Cricket: Villagers will need another Houdini act to retain title

Napier Technical Old Boys Jayden Lennox (left) and Havelock North's Pete Marffy eye up the MJF Shrimpton Memorial Cup which will be up for grabs today. Photo/Paul Taylor

Havelock North seamer Pete Marffy and player-coach Brad Clark are proud of the way their team have won matches in Hawke's Bay's premier men's cricket competition when they shouldn't have this season.

They know they have to do that one more time if they are to retain the Property Brokers MJF Shrimpton Memorial Cup 50-over title when they take on national club champions Napier Technical Old Boys in today's final which will begin at 11am on Nelson Park 3 in Napier. Should wet weather prevent play today the final will be played tomorrow.

"We've showed we can do it and I'm confident we can do it again," Marffy said after fronting for Reynard Health Supplies Havelock North at the pre-final press conference yesterday.

Although only 22, the mechanical engineer is a veteran of five seasons with the villagers. The former Hawke's Bay age group rep has also played for the province's Emerging Players side.

Marffy wasn't rattled when it was suggested the defending champions would struggle in the absence of four players who are away with university commitments, wicketkeeper Angus Henderson who is unavailable with MC commitments at a mate's wedding and regular captain and prolific run scorer Graeme Tryon who is unavailable because of his wrist injury.

Former Black Caps bowler Ben Wheeler will have until game time to gauge whether or not he can be cleared to play.

"New Zealand reps are always good to have. So we're prepared to give him as long as possible to see if he can shake off a niggly injury," Marffy said.

"Basically we just have to take our chances ... anything which comes our way, to win. Nelson Park always has a good pitch so we're prepared to chase anything down and make the most of our opportunities."

Former Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby flanker Clark, who will play alongside his son, Hawke's Bay senior cricket rep William Clark, is pleased with the grit and determination his troops have displayed this summer.

"We've never fielded our full-strength side this season. But we've had our most successful season as a premier team and found a way to win in impossible situations. While we back ourselves we know this will be another steep hill this weekend."

His troops won the 55-over comp, lost the final of the T20 comp to the Texans and lost by one win to Tech in the battle for the award for the best overall premier team.

Innovate Electrical Napier Technical Old Boys bowler Jayden Lennox pointed out that the Texans have stressed the importance of putting next week's national club finals title defence in Auckland on the backburner until after today's final.

"In the past we have placed too much emphasis on Auckland and blown the opportunity to win this final. We want to get this title back because it's a few years since we have had it," Lennox said referring to the fact Havelock North won it last year, Taradale in 2017 and in 2016 the final was rained out.

An irrigation management worker for Hydro Services, 24-year-old Lennox is in his seventh season of premier play. He has represented Hawke's Bay from under-16 level and is still in the Bay's senior men's squad.

Lennox and fellow Texans Christian Leopard and Todd Watson will head to Darwin to play for the Palmerston club next month. Lennox will work as a green keeper at a golf course in Darwin.

"Winning this weekend's title and retaining the national club championship will be the perfect farewell for us," Lennox said.

"We are at full strength and everyone is in form. Everybody knows their job and if we keep things simple we should do pretty well," he added.

Other finals today will see Bluewater Hotel Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports take on Bayleys Taradale in the division 2 40-over top-six clash on Nelson Park 2 from 1pm, Stihl Shop Oaks Cornwall play Sideline Bar Napier Old Boys Marist Hobblers in the division 2 40-over bottom-six match on Nelson Park 1 from 1pm and Eskview Rugby Club meet St John's College 2nd XI in the Big Barrel Division 3 30-over Wednesday Challenge Shield clash on Nelson Park 5 from 1.30pm.

Teams for the premier men's MJF Shrimpton Memorial Cup final:
Havelock North: Jono Whitley (captain), Ben Fair, Brad Schmulian, William Clark, Ben Wheeler (subject to fitness), Joey Field, Pete Marffy, Jared Priest, Brad Clark, Rhytym Sharma, Hamish Jackson.
Napier Technical Old Boys: Christian Leopard, Matt Edmondson, Izaiah Lange, Jesse Ryder, Bronson Meehan, Kieran Noema-Barnett, Morten Freer, Stevie Smidt, Todd Watson, Liam Rukuwai (captain), Jayden Lennox.