Cricket: Winner take all in crunch Furlong Cup "final"

Ian Snook

Whitaker Civil Engineering Taranaki takes the advantage into the Furlong Cup title deciding fixture against Manawatu this Saturday and Sunday.

Playing at home on Pukekura Park, in front of a pack of former players, families, and skipper Sam Fastier’s workmates, Taranaki leads Manawatu on the points table by 6.

It’s a classic set-up. The winner will receive the Furlong Cup as the top Central Districts province, and will earn the right to challenge for the Hawke Cup against holders Hawkes Bay, at the end of the month.

The Furlong Cup is notable for the man it is named after, Blair Furlong. Furlong was an important cog at first-five in the famous Hawkes Bay Ranfurly Shield sides of the 60s, toured South Africa with the All Blacks, played first class cricket for Central Districts, and most significantly was the Chief Executive of Central Districts Cricket for twenty years when cricket went professional.

This nearly 80-year-old is a personality well suited to mixing it with sporty people, and can still be sighted in the grandstand at his favourite place, McLean Park.

The Hawke Cup, donated by Lord Hawke in 1910, is held by the premier provincial side in New Zealand, and is the target that every provincial cricketer aims at.

This is the pinnacle, and the Taranaki boys have their eyes set on it.
With four victories in four games, against Hawkes Bay, Whanganui, Wairarapa and Horowhenua-Kapiti, Taranaki will head into the clash with plenty of positivity and a desire to prove they are the best in this part of the North Island.

Captain Sam Fastier summed it up when he encouraged the troops by suggesting, “Just keep doing what you have been doing. Keep it simple and clear”.

Coach Chris Coombe and his team leaders have named a very experienced side for this crucial fixture.

The 12-man team is: Sam Fastier (c), Liam Carr, Ben Frewin, Jordan Gard, Jacob Leuthard-Richards, Trent McGrath, Liam Muggeridge, Dean Robinson, Mattie Thomas, Ryan Watson, Bailey Wisnewski, Rupert Young.

Every one of the batting eleven can score big runs at this level, with Robinson, Wisnewski, Young, Muggeridge, McGrath, Thomas and Watson all having scored at least one coveted century in their careers.

The master of them all is Robinson with 16 centuries in his 122 games, twice as many as the next best Taranaki player from over 700 who have donned the colours. Significantly, he has a liking for Manawatu, with scores of 148 not out, 137 and 94 in his career.

If the mentality is one of expecting to score big, no matter the batting number in the order, then the plan should work. Bat big, bat long, bat positively. Every run is crucial.

The current stats suggest this is a real possibility.

McGrath, Leuthard-Richards and the hard to dismiss Gard, are all averaging over 50, with Robinson and Young on 45, and Wisnewski on 38.

Robinson and McGrath have scored centuries this current season, Wisnewski has a top score of 97 and Leuthard-Richards a 95. The batting looks healthy.

Coombe has picked three quick bowlers, Watson, Frewin and Gard, with the unlucky player this week being the omitted Stratford paceman John Beale.

Watson is the current Ali Jordan, the key component in the attack. His high in-swinging action, backed by bounce and seam, just needs consistent accuracy for him to play a big role.

Back in action after missing the first three games is the athletic Frewin. With a classic action providing ample pace, he will be out to show his worth at this level. He is a young player just waiting to break through with a top-line performance. Injury free, he has the ability.

The workhorse of the three, and leading wicket taker for the season with 15 wickets at an average of 17.6, is vice-captain Gard. His workload will be demanding and long, something which he has already displayed a liking for.

An accurate and ‘thinking’ bowler, Gard will carry out his task, nipping away at one end and making life difficult for the batsmen.
The team contains four spin options, all with their own successes, all with the ability to grab a crucial wicket or two, and all with the ability to grab a big bag.

Carr is the form man, with 13 wickets in his pocket this season, including an Honours Board performance of 7-56. His clever variations of flight and pace suggest a bowler of maturity, far beyond his young years.

The wily Thomas, now with 85 games listed beside his name, has 166 scalps. Always a tough customer to get away, he will be relied on to perform when it counts.

Muggeridge, a 73-game man, has a best of 5-20, whilst the return to the province of McGrath provides a canny customer both with bat and ball.

His previous seasons playing in the colours of Manawatu will give him a real insight into the strengths and weaknesses of each batsman, something that could see him at the bowling crease at crucial times.

Manipulating the attack is skipper Fastier, already with a successful season under his belt, his positive decision making will determine much of how the game rolls.

Manawatu have easily disposed of Whanganui, Wairarapa and Horowhenua-Kapiti this season, but ended up on the losing end of things against the strong Hawkes Bay side.

These are two sides stacked with talent who have shared the points during the past five seasons. This time it will be ‘winner takes all.’
Bonus points aside, a first-innings win for either team will be sufficient to bring the really big smiles.

In front of a crowd including Taranaki legends such as Terry Dravitzki, Ali Jordan, Gary Robertson, and scorer for 50 years Thelma Luxton, the team will be ‘fizzing’.

This is why the best players play. Will they win the mental battle?

Play is scheduled to commences at 10.30am each day if you can get along.

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