Delay doesn't ease challenge

Paul O'Callaghan picked up four clean-bowled wickets in club cricket last Saturday, but Taranaki's Pukekura Park punishes anything wayward. PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY

Their assignment has been delayed a week but remains a daunting jaunt against history for the Active Physio Wanganui team in New Plymouth tomorrow.

Wanganui have never beaten Taranaki in Hawke Cup cricket at the picturesque Pukekura Park in the time captain-coach Dominic Rayner has been involved with the team, and they will not have the crucial services of Central District's professional Ben Smith.

The regular captain, Smith's form at the first-class level has him turning out for the Stags in their HRV Twenty20 clash against Wellington at Westpac Stadium later tonight.

"Usually he phones me when he's available but he's been going pretty well [for Central Districts]," said Rayner.

Smith is one of two changes from the team which played the one-day Chapple Cup tournament in October, while a couple of key players will be at less than 100 per cent.

They will need to find form as tomorrow's game being moved from last Saturday, to make sure Pukekura's pitch was ready, means three straight weekends of Hawke Cup as Wanganui will host Waiarapa on November 30 and Horowhenua-Kapiti on December 7.

"The guys that are in this week have been told they've got the opportunity, so it's up to them to make the most of it," said Rayner.

Paceman Fraser Kinnerley is unavailable but, having recovered from his side strain, Nick Blundell returns.

Rayner said with the naming of the New Zealand U19 world cup team looming, Blundell will be using his half run up to protect his body, although he will still be an asset at that pace.

With his own side strain to deal with, exacerbated when another vehicle ran into his tow bar last week, all-rounder Dominic Lock will focus on being a No5 batsman.

"At this stage we've got plenty of bowlers, we've got Trent Hemi and we'll have Mark [Fraser] next week, so he doesn't have to rush into it," said Rayner.

Meanwhile, veteran Robbie Power hitting a purple patch of taking wickets in Porter Hire Premier 1 club cricket warranted his selection.

"He was turning it about a metre at training last night, so he's going well. Pukekura Park is not a spinners ground but if anyone can find some turn, Robbie can," Rayner said.

The captain-coach will decide on the day if whether conditions favour batting first which will throw the spotlight on Brett Cameron in Smith's absence.

Rayner liked the teenager's innings of 82 not out for Bayer Marist against his Matt Burke Engineering Marton Saracens team last Saturday.

If they decide to bowl or are made to, nothing less than true line-and-length will shield them as the park's short boundaries mean anything square of the wicket will disappear.

Key tomorrow will be holding firm in the first session, beginning at 10.30am.

"It's the first game on the block so we expect there to be a far bit in the pitch," said Rayner.

"We just have to get through that first hour, because Taranaki are a passionate team. Pretty much all Taranaki teams are.

"We haven't won there since I started playing [for Wanganui]."

There are seven survivors from the Wanganui team that faced Taranaki at Victoria Park in January last season; a disappointing 90 run loss.

Desperate for an outright win, Taranaki hammered the Wanganui bowlers getting 293-8 in the first innings then walloping 174-4 in just 23 overs the next day.

Rayner and Lock's partnership saved the locals from 100-5 to reach 260 and keep them in the game after the first innings, but Rayner was not available on the second day for personal reasons.

The young batsmen, aside from Henry Collier, could not handle the pressure of the inviting 208 run-chase target and again collapsed to 118 all out, in a match they could have possibly won.

The Wanganui team is: Dominic Rayner (c), Brett Cameron, Morgan Inness, Henry Collier, Bryce Grant, Dominic Lock, John Macilraith, Robbie Power, Nick Blundell, Sam O'Leary, Trent Hemi, Paul O'Callaghan.