CRICKET - Whangarei rivals face off

Don't expect either side to give any quarter as bitter Whangarei rivals Onerahi-Central and City square off for what is essentially the match for third and fourth place in the Northland Premier one-day competition tomorrow.
Both sides sit equal third with two wins apiece and theoretically at least, the winner of the match at Cobham Oval will have a chance of making next weekend's final. Theoretically, because that would require an in-form Maungakaramea to lose against Whangarei Boys' High School at Kensington Park with the winner at the oval also needing a bonus point win in a match that is likely to go down to the wire.
The competition has yielded no bonus points in the 12 matches to date and if last week is anything to go by there are plenty of runs on offer on an excellent track at the oval.
High School will be keen to continue their revival in the competition and won't be a pushover. After losing the opening four matches they beat Kamo last week to open their account and will look to take advantage of a slightly weakened Maungakaramea side this week.
The absence of Northland players John Child and Brett Hood with the squad leaving for Taupo on Saturday, will compound the loss of Michael Parlane to Northern Districts but Maungakaramea feel they have the experience needed to succeed without them.
Unbeaten Kaipara face winless Kamo in the final match-up of the round but Kaipara will be without their top players like James Marshall and Brad Wilson, the latter who leads the batting statistics by a mile, averaging 166 from his four matches thanks to a flawless knock of 154 not out last week.
Kamo will be without two of their bowlers Josh Ashley and Jamie Millar but it is with the bat that they need to improve if they want to record their first win of the competition.