It will be the "battle of the colleges" when interclub cricket gets under way in Wairarapa tomorrow.
Drawn to play each other in the opening series of matches in the Umpires Cup limited overs competition are Rathkeale College and Wairarapa College and, with both teams in a rebuilding phase, an intriguing contest is in store. An injury to star allrounder Josh Mann is a blow for Rathkeale and they will be depending on the talents of Ben Foster, Harry Clinton-Baker, George Deans, Xavier McCluskey and Matt McKenzie to get them home.
Former Wellington and Greytown paceman Glen Jonas is coaching them this season. Another Greytown stalwart in Jake Ross is in charge of a Wairarapa College side, who have lost many of last season's squad. Classy allrounder Andrew Williams is captain and he will be wanting big things from the likes of Tane Workman, Stefan Hook, Sergy Montgomery, Caleb Hickland and the Griffiths brothers, Kim and Nick. The college clash will be played on an artificial strip at Rathkeale, as will the other Umpires Cup fixture, featuring Turkey Red Greytown and Red Star.
Trial dates at the Colombo Rd nets have been set for the Wairarapa JCB teams on October 11 and 18, and October 12 and 19.
