Greytown get the nod

BY GARY CAFFELL
Greytown will start favourites to win the Bidwell Cup Wairarapa senior interclub cricket title this season, but skipper Mark Childs is taking nothing for granted as he prepares for the opening series of matches tomorrow.
He believes all five of the other participating teams are quite capable of making a strong showing, and that Greytown will need to be on their mettle to chalk up what would be their fourth successive victory in the two-day championship.
"It's got the makings of a very even competition, you couldn't count anybody out," Childs said. "We should be thereabouts again, but there are no guarantees."
Greytown's strength certainly lies in their attack where they will have the services of a bevy of players who can classified as quality swing or seam bowlers.
In that category are regulars Shane Mellor, Hayden Spierling and Glen Jonas, and talented recruits South African John Uys, former Chanel College player Ben Hodder and Brian James, who was part of the Academy team last season.
Early in the season the spinning duties will mainly fall to Josh Doherty, who has made his mark as a medium pacer in the past, but is now concentrating on leg spin.
But he could be aided and abetted later on by another South African in Jaco Ousthuizen, who was such a success with bat and ball for the Academy side last year, and who is keen to join up with Greytown once travel hassles from South Africa have been sorted out.
Greytown's batting has let them down twice already this season, in their Umpires Cup one-day losses to Wairarapa College and Rathkeale College, and Childs concedes they are a "bit thin " there.
Until Ousthuizen, and another newcomer in former Rathkeale College player Paul Lyttle arrive, the onus will be on Doherty, Childs, Jason Osborne and another gain from Rathkeale in opening bat, Jack Ross, to carry most of the run scoring burden.
Squaring off against Greytown tomorrow at the Park Sportsground No.2 will be Red Star who have had a mixed start to their season. They were thumped by Lansdowne in their first Umpire's Cup match, but then bounced back to beat the Academy in comfortable fashion last weekend.
The loss of consistent batsman Shayne Tyacke through injury is a blow to their chances this weekend, and they will be looking to Daniel Stonely, Jared Watt and Cory Burling to lead the charge in that department.
The recruiting of former Wairarapa College player Peter Sigvertsen has certainly added depth to a Red Star attack in which skipper Carwyn Caffell and Watt are sure to be prominent performers.
Rathkeale College and Lansdowne will meet at Rathkeale Oval and this should be an interesting encounter.
With players of the ilk of Sam Curtis, Henry Cameron, Lew Ewington, Aaron Bidlake, Robin James and Ngatai Walker, Lansdowne has what is potentially the best batting line-up in the competition, and James, Tyrone Ewington, David Lenihan, Walkker and Choi Jackson give them a more-than-useful attack as well.
Rathkeale would have taken plenty from their one-day win over Greytown last weekend though and with talented players like batsmen Andy Dodd and Doug Bracewell and spinner Simon Clinton-Baker in their side they should keep Lansdowne honest, at least.
Wairarapa College and Academy will meet at the Park Sportsbowl and this is a difficult game to assess with any certainty as the make-up of the Academy side is likely to change from week to week in the early-season games.
The fact they are fielding a side is a huge plus though as it avoids a bye, something which is always dreaded in two-day competitions..
In Seth Rance Wairarapa College have an all-rounder who has started the season well with bat and ball, and who seems certain to play a big part on the representative scene in 2005-06. Opening bat Cam Stone is a major plus as well, and youngsters sure to make good progress include top order batsman Sam Monaghan and opening bowler Joel Macklin.