Pirates and Central gunning for final spot

Eastern Pirates' captain Johnny Wiringi will be in action for their sides in their crucial pre-Christmas trophy semifinal. PHOTO/FILE

It's semifinal time in the Rotorua/Taupo senior reserve grade for the pre-Christmas trophy - with two crunch clashes lined up.

Local side Eastern Pirates, who finished third, take on Taupo Old Boys 1 who finished second away tomorrow.

Rotorua's Central CC reserves also make the journey to Taupo to take on first placed finishers GM Painters Lake Taupo CC 2nd Xl.

Pirates captain Johnny Wiringi said he was confident but his side do go into the game on the back of last weekend's 34-run loss to Lake Taupo CC - their first loss of the season.

"We've moved on from that defeat," he said. "It was an unlucky defeat and we know what we did wrong.

"This season we have been the ones to watch with the bat and we are going for all three of the trophies this year - the pre-Christmas, T20 and overall. So everything starts for proper now. We have the right culture at the club and a very experienced side."

Central captain Paul Wyllie said he was wary of his side's difficult opposition but his players were on a high after last weekend's six wicket win over Taupo Schools 1st XI and having lost just two games narrowly this season.

"It's always difficult playing away at the lake. But everything has finished very tight at the top which shows that we all have a similar amount of quality. I have full confidence. Our batting form is very sharp and if we just tighten up our bowling there's no reason why we can't get the win."

Meanwhile in the BOPCA Baywide premier competition Rotorua's Bayleys Central Indians are aiming to cause an upset when they take on second placed Carrus Mount Maunganui away tomorrow. With just two rounds left in the Baywide Cup the local side are desperate to end on a high after losing seven of their eight games.

Element IMF Cadets sit at the top of the standings with a slender lead and will be looking to extend this when they take on second from bottom New World Te Puke away.

Rotorua/ Taupo senior reserve grade:
Saturday, 1pm start

GM Painters Lake Taupo CC 2nd Xl v Central CC, Central Reserves, Owen Delaney, Taupo.

Taupo Old Boys 1 v Eastern Pirates, Owen Delaney, Taupo.

BOPCA Baywide premier competition fixtures

Baywide Cup,
Saturday, 12pm start:

Carrus Mount Maunganui v Bayleys Central Indians, Blake Park 1, Tauranga.

New World Te Puke v Element IMF Cadets, Te Puke Domain, Te Puke.

Eves Realty Greerton v Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys College, Pemberton Park, Tauranga.

Points table: Element IMF Cadets 144, Carrus Mount Maunganui 136, Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys College 124, Eves Realty Greerton 108, New World Te Puke 96, Bayleys Central Indians 17.