Tough times for Wairarapa cricket team

Hardly surprising that Wairarapa senior men's cricket coach Robin James has just the one wish leading into his team's Hawke Cup elimination match with Horowhenua-Kapiti in Masterton on February 10 and 11.
James would like nothing more than to be able to field his strongest side, something which has not been possible in the three previous Cup gmes this season against Nelson, Hawke's Bay and Taranaki.
It's a situation which has seen Wairarapa lose two of the matches outright-to Nelson and Taranaki- and be beaten on the first innings by Hawke's Bay and with just the one point bringing up the rear in the zone two series
Inter-school and Central Districts under-17 commitments have robbed Wairarapa of the chance to play talented Rathkeale College players like Doug Bracewell,Andy Dodd, Simon Clinton-Baker and Dean van Deventer in any of the Cup matches to daten and James freely admits their absence has been felt.
"A lot of the players were blooded last season and did well to suggest that with that experience behind them they would become very important members of the team this season," he said.
"So not having them available has been a big blow."
Especially frustrating to James was their unavailablity for the Taranaki game because they were required to be with the Central Districts under-17 side despite the fact their tournament was not starting until the day after the Hawke Cup match finished.
"It's tough on provinces like us when that sort of thing happens, it makes it very hard to come up with a competitive side," he said.
The loss of all-rounders of the calibre of Bracewell and Dodd meant that James and his co-selectors were forced to entice Chris Jefferies out of retirement for the Taranaki game.
Jefferies had been a fine servant of Wairarapa over many seasons but had not even played at senior club level since calling it a day at the end of the 2005-06 season.
"It was a big call to bring Chris in but we felt his experience made it worthwhile," James said. " We are very grateful he agreed to fill in but it was a one-off, he's back in retirement now".
Not helping the Wairarapa cause either has been the transfer of top order batsman and part-time bowler Cameron Stone to the Taranaki area.
James said Wairarapa would be treating the Horowhenua-Kapiti game as a "must win" as they were just one place above Wairarapa on the competition table and victory would very probably save Wairarapa from the wooden spoon.
"Right now it's the most important match of the season for us and that's how we are preparing for it," he said. "The players who have fronted up have certainly given their best and deserve a win, and this is our big chance to get one."