Curtis takes hot seat

Wairarapa cricket development officer Sam Curtis will have plenty more to think about come the 2012-13 season.

He has been appointed coach of the senior men's representative side, replacing Mark Brown whose successful three-year stint in the position ended when Wairarapa earned themselves a Hawke Cup challenge last season, the first time they had achieved that feat in 25 years.

Curtis was a member of that Wairarapa squad, continuing a lengthy playing association at the top provincial level, many times as captain. A top order batsman and useful spin bowler, Curtis has also worn the Central Districts colours and has often left these shores to join overseas clubs in the off-season.

Curtis and his assistant Brian James, who was part of the Wairarapa selection panel last season, could find themselves in a rebuilding role this year.

Central Stag paceman Seth Rance and promising all-rounder Jamie Holmes are reportedly joining the Johnsonville club, who play in the Wellington competition.

Last year's skipper, Central Stag Greg Todd, who was an influential figure with bat and ball, is heading to Melbourne.

The retirement of the experienced Mark Childs will leave another gap to fill and one of the region's top all-rounders, Dean Van Deventer, seems likely to play his cricket in Canterbury.

It is not all doom and gloom, however, as the hard-hitting Henry Cameron is expected to be available again, as is regular opener Tim Lucas and a group of promising younger talent including Ben Foster, Harry Clinton-Baker and Stefan Hook.

A quadrangular tournament to be known as the Tararua Cup will be a new focus of attention for Wairarapa next season. There they will take on Manawatu, Wellington and Hutt Valley and they will contest the Chapple Cup and Hawke Cup competitions.

Also on the agenda is a pre-season match against last season's Wellington club champions Eastern Suburbs. Curtis and James will name an extended squad of about 26 players within the next fortnight with the idea of having them attend regular training sessions in preparation for the upcoming season.