Manawatu not at full strength

Check out Bryn Templeman's training schedule and it's no wonder that when the clock strikes 8pm, he's thinking about bed.

He has to juggle training with Kia Toa and Manawatu Turbos rugby as well as the Old Boys and Manawatu Hawke Cup cricket teams.

In between he has physical work with Carl Izatt's landscaping crew to contend with.

Templeman, 22, is the No 3 hooker in the Manawatu Turbos rugby side. But for now, sharing the pace-bowling burden with the rep cricket side is his prime focus.

Well, until Manawatu see off the season's third challenge anyway, from North Otago, starting at Fitzherbert Park tomorrow.

He took seven wickets in the win over Bay of Plenty and despite being the No 11 batsman, scored 47 against a tiring Marlborough when he opened the second innings. "I quite rate myself with the bat and I was a bit gutted I didn't get 50," he said.

All the training has been worthwhile this summer, despite his gruelling schedule.

"I get a good workout at work so I'm pretty tired by the end of the day," he said. "I'm quite lucky living back at home; mum has tea ready for me and that saves an hour at nights."

He was living in a flat until his abortive trip to Surrey, England, in November to play rugby. He was turned around at Heathrow Airport and sent home because he did not have a sporting visa. So he returned to club cricket.

"I went to a rep trial, bowled all right, and since then I've been enjoying my cricket."

He spent 2005-06 in the Palmerston North Boys' High School 1st XI, as an opening bowler into the wind who takes the ball away from the right-hander. A year ago an injured knee foiled his chance of a rep debut.

He knows Manawatu want to keep the Hawke Cup over the winter and can't take North Otago lightly. It is believed to be the first time the sides have clashed.

Manawatu will not be at full strength because opening bowler Bevan Small is out with a lower back strain and Central Districts might retain the other quick, Adam Milne. CD had also intended calling up Small this week.

Freyberg seamer Jonny Lash and United allrounder Jason McGregor were called in last night.

North Otago have lost batsman Darren Broom, younger brother of Black Cap Neil, to the Otago first-class side. They have 32-year-old former New Zealand left-arm pace bowler David Sewell, who played one test, as a 19-year-old against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo. He was a workhorse for Otago until 2006.

There's also 33-year-old wicketkeeper Duncan Drew and former New Zealand under-19 batsman Sean Eathorne, who have played for Otago, and captain Chris Smith, who has played for MCC Universities as an opening batsman from Cardiff University.

Chairman Peter Cameron said North Otago was the second-smallest association in New Zealand and tomorrow's will be only their fourth challenge in 50 years. Their most recent was against Hamilton in 2002.

Cameron has noted Manawatu's indomitable form in the previous two defences.

"It's not that flash from our perspective, but we have good depth in our playing team."

- © Fairfax NZ News