Cricket: Texans' reflex key to turnaround

George Diack is among veterans who have been answering SOS calls from Napier Tech in premier men's club cricket this summer. PHOTO/FILE

Like a seamer measuring his run up again because of an errant front foot, coach Dale Smidt is taking stock of how he will employ motivational ammunition to fuel his premier club cricketers before games in the changing room on Saturdays.

"We can play really well today to take a lot of confidence into Sunday or play really poorly and have a good look at ourselves in the mirror the next day," Smidt had told Big Barrel Napier Technical Old Boys (NTOB).

NTOB took the second option, receiving a flogging at the hands of Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall in the 50-over match at Nelson Park but, thankfully, captain Liam Rukwai and his men turned up the next morning to beat Bayleys Real Estate Havelock North by six wickets to become the Hawke's Bay champions for the NZ Club Championship.

The Texans, who finished third at the nationals last summer, now play Greytown on Sunday, January 22, at Nelson Park to see who progresses to Palmerston North during Waitangi Day weekend against other CD district qualifiers to make the cut for Auckland to play other top association qualifiers.

"We were lucky because I was able to call on [Jeremy] Kuru and Stevie [Smidt] so it was good to have some experienced heads in the side, I suppose," said Smidt after the villagers won the toss but were skittled for 133 runs.

NTOB overhauled the total in 27.2 overs with Matt Edmondson (32 runs) and Stevie Smidt (42no) spearheading the chase.

"Matt, I reckon, is the most improved cricketer in Hawke's Bay in the last two years," he said, revealing his selection for the CD A side to compete at the annual NZ Provincial Tournament at Lincoln, Christchurch.

Seamer Stevie Smidt, who is still recovering from an elbow injury, was returning to help after seven weeks.

"They [NTOB] were a bit distracted but I'm taking nothing away from Cornwall because Liam Dudding was just outstanding," he says after Cornwall whipped NTOB by 155 runs on Saturday with CD greater squad member Dudding claimed a five-wicket bag.

"He bowled good pace, hit good areas and Casey Rangi batted beautifully, too, mate," says Smidt of Rangi who he suspects is knocking on the door of Pay Excellence Hawke's Bay senior men's representative coach, Colin Schaw, for a return to Hawke Cup duties.

"He's scored two 80s in a row."

NTOB have two players, NZ age-group representative Christian Leopard and Todd Watson, at the week-long under-19 nationals at Lincoln, near Christchurch, which ends today.

"Christian is obviously a big loss when he isn't playing for the team."
Smidt says it's the old story of clubs "having to suck it up" because the bigger picture is to have their talented players go for higher honours.

"That's the way it goes but we're trudging along," he says, bracing himself for possibly three players to be called up for the annual Provincial A tourney after Christmas.

He considers himself lucky to be able to call on veterans Craig Findlay, George Diack and Kuru who he considers very capable.

"I haven't put the same team on the park this season yet. I haven't even been close but that's a challenge for all the clubs who are in the same boat, I think."

A laughing Smidt says he's just going to forget about all that for a couple of weeks of intermission in competition.

"The most important thing from the club point of view is that we need to keep bringing young players through," he says.

Wicketkeeper Kurtis Weeks, who was unbeaten on 19 on Sunday, is a good prospect as well as Robbie Brigham, a Napier Boys' High School first XI player.

"It's just a matter of bringing the young guys to training, developing them and bringing them through, really."

Bay cricket, overall, he says is in pretty good shape.

"Hawke's Bay is a big district in CD Cricket but population wise we're only a small part of it," says Smidt.