Battles begin for shot at finals

PLAY-OFFS: Rotorua's Geyser 1 and Central play their semifinal matches at home today. PHOTO/FILE

The four best reserve grade cricket teams in Taupo and Rotorua will battle for a spot at the big dance.

After five rounds of pool play, Rotorua's Central Cricket Club and Geyser 1 came out on top of their pools and will play at home in the two semifinals today.

Central will play host to Taupo Wanderers at Neil Hunt Park today and Geyser 1 will face off against Taupo Old Boys in the second semifinal at Boord Park.

The winner of each match will play in the final of the Rotorua/Taupo senior reserve grade competition, scheduled for next weekend.

Central captain Sam Gordon said his team was up for the challenge today.

"The team is ready to get stuck into them," he said.

"This is our biggest game of the season so far. It will be a great test for some of the younger fellas."

He said they had not played Wanderers this season but knew a little bit about them.

"I think they have some good batters and some good bowlers," he said.

"Alex Davey has a good cricketing head. If he stays in and we let him get away from us, it will be hard. Their wicket keeper is quite sharp as well, with the bat and behind the sticks."

He said Central had lost a few players to their premier team today, but they still had a strong bowling attack and had a good opening batting pairing between FG Gous and Ben Fraser.

Meanwhile, Geyser 1 captain Matt Collier said his side was happy to finish top of their pool in the pre-Christmas competition.

"We are stoked. We played two weeks ago and beat Wanderers and managed to finish top of the pool."

He said they had named a strong side for the semifinal today.

"We have actually altered our side. We have selected a side we think can take us all the way," he said.

"We have brought in a few experienced heads."

He said they had also brought up two of the younger players to give them exposure at that level.

Geyser 1 have posted a number of good scores this year in the 40-over competition and boast a strong batting line up.

In the other games today, teams finishing outside the top two in each pool will play off against each other. Geyser 2 will face off against Taupo Combined Colleges and John Paul College will play Rotorua Indians. Eastern Pirates have the bye.