Payton happy enough with Wairarapa squad

Selection convenor Dermot Payton is "happy enough" with the all round strengths of the 17-man Wairarapa senior men's cricket squad named to prepare for their opening Hawke Cup and Chapple Cup matches with Hawke's Bay in Masterton next month.
Payton is aware of the magnitude of the task facing his side against a Bay team which could include a large number of current Central Districts representatives but he believes they have the depth to still give a strong account of themselves with bat and ball.
"The potential is there to do well and it's up to us to make the most of it," Payton said. "There's some good competition for places in the side and that's got to be a help in that respect. It will keep everybody honest".
Perhaps the most interesting selections are those of Paul Bracewell, Robin James and Henry Cameron.
Bracewell, son of former Central Districts spinner Doug Bracewell, is the adult "import" in the Wairarapa College side this season and impresses as a very useful off spin bowler and middle order batsman. He is a prime contender to replace the Englishman Chad Yates, who was such a big success on the representative scene last season but is now back in his homeland.
James is an experienced campaigner from the Lansdowne club whose appearances for Wairarapa in recent times have been limited by his unavailability but hopes are high he will be a permanent fixture in this season's line-up. If so, he would probably bowl his medium pacers at first change and bat in the middle order.
Cameron is a dashing top order batsman who is returning to the Wairarapa after a season or two away. He too has made several appearances for the province in the past and backs up his batting talents with the ability to bowl at medium pace.
Also included in the Wairarapa squad are college players Dion van Deventer and Cole Eru of Rathkeale College and Robbie Anderson and Daniel Ingham of Wairarapa College.
Of them all-rounder van Deventer and middle order batsman Anderson were regulars in last season's side although van Deventer's appearances the season will be cut short at the end of the year when he heads overseas. Both Eru and Ingham have outstanding all round capabilities as well.
The full Wairarapa squad is:
Sam Curtis (Lansdowne) captain, Brad Edwards (Red Star) Seth Rance (Greytown), Brock Price (Lansdowne), Dion van Deventer (Rathkeale), Robbie Anderson (Wairarapa College), Duncan Didsbury (Greytown), Joe Hull (Red Star), Daniel Stonely (Red Star), Wal Tatham (Greytown), Jared Watt (Red Star), Cole Eru (Rathkeale), Daniel Ingham (Wairarapa College), Paul Bracewell (Wairarapa College), Alex Treseder (Lansdowne), Robin James (Lansdowne), Henry Cameron (Lansdowne). Training will be at Rathkeale College on Wednesday evening, starting at 5.30pm.
Meanwhile, Seth Rance was in devastating form for Greytown on the first day of their Bidwell Cup match with Lansdowne at Rathkeale College on Saturday.
Rance racked up the first century of the club season when he scored 104 in Greytown's first innings of 188, dominating the scoring action with shots to all parts of the field. He was the only Greytown batsman to look comfortable against a steady and accurate Lansdowne attack
Lansdowne got their first innings away to a dreadful start with paceman Rance claiming the first two wickets without a run on the board but they had recovered by stumps to be 120-4, thanks to a well-made half century by Sam Curtis and an unbeaten 20 by Robin James. Rance took all four wickets to fall to complete a splendid all-round effort.
Rathkeale College were well placed at the end of the first day's play of their Bidwell Cup game with Red Star, also played at Rathkeale College.
The students made 199 in their first innings with Cole Eru making 53 and Ben Foster 40. Spinner Aaron Wilson took 3-44 for Red Star and Brad Edwards 2-22.
The pace of Dion van Deventer was too much for Red Star when they batted and they were struggling at 38-5 at stumps. Van Deventer had taken all five wickets to fall at a cost of just 16 runs.