New block ready for derby

DERBY: Rotorua's two premier cricket teams will do battle today at Smallbone Park. Pictured are Bayleys Central batsman Ryan Pedley (right) and Andrew Gibbs. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

THE FIRST Rotorua derby match of the Baywide premier cricket season will be played today on a new wicket block at Smallbone Park.

For the first time in more than 20 years, the wicket block at the centre of Smallbone Park has been replaced, marking another upgrade to Rotorua's home of cricket.

Turf manager Alan McKernon has been hard at work getting the new block ready for today's local derby between Bayleys Central and Bay of Plenty Indian Sports. He said it was a fitting match to open the new block.

"We dug up the old block, which was basically a big hole with sand in it," he said.

"We had a 450mm deep hole which we replaced with scoria to the last 100mm, then filled the last 100mm up with patumahoe clay."

McKernon said the new block was about 28m long by 15m wide, and would most likely take a season or so to become an ideal cricket surface. "I don't expect it to be a perfect block for the first season but from there on I will have a bit more knowledge of what to do with it."

Rotorua's two premier cricket sides, Central and Indian Sports, are winless so far this season, during the Baywide Cup, and have a great opportunity to get off the mark today. Central bowler and stalwart Andrew Gibbs said his team were yet to hit their straps this season, and they hoped to find some form today.

"Derby games are always good fun. As yet, Central have not lost to the Indians in a premier game and we certainly don't want to be the first team to break that record," he said.

"Both sides get on really well and a lot of players have good respect for each other, but when you get out on the field you get that white-line fever ... so both teams will be doing their best to win."

He said the players were looking forward to playing on the new block.

"Yeah, we can't wait. It will be interesting to see how the new block plays," he said. "Sometimes people think a new block is the best thing ever while others think it can take up to three years for it to come right."

A match between the Indians and Central this time last season concluded with a controversial dismissal to end the match. Both teams decided to call the match a draw after some heated scenes at Smallbone Park.

Gibbs said, from Centrals' perspective, that was water under the bridge now and there was no hard feelings.

" . . . and I would think, by now, the same goes for the Indians."

"But if there is still [some hard feelings], I guess it will make the game all the more interesting this weekend."

- Baywide Cup draw today (games start at noon):

Round four: Mount Maunganui v Te Puke, Blake Park; BOP Indian Sports v Bayleys Central, Smallbone Park; Otumoetai Cadets v Greerton, Tauranga Domain; Tauranga Boys' College bye.