Pirates on the hunt in return season

PLAYOFFS: The Eastern Pirates face off against the Rotorua-based Bay of Plenty Indians reserve team today in a semifinal fixture. Pictured is Eastern Pirates all-rounder Richard Downs. PHOTO/FILE

After resurfacing as a cricket club this season, Eastern Pirates are now on the hunt for some silverware.

The Eastern Pirates will face off against the Bay of Plenty Indians reserve team today during a semifinal match at Ray Boord Park.

The semifinals of the Reserves Championship, also known as the Rotorua/Taupo senior reserve grade cricket competition, are being held today.

Eastern Pirates will play off against the Indians while Taupo Old Boys host Geyser 1 at Taupo's Kaimanawa Reserve.

Pirates captain Des Beckett said his side were looking forward to the big match-up.

"It's always good playing in the semifinals. It is not often that you get to play in a semi or final, so it is quite exciting," he said.

"We have a full squad to choose from and the boys are looking forward to it."

Beckett said the Indians were a good team and they had not beaten them in any competition this year.

He said they had played them twice and had lost one game and drawn the other.

"They never roll over, the Indians, you have to admire them for that," he said. "They never give up and they are always competitive."

Eastern Pirates resurfaced this season as a Rotorua cricket club, after going defunct a couple of years ago.

Beckett said it would be nice to win some silverware for the club this season.

"Any time you win silverware is all good," he said. "If we do win a bit of silverware we might entice a few more players to join the club."

Meanwhile, in the other semifinal, Geyser 1 are chasing a famous treble this season after winning the pre-Christmas competition and the T20 competition.

However, they will need to win away to Taupo Old Boys, the side who finished top in pool play.

It is unlikely, but if rain washes out the semifinals today Pirates and Old Boys will go through to the final next weekend, as they finished in the top two on the ladder.

Reserves Championship semifinals today (games start at 1pm):

Taupo Old Boys v Geyser 1, Kaimanawa Reserve; Eastern Pirates v BOP Indians, Ray Boord Park.