CRICKET - Plenty to play for, says Wilson

REIGNING champions Northern Districts may not have too much to play for other than pride in their remaining three State Championship matches but Kaipara Flats opening batsman Brad Wilson doesn't feel that way.
Wilson was recalled to the side for the match against Otago last weekend in Invercargill, and made the most of his opportunity by scoring 100 runs in his single turn at bat in the drawn match.
It was the first time this year that Wilson had been called into the ND team and the century has got him off to a good start as he fights for a 2008/9 contract.
"It's been a while between games for me, I've only played two games for Northern this season and both of those were before Christmas, so it's been a great way to get back into it," he said.
"I'm really trying to cement my place in the side and that's my main aim for the next few games. The century in Invercargill was a good way to start that off, I suppose, it took the pressure off a bit and allows me to just go out and play in the remaining matches."
ND's chances of retaining their State Championship title relies on mathematical possibility - they go into today's match against Auckland at the Harry Barker Reserve in Gisborne just one place off the bottom of the table.
Wilson said an outright win in the match against one of the competition pacemakers could get them back into the race.
The 22-year-old right-hand batsman has scored freely in club cricket this season but said it was probably his good run of form for Northland in the Fergus Hickey competition - with a batting average in the high 60s - that saw ND coach Andy Moles bring him back into the side.
"I've been pretty happy with my form [for Northland] and I haven't really changed my game plan much ... regardless of the level you're playing, runs are runs and at the end of the day you're playing with a red ball."
Wilson said preparation for the match had been hampered by the unpredictable Gisborne weather.
In other cricket this weekend, the Northland women's team will play Hamilton at Cobham Oval on Sunday with the winner earning the title of Northern Districts one-day champion.
There is another round of Whangarei Club cricket with the premier grade featuring City and Kamo at the oval, while Onerahi play Whangarei Boys' High School and Maungakramea take on Kaipara Flats at Kensington Park.
Northern Districts: J Marshall (c), B Wilson, T Southee (Northland), G Aldridge, D Flynn (Bay of Plenty), S Andrews, P McGlashan (Counties Manukau), C Merchant (Waikato Valley), B Arnel, B Martin, M Orchard, BJ Watling (Hamilton).