A win tomorrow is vital for Burger King Red Star, who are praying for the rain to stay away for their vital Coastal Challenge with bottom-of-the-table Paraparaumu.
Red Star are fifth equal in the standings with only two points from a rained out game and are targeting a bonus point victory the competition tailenders at Queen Elizabeth Park Oval. However, the weather might have the final say, with rain forecast for much of tomorrow.
If there’s no chance of play, that will continue a run of cruel luck for Red Star, who have yet to play a home game in the combined competition featuring teams from Wairarapa, Whanganui, and Horowhenua-Kapiti, after their only other home fixture against Whanganui Marist was abandoned.
Another washout would not end Red Star’s hopes, but they would probably need to win their remaining games, away to Kapiti Old Boys and at home to Whanganui United, with bonus points and rely on other results to go their way.
Should there be play, Red Star will go into the game without three key players. Opening bat and medium pacer Jake Jonas and hard-hitting all-rounder Gus Borren have returned to university, while opener Robbie Anderson is unavailable.
Although that trio’s absence leaves a decent hole in the batting lineup, Red Star will front with a more than useful bowling attack headed by representative seam bowlers Ethan Childs, Angus Jaspers, and Patrick Wootton. The slow bowling duties will fall to left arm spinner Quin Childs, leg-spinner Alex Mason, and off-spinner Trey Bidois.
Paraparaumu are a shadow of the side that won three championships, and have been soundly beaten in all three games. Despite that, Red Star captain Jeremy Anderson was not prepared to write off the visitors, but was confident that if there is play, he has the team to push for a victory, preferably with a bonus point.
Play is scheduled to get underway at the Oval at 12 midday.
Red Star team:
Jeremy Anderson [captain], Nathan Elliott [wk], Mark Steventon, Trey Bidois, Richard French, Quinn Childs, Ethan Childs, Angus Jaspers, Patrick Wootton, Alex Mason, and one other to be named.
