could be dangerous.

Not originally scheduled as a playing day in the draw, tomorrow shapes as a tough day for Pirates if they need to get on the park.

Dane Thompson is one of several players who are unavailable this week, so Brad Reynolds will take over the captaincy.

In the Hope Cup, Bollywood Stars HSOB Presidents play Ngatapa and the OBR second 11 play Campion College. Coastal Ultrasound Horouta have a bye.