Teens on big learning curve

FIGHTING BACK: Chris Nairn and his Geyser 2 teammates will be looking for a win against Taupo Old Boys tomorrow.PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER 021113AW11

The reserve grade cricket competition heats up this weekend as teams look to play themselves into early season form.

Rotorua Central, Geyser 1 and Taupo Wanderers all picked up wins last weekend in round one of the Rotorua/Taupo reserve grade competition.

Round two is being held tomorrow, giving all 10 teams a chance to shake off any rust left over from the winter.

Central captain Sam Gordon said a victory against John Paul College tomorrow would give them a boost in the pre-Christmas competition.

"If we win we will be one step closer towards winning the competition," he said. "But if we don't we will have to come back next week and try again."

Gordon said it was good having high school first XI teams in the competition.

He said it provided good experience for younger cricketers, making them develop their game and skills to perform at that level.

"They are getting exposed to quicker bowlers and better batsmen which they may not come across in school level cricket," he said.

Gordon said they would field a similar team to the one which defeated Geyser 2 last weekend.

In the other match at Boord Park, Eastern Pirates will face off against Rotorua Indians.

Meanwhile, three games are being staged at Owen Delany Park in Taupo: Geyser 1 will play Taupo Combined Colleges, Taupo Old Boys will play Geyser 2, and Taupo Indians will play Taupo Wanderers.

Rotorua/Taupo reserve grade draw (round two):

Central v John Paul College, Boord 2; Geyser 1 v Taupo Combined Colleges, Owen Delany 1; Taupo Old Boys v Geyser 2, Owen Delany 2; Eastern Pirates v Rotorua Indians, Boord 3; Taupo Indians v Taupo Wanderers, Owen Delany 3.