Russley confident

Press, 6 September 1989, Page 35

Russley confident

The Russley women’s indoor cricket side is confident, without being "cocky,” of defending its national club title in Wellington this weekend, according to Nicky Turner, a spokesperson for the side. Turner is one of the three national outdoor representatives in the team; the others are Jennifer Turner and Sarah Illingworth. The depth of provincial talent reveals the reason for Turner’s confidence. It has six of the Canterbury indoor players.

“We have confidence in each others ability. We have good technique so we are confident without being cocky,” said Turner. Maia Lewis, a national indoor representative and the women’s indoor cricketer for the year, is also in its ranks.

Turner feels that if the side plays to its potential it has an extremely good chance, but even if it plays under its best form it will still have a show.

Key players in the side also include a strike bowler, Justine Russell, and two allrounders, Katrina Withers

and Delwyn Brownlee. Three reliable middle order batswomen, Mandy Ormandy, Marina Russell and Wendy Giles, complete the line-up. Turner will be crediting the other South Island team, Southland, with potential. “They are really good, raw players,” she said. In the men’s competition Howzat, the Air New Zealand superleague champion and the South Island champion, carries the Southern hopes, and its coach Bryan Andrews, feels that its commitment and loyalty should give it the chance it needs against the North Island teams.

"We played indifferently at the start of the superleague, but I think we have peaked at the right time and we showed the benefit ; rpf the team nucleus at the South Island event in Nelson,” he said. “There were, several instances where'the team almost had us on the ropes, but they didn’t have the fortitude or skills to knock them over. We really did well to bowl out Sockbum for '34 runs in the final. I have never seen a

better display of fielding than then," he said. Mr Andrews is satisfied with the side but is still sceptical about the North Island teams, and Takapuna in particular.

“There is an unknown factor, but we can only do our best. The team has eight people committed to each other which will be hard to beat, and we must go up there with some confidence.”

Howzat has a strong batting line-up of David Bond, Julian Marsh, Mark (Ted) Nicoll and Steve Booth, the captain. Its bowling attack is spearheaded by Tim Andrews, Marsh and Booth. In the field Nicoll and Phil Harris play a vital role in the game strategy while Craig Williamson, at point, is an outstanding fielder. Also in the squad are utility players, Frank Noster and Doug McMillan, who has recently transferred from Nelson. Bowlerama has the services of Ben Harris, who has recently returned from Canada, and Sockbum will also be eager to make an impact.

an hour, 130 Mairehau Road.