Emerging team has international edge

Greg Smith will captain Emerging Wanganui in their game against Emerging Taranaki in Hawera on Sunday.

A second tier Wanganui XI will take the field against their Taranaki counterparts in Hawera on Sunday, containing six current members of the Treadwell Gordon Wanganui squad.

Nine of the 'Emerging Wanganui' squad are Under 19 players, joined by a smattering of more senior men including captain Greg Smith, who led Wanganui in two Furlong Cup matches last year.

The side is guided by former Wanganui coach Stuart Gillespie.

"It's a chance for those players to put a claim up for the Central Districts Under 19's," said Cricket Wanganui general manager Dilan Raj.

Smith, Thomas Walshe, Matthew Simes, Angus Dinwiddie, Trey Bidois and Connor O'Leary all played against the Taranaki senior team last weekend at Victoria Park.

As well as providing those players and the others the chance to play at a higher tier than club cricket, and in the case of batsmen Walshe and Smith an opportunity to find some form, there are also no restrictions on international players.

Therefore, Property Brokers United's newcomer Freddie Wilson can play alongside his fellow Englishman Smith, while Canadian and former Central Districts Under 17 player Akash Gill can also take part after NZ Cricket barred Wanganui from selecting both him and Smith last weekend.

"There will not likely be another opportunity for Akash and Greg to play together," said Raj.

The last time a squad of this nature was raised was the 'Young Wanganui' team in the 2012-13 season.

The game starts at 11am.

Also announced yesterday was the Ray White Wanganui Under 15 squad.

As expected, the side is dominated by Wanganui Collegiate players, along with two from Cullinane, one from Rangitikei and an expat - Zac Farmer from Palmerston North Boys High, who played in younger Wanganui representative teams.

Collegiate's Harry Godfrey is the captain, with the team coached by Dave Berry and Mark Godfrey.

The teams are

Emerging Wanganui: Thomas Walshe (Saracens); James Russell (WCS); Greg Smith (United) (c); Matthew Simes (WCS); Akash Gill (Tech); Angus Dinwiddie (WCS); Ben Kelt (WCS); Trey Bidois (Saracens); Jamie Simmons (Saracens); Freddie Wilson (United); Connor O'Leary (WCS); Zak O'Keefe (Marist). Coach: Stuart Gillespie.

Wanganui Under 15: Harry Godfrey (WCS) (c); Joel Clark (WCS); Hunter Morrison (WCS); James Craig (WCS); Tomasi Connor (Cullinane); Mathew Hodges (Cullinane); Zac Farmer (PNBHS); William Hocquard (WCS); Adam Lennox (WCS); Robert Daines (Rangitikei College); Shaun O'Leary (WCS); Adam Beard (WCS). Coach: Dave Berry, Mark Godfrey.