NPMU Steelers 2018/2019 Preview
The 2018/2019 season sees the NPMU Steelertaurs (aka pressuretaurs, aka behaviourtaurs) enter their sixth season in the North Taranaki T20 grade.
A largely similar core group of T20 veterans return along with some fresh faces for the 2018/2019 season. The group is looking to defend the Roger “Spadge” Brown trophy (played for between all NPMU T20 grade teams) following on from their best ever season which saw them claim the North Taranaki T20 grade title.
The first matchup of the season last weekend saw the Steelers put the Spadge on the line against the youthful NPMU Funkwits. Batting first a good total was posted with half centuries from Cameron Hurley, Eli Kneepkens and Joel Scott. The total was defended with some new faces featuring in the bowling attack to retain the Spadge in the first hit out of the summer thanks to good bowling efforts from Alex Gawler, Thomas Schaare and Luke Taplin.
Having lost captain Satch Pryor, opening batsman Alex Kalin and most valuable fielder Ethan Perrett to work commitments the Steelers still field a familiar side. Jack De Luca returns for his eighth season in the division and spearheads the bowling attack and Craig Sole yet again provides valued experience with bat and ball.
Alex Gawler and Logan Crowley provide some fire in the bowling line up. With “JDL” and “Tappy” looking to tighten the opposition up through controlled accuracy. Cameron Wooldrage, returning will offer some variation on turning tracks.
Looking to continue on last season’s batting glories and miseries the Steelers will look to Shaun Phillips, Cameron Hurley, Joel Scott, Eli Kneepkens and Joe ‘Bro’ Brophy. Hurley and Scott will look to be aggressive with both bat and tongue while Kneepkens and Phillips steady the sinking ship. Brophy and Dylan ‘Rangi’ Schuler will provide some power hitting abilities throughout the innings.
This weekend sees an important fixture for the Spadge against fellow NPMU side Crumnation. Other important matchups will be against a strong NPMU Tukapa side and old rivals Waitara who the Steelers face up to on the all-important first Saturday of December.
