Cricket: Big action despite knowing the finalists already

Cullen Lowe and his Whangarei Boys High School First XI teammates will be looking to carry on their good early season form tomorrow. Photo / John Stone

With the finalists already decided in the Northland Premier T20 competition, you'd be forgiven if you thought tomorrow's action wasn't overly exciting.

But that couldn't be further from the truth as all sides will be using this week to prime themselves for the rest of the 2016/17 season and will be able to use some different faces as Bella Homes Northland head to Taupo for the Brian Dunning Trophy.

Finalists Duracrete Products City and Onerahi Central face off in a preview of their upcoming Cobham Oval clash on December 11.

Both have gone through the competition unbeaten so far but only one will go into the final with a perfect record as long as the weather is fine, which it is forecast to be.

Both sides will be missing players through Northland selections, with Brad Kneebone, Henry Cooper (both Onerahi), Craig Little, Matt Lobb and Stacey Hyndman (City) all named in the team.

Meanwhile Westech Automotive Maungakaramea, fresh with a new naming sponsor, will take on Kamo. Both sides have one win in the T20 competition, so will be desperate to finish the competition on a high.

In the other clash, the winless Kaipara Flats take on surprise package Whangarei Boys High School First XI, who won two of their T20s and are undefeated in the Lion Red Cup.

Following the conclusion of the T20 round robin, the teams completely switch gears as they head into the Oxford Trust Two-Day competition until February.

In other club news, the reserve grade 40 over competition heads into round two after an exciting first week.

Despite winning their first game against Kamo High School, Westech Automotive Maungakaramea Reserves will be looking to improve when they travel to T20 finalists Bream Bay at Bream Bay College.

Maungakaramea snuck home with two wickets to spare in the first round, while Bream Bay fell to a 25 run defeat to WBHS Second XI.

The other matches see Kamo take on Duracrete Products City at Kamo Recreation Ground, Kerikeri Cricket Club at home against WBHS Second XI and Kamo High School taking on the other T20 finalists, Onerahi Central, at Kensington Park.

Meanwhile, Northland heads to Taupo on Saturday to play in two T20s and two one-day matches for the Brian Dunning Trophy.

Maungakaramea's Neil Parlane will lead the 13-man squad.

Bella Homes Northland Squad: Neal Parlane (c), Tyler Lortan, Kurtley Watson (Westech Automotives Maungakaramea), Brad Kneebone, Henry Cooper (Onerahi Central), Ben Hyde, Cam Johnson (Kamo), Craig Little, Matt Lobb, Stacey Hyndman (Duracrete Products City), Rory Christopherson (WBHS), Simar Virk, Brett Randell (Kaipara Flats)