ANENDRA SINGH
Even before the sound of a ball cracking into a willow echoes through a park, it can be intriguing to find what's in store in the player department.
So who's staying? Who's going? And, more importantly, who's going to come and go?
With the women's club competition starting today ,
perhaps what's conspicuous is the absence of some of the strongest players in the region.
Gone are Morgan Financial Solutions Cornwall's New Zealand representative batsman, Sara McGlashan, who, with club mate and NZ A representative Zara McWilliams, are working and playing cricket in Christchurch this season.
"It is the rebuilding season of Cornwall with Denica Smith captaining the side," Cornwall coach Bob Morgan told SportToday.
The good (or bad) news, depending on which side of the fence you are on, is that Central Districts Hinds and White Fern Rachel Priest will play in the Bay competition, albeit briefly, considering she will spend a sizeable part of the season fulfilling Central Districts Hinds and Bay representative duties too. So too will her fellow GJ Gardner Napier Old Boys' Marist (NOBM) teammates, Abby Burrows and Kelly Winkley, and Napier Technical Old Boys' (NTOB) batsman Kelly Tunnicliffe.
Take into account a few players knocking on the door of CD Development tours of duty and so where does that leave the competition?
Frankly it's time for the young and the restless to make their presence felt in the region.
Best United Travel Havelock North are predominantly schoolgirls but they have an aura of don't-mess about them. Coach Peter Hensman's continuity with a group of schoolgirls from primary through to high school already is already paying dividends from wins last season.
The core of the team is built around skipper Amy Foster, Sally Hensman, Olivia Gregory and opening bowler Sanika Rangnekar. The newcomers to club competition are ex-Havelock North High School players Freya Wakenshaw and spin bowler Sarah Percy. The Hambly twins, Kendl and Kym are the notable absentees.
NTOB, with former White Fern Donna Trow back at the helm as part-time player/coach, poses a similar threat with players such as Jemma Davies, Jo Bond and Sarah Sheenan laying down a solid foundation around prolific run-scorer Tunnicliffe. "We have quite a few new and young players so we'll just have to see how we go," Trow, the Hawke's Bay senior women's coach, said.
NOBM, the defending champions, don't look like losing their grip on the silverware considering the experience that gives off a rich sheen seen on quality furniture. However, while imposing on paper, they will be tested when their Hinds players venture out.
Cornwall have a stratified appearance about them, with the likes of CD women's most prolific run-scorer Megan Graham (player/assistant-coach) and Kaye Holloway on one end of the spectrum and Heretanuga Intermediate pupil Maneka Singh, 11, on the other.
Morgan is keeping his fingers crossed that his evergreens brigade will not need too many running repairs but expects his young guns of Penny-Rose Wiggins, Kelly Rangi, Kristina "George" Frederic, Andrea Singh, Megan Clark and Louise O'Neil to assume the mantle of playmakers.
Today, Havelock North will host Cornwall at Anderson Park while NOBM and NTOB will lock horns at Nelson Park No.6.
ANENDRA SINGH
Even before the sound of a ball cracking into a willow echoes through a park, it can be intriguing to find what's in store in the player department.
So who's staying? Who's going? And, more importantly, who's going to come and go?
With the women's club competition starting today ,
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