Pennants match-ups enticing

The autumn holiday period is over and the third round of the Metropolitan senior A pennant series is this afternoon, with most teams playing at Balmacewen.

Some juicy match-ups are on the cards, as the Otago B52s and St Clair Saints look to remain unbeaten.

The B52s host Taieri Lakes, who will be buoyed by their upset win over the Otago Bombers before Easter.

However, they will be without new recruit Matt Tautari, who is replaced by Matt Mercer.

Chris Snow makes his first appearance for the B52s alongside fellow Otago masters representative Andrew Hobbs, which should offset the loss of Tom Lee.

On the other side of the course, the defending champion Bombers will need to be on their game to earn their first win of the season in what looks an evenly matched contest.

The Bombers will be without the seasoned Brandon Hodgson but welcome the return of experienced trio Tyrone Ratahi, Duncan Croudis and Luke Murdoch for their first game of the season.

The Saints have had one of their better starts to the season, narrowly beating their regenerated St Clair Devils clubmates before Easter. There is a settled look about the team, spearheaded by brothers Jacob and Ryan Bellamy.

Chisholm Links will not get a better chance to earn its first points at the Links against a Devils side missing Dunedin strokeplay champion Phil Bungard, who will not be present to face his old team.

The Geary brothers, Kyle and Sean, return to bolster the Links side that should be hard to beat on home soil.

Former senior cricketer Tom Griffin swaps bat for club in his debut for the Devils, who will be looking to inflict more misery on the bottom-placed Links side.

By Michael Minty

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