CRICKET: City skip asks batsmen to up tempo

City Cricket Club captain Bert Horner has asked his men to step up with the bat when they clash with Kamo, following a disappointing start to the one day competition.
"We've lost two out of three - to Maungakaramea and last weekend to Kaipara Flats.
"It was disappointing last weekend ... our batting let us down. After bowling first and Kaipara reaching 182, we couldn't chase them down. We were in a situation where we were looking good and we would get a decent partnership going and then lose wickets at crucial times."
While everyone needs to lift tomorrow  at Kensington Park, Horner said he would look to fellow opening batsman Jamie Matthews, along with Ian and Chris Page, Harry Darkins, who rejoins the squad this week, and their professional player/coach Owain Hopkins for big performances with the bat.
 With allrounder Darkins, Northland squad member Tim Anderson also comes back into the team, the legspinner adding depth to the bowling.
City will lose Joey Yovich to Northern Districts duties but aside from that, they are at full strength, Horner said.
With only two Northland Cricket Association premier grade one day 50-over games left in the competition, City need to win both to reach the final.
They also are depending on leading teams, Maungakaramea with three wins from three, Whangarei Boys High and Kaipara Flats with two wins, to "do them some favours" to make sure they get there.
The top two teams in the one day competition go on to contest the Northern Districts tournament, and the winner of that heads to the New Zealand Championships.
"We are keen to get there after going through to that two years ago," Horner said.
Kamo have also struggled in the one day competition, with a young side, strapped for experience, and still yet to secure a win in the competition.
"We have nothing to lose going into this game," professional player/coach Dean William said.
"We're up against a decent City side, but in my point of view if we all contribute, we can give it a good shot."
Last week, Onerahi Central defeated  Kamo  convincingly to claim their first one day win this season, at Kensington Park.
"We are a very young side ... we have a lot of reserve players who have never played at that level before, and it puts a lot of pressure on the more experienced players - who aren't all that experienced," William said.
This season has become more about developing the young side, who are  willing to learn, and would be giving it their all tomorrow .
"The wicket at Kensington is good but last week it was lacking an experienced Kamo side to perform on it," William said.
"We will be giving it a good shot this weekend and hoping for a win, or at least an improved performance from last week."
Kamo play City at Kensington Park tomorrow, from 11am, while Maungakaramea face Onerahi Central at Maungakaramea and Whangarei Boys High School go up against Kaipara Flats, at Kaipara.