Daniel Cooper feels it’s time Wanderers started to deliver.
It has been seven years since the cricket club won any silverware, but having reached the Twenty20 final last season and being beaten in the recent two-day competition final, the signs are certainly there that things are on the up in Brightwater. “I definitely think so,” the captain says. “Andy Leonard has come on board in the last couple of seasons and sort of manage us and he’s been a huge part of that.”
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s “Battle of the Bridge” against rivals Waimea Toi Toi United, Daniel has faith that his bowling attack and selection of power hitters at the top of the order can do the job against the team that beat them in the two-day final. “Throughout the season we’ve had a really strong bowling attack. We’ve still got that but throughout the season we’ve improved in the batting. We’ve got Peter Carey who has come up from Christchurch and he’s a huge assest,” Daniel says of the former New Zealand under-19 player.
Taylor’s Contracting Wanderers head into the game on form. They beat ACOB twice during the week, once in the Twenty20 competition at Greenmeadows on Thursday night and then again comfortably in a one dayer at the Botanics on Saturday.
Tim Field and Hayden Ingham were handed Nelson debuts on the weekend, which will also bouy the club. Four Wanderers players took the field in that game, with Daniel joined by Joe O’Connor who has featured for Cental Districts A in the past. “It’s been a long time coming for him [Hayden]. I think he probably deserved a spot a lot earlier. The results we’ve been getting have been from some really good individual performances from throughout the season and they’ve been recognised.”
On the back of a double century for Nelson two weeks ago, which was followed up by a half century in the rep fixture, Daniel himself was also pleased with his own form. “I’m feeling in really good form. I think coming off six months in England has really helped me and I’ve been able to continue my form from there.”
Wanderers will take on Waimea College in the Car Company Twenty20 competition before facing Bar 321 WTTU. “It’s the local derby, the Battle of the Bridge,” he says of the rivarly between WTTU and Wanderers. “It will be a good one and I’m sure the boys will be getting up for it.”
