AUCC Weekend Preview
The penultimate two-day rounds of the season get underway this Sunday for our
Senior Men`s sides with the Premier Reserves and Senior A`s looking to maintain
their respective title challenges.
AUCC Premier Men v Takapuna – Colin Maiden Park `E` Block
After suffering a first innings defeat at the hands of Birkenhead City last week
our Premier Men`s side are now out of contention for the Hedley Howarth
Trophy but, after a hugely successful first season in the top flight, they will still
be determined to end their campaign on a high.
In contrast Takapuna remain in contention for the Major Championship crown
so our boys should be expecting to face a determined line up over the next two
Sunday`s. Taka feature no fewer than four Auckland Aces players in their squad
however all rounder Carl Cachopa is the only one likely to feature in this game.
New Varsity skipper Anthony Ireland will be looking to give some younger
players opportunities over the last four weeks of the season with St Kents seam
bowler Angus Anderson being handed his premier debut on Sunday afternoon.
AUCC Premier Women v Eden Roskill – Keith Hay Park
Much like our Premier Men`s side our Premier Women`s team will be playing for
pride for the remainder of the season and using the final four weekends of the
year to blood some young talent.
While skipper Anna Peterson returns from International duty Sara McGlashan
will be unavailable for the remainder of the campaign due to injury while
Auckland Hearts captain Victoria Lind is also likely to miss the Roskill game due
to a foot problem.
After an impressive Premier debut last week youngster Ella Neighbours retains
her place in the side alongside Jayda Tainui who continues to impress with her
left arm seamers.
AUCC Premier Reserves v Howick Pakuranga – Lloyd Elsmore Park
AUCC`s Premier Reserves side take on Howick Pakuranga at Lloyd Elsmore Park
over the next two Sunday`s hoping to secure a big victory to narrow the 13.56
point gap between them and Minor Championship leaders Cornwall in the race
for promotion.
Should Nigel Fletcher`s side get within striking distance of Cornwall, whom they
face in the final round of the season, then it will be all to play for on the last two
Saturday`s of March.
Firstly however Fletcher`s side will need to secure an outright win over second
placed Howick. Given the need for a big victory Fletcher will be hoping seam
bowler Josh Fisher can rediscover the form that has made him one of the top U19
seam bowling prospects in the whole of New Zealand. Should Fisher fire with the
ball there are few batsmen at any level who have the ability to negate his pace
and swing.
AUCC Senior A1 v Suburbs New Lynn – Ken Maunder Park
AUCC`s Blue Cobras are currently locked in a three way race for the Senior A1
Championship with two games remaining.
After two consecutive outrights Varsity will be looking for more of the same
when they meet bottom of the ladder Suburbs New Lynn at Ken Maunder Park.
Despite their low standing Suburbs were able to defeat championship
contenders Hibiscus Coast on first innings in their previous game meaning they
will be no pushovers on the next two Sunday`s.
Varsity have been able to settle on a similar team to the one that has contested
the last two victories with Adrian Fong and Carl de Beer returning to the side.
AUCC Senior B3 v Papatoetoe – Barry Curtis Park
Which AUCC Senior B3 side will show up to take on Papatoetoe at Barry Curtis
Park over the next two Sunday`s? In their previous game the Senior Bs were able
to secure an emphatic outright victory over Eden Roskill just one week after
suffering the opposite result at the hands of Grafton United.
Skipper Donald White will have to find out the answer to that question without
star batsman Adisha de Silva who is competing in the Auckland sprinting
Championships on Sunday afternoon.