FOCUSED: Geyser City's first XI co-captain Matt Collier will be leading the bowling attack for his side on the weekend. PHOTO/FILE.
FOCUSED: Geyser City's first XI co-captain Matt Collier will be leading the bowling attack for his side on the weekend. PHOTO/FILE.
Geyser City first XI co-captain Matt Collier stresses a strong bowling performance will be essential to secure his side's first win in the Western Bay of Plenty reserve grade.
Tomorrow the bottom-of-the-table team visit Aquinas College - just two places above them - after suffering three losses and a draw in their opening four games.
But Collier said he was "very confident" his side would get a positive result from the "must-win" game and stressed the importance of bowlers taking early wickets.
"We have all been struggling for form but morale is high and this is one of the games that we targeted at the beginning of the season," he said.
"I'm hoping we don't let Aquinas College build any momentum in the game and put runs on the board. We need to unsettle them from the off.
"The bowlers have to do their jobs and we will be fielding a much stronger bowling side than batting - so we need to use this to our advantage."
Geyser City will be without right-arm fast bowler Matthew Mitchell who is sidelined through injury and experienced batsman Ada Aldsworth is unavailable for selection.
Meanwhile, competition leaders Lake Taupo CC meet second-to-bottom Otumoetai Cadets on the grass at Fergusson Park.
A top-four clash will take place at Blake Park when Mount Maunganui and R&A Sangha square off to decide bragging rights on the day.
Whilst second-placed Greerton could receive a strong challenge from the Tauranga Boys' College second XI.
Elsewhere, in the Rotorua/ Taupo senior reserve grade local sides BOP Indians CC, Reserves, Eastern Pirates and Central CC, Central Reserves all look to keep their unbeaten records intact in the second round of the competition.
BIG HITTER: Central CC, Central Reserves Central player Ryan Neves (batting against Chance Cars Geyser City last Saturday) will be aiming for the boundary once again this weekend. PHOTO/ BEN FRASER.
One of the feature games sees a second fiery derby in as many weeks for Central as they tackle BOP Indians tomorrow.
Eastern Pirates take on Taupo Schools 1st XI and Chance Cars Geyser City look for their first win of their campaign against GM Painters Lake Taupo CC 2nd Xl at home.
Fixtures:
WBOPCA Western Bay of Plenty reserve grade: Saturday, 12pm start.
Aquinas College v Geyser City, Aquinas College, Tauranga.
Mount Maunganui v R&A Sangha, Blake Park 1, Tauranga.
Greerton v Tauranga Boys' College, Pemberton Park, Tauranga.
Katikati v Whakatane United, Fergusson Park 3, Tauranga.
Te Puke v Sikh Sports, Te Puke Domain, Te Puke.
Cadets v Lake Taupo CC, Fergusson Park 1, Tauranga.
Points table: Lake Taupo CC 80, Greerton 70, Mount Maunganui 60, R&A Sangha 57, Whakatane United 50, Te Puke 48, Tauranga Boys' College 47, Katikati 40, Sikh Sports 37, Aquinas College 32, Cadets 24, Geyser City 21.
