Taupo's plan to claim some silverware - score runs

FINAL: The Eastern Pirates and Taupo Wanderers will contest the pre-Christmas reserve grade final today. Pictured is Pirates player Angelo Pereira (centre). PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

A strong Taupo Wanderers team will make the trip north today to contest the first piece of silverware in the Rotorua/Taupo senior reserve grade.

They will go up against the Eastern Pirates at Smallbone Park in Rotorua at 1pm, during the final of the pre-Christmas competition.

Wanderers senior player Alex Davey said they had one main strategy when they get out on the park.

"Score runs. We haven't batted 40 overs yet this season and that is the key. If the team who bats first gets through 40 overs they will be in a really good position."

Davey said they had won the pre-Christmas competition quite a few times but missed out on collecting any silverware last season.

Taupo defeated competition favourites Geyser City in the semifinal last weekend to progress to the final today.

Davey said it was still early on in the season though and they were trying to find their rhythm.

"We haven't played much together as a team. So it was good a young guy, AJ How, got a 50 last week and bowled really well [in our semifinal]."

Davey said while they had to rely on some tight bowling last weekend - bowling Geyser out for 82 - they did not want to rely on that again today. "I like to think we can bat as well."

He said they should have most of their players available including their strongest batsmen Ray How and Blaine Inch.

Today's match will be the first time Taupo and Eastern Pirates have met this season. "We haven't played them but I believe they are pretty strong, but it is all about having a bit of fun."

If Smallbone Park is not ready for the match, the final will be moved across the road to Ray Boord Park.

MetService was predicting some late rain today.

Davey said the two teams had agreed to play the final next year if the match was rained off today - doubling it up with their after-Christmas fixture.

-Reserve grade pre-Christmas final: Taupo Wanderers v Eastern Pirates, 1pm today, Smallbone Park.