Stoke-Nayland's spot in final confirmed

Stoke-Nayland have confirmed their place in the Car Company Nelson one-day club final with either Motueka or Wakatu set to join them.

There are still two rounds remaining before the decider on April 3, with Motueka and Wakatu the only other two sides now capable of joining Stoke-Nayland.

The situation appears more straightforward for Motueka who need to win only one of their two remaining games to qualify.

Despite recent confusion regarding the points system being used for this competition, the Nelson Cricket Association have confirmed Stoke-Nayland's official standing at the top of the points table on 24, followed by Motueka on 22, Wakatu 16, Sprig and Fern WTTU 12, Taylor's Contracting Wanderers 12 and Waimea College 10.

Stoke-Nayland and Wanderers square off at Brightwater tomorrow, with Wakatu and Motueka looking to enhance their claims against Waimea College and WTTU respectively.

Waimea College host Wakatu at Saxton Oval and WTTU are at home to Motueka at Jubilee Park.

Meanwhile, Stoke-Nayland batsman Paul Capstick is still 134 runs clear of Wanderers' Chris Bartholomeusz, despite Capstick's continuing absence from the crease, in the hunt for this season's Vonda Edwards Trophy batting award.

However, the competition remains tight among the leading bowlers for the Sid Guppy Cup, with WTTU seamer Jon Routhan's 30-wicket haul now placing him just two clear of both previous leaders, Wanderers' Hayden Ingham, and Routhan's WTTU team-mate Brendan Hodgson.

Batting (Vonda Edwards Trophy) – Paul Capstick (Stoke-Nayland) 721 runs, 80.11 average, Chris Bartholomeusz (Wanderers/Nelson) 587, 53.36, Dan Cooper (Wanderers/Nelson) 556, 39.71, Kurt Pahl (Motueka/Nelson) 547, 39.07, Ryan Edwards (Stoke-Nayland/Nelson) 411, 34.25, Ricky Edwards (WTTU) 409, 27.26, Mark Gardiner (Motueka/Nelson) 391, 30.07, Duncan Cederman (Motueka) 385, 35, Simon McGowan (Wakatu) 383, 25.53, Ben Homan (Stoke-Nayland) 360, 36.

Bowling (Sid Guppy Cup) – Jon Routhan (WTTU/Nelson) 30 wickets, 18.96 average, Hayden Ingham (Wanderers) 28, 17.42, Brendan Hodgson (WTTU/Nelson) 28, 18.57, Joe O'Connor (Wanderers/Nelson) 23, 24.08, Marty King (Waimea College/Nelson) 22, 24.22, Shane Laurence (Wakatu) 20, 27.05, Karl Mytton (Motueka) 19, 32.21, Connor Neynens (Waimea College) 18, 26.38, Nathan Todd (Stoke-Nayland/Nelson) 18, 39.5, Duane Valentine (Stoke-Nayland) 17, 20.47.

- © Fairfax NZ News