Cricket: Club sides eager to rack up some runs after rain-delayed start to season

Rodney bowler Luke Bevan bowls to City's Harry Darkins. Photo/Tania Whyte

It's a case of "take two" for Northland's club cricket season after last week's false start.

Poor weather throughout last week didn't allow any cricket to be played last Saturday, but the eyes of players and coaches will be glued to every weather report.

In Dargaville Shield action, Rodney will be taking on City in what should be an enthralling clash at Bourne Dean.

It looms as a repeat of the Lion Red 50 Over Cup earlier in the year, where Kaipara Flats took a 47-run victory.

Kaipara Flats is a feeder side to Rodney for the Dargaville and Greg Guy Shield.

In the other clash, Whangarei South take on last year's finalists Mid Western at Kensington Park.

Last time they met, a Henry Cooper special wasn't enough to earn Whangarei South a victory.

Cooper belted an impressive 115 runs, highlighted by 13 fours and five sixes in Whangarei South's total of 218.

With the help of Kurtley Watson (37), Mark Southee (37) and a 71-ball 80 from Ben Cochrane saw Mid Western home with eight balls and four wickets to spare.

In this week's Greg Guy Shield fixtures, Whangarei Boys High School First 11 take on Kamo and the City Reserves take on Northland Junior Secondary Boys at Kensington Park.

The final fixture sees Rodney at home to Mid Western.

Due to the rain over the last two weeks, all games are shaping to be low-scoring affairs if the rain holds off for Saturday's action.

With the fields gathering moisture from the rain and lack of hot, dry weather, batsmen will find it tough to find the boundary along the ground, meaning there will be plenty of running between the wickets.

For bowlers, the damp outfields will keep the runs down but it will, in turn, make the ball harder to control and lower the chances of swing.

Either way, all players will be eager to kick-start their season in convincing fashion.

Both Dargaville Shield fixtures kick off at 11am, while the Greg Guy Shield clashes start at midday.

Meanwhile, junior cricket also starts this weekend.

Twelve C grade teams are playing modified softball cricket, while 13 B grade teams will be playing modified hardball cricket.

The six A grade teams are playing a 35-over competition.

C grade matches are all at Kensington Park, while the B grade and A grade competitions are held at grounds in Whangarei, Dargaville and Kerikeri.