In spite of a frustrating build-up, North Otago cricket coach Paul Todd is confident about his weekend's Hawke Cup challenge against Hamilton.
The miserable New Zealand summer has also affected their opponent's preparation, which Hamilton Cricket Association executive officer Rupert Hodgson described as "shocking".
Hamilton will also be without the services of Northern Districts players Simon Doull, Mark Bailey and Jaden Hatwell.
North Otago's final preparations were going very well and were winding up with an open net this morning.
"It's gone fairly well. There's a lot of confidence," Todd said this morning.
North Otago had two nights of indoor training at Dunedin's Edgar Sports Stadium last week and an open net at Centennial Park on Sunday. The team travelled to Hamilton yesterday to get in a couple of net sessions on grass wickets, before the game, which is due to start tomorrow morning.
"You can do a certain amount in the nets, but it never replaces in the middle. We've just got a little bit disjointed over the Christmas break," captain Mark Wilson said.
Two members of the squad, Scott Simpson and Craig Smith, played for Otago at the national under-17 cricket tournament in Napier this week.
Wilson said the team was focused on the longer form of the game and had worked hard in the lead-up to the challenge.
North Otago had predominately pace attack, headed by left-armers David Sewell and Neil Rushton. Sewell was in particularly good form for the Otago Volts in their one-day win over Canterbury in Oamaru last week. Sewell was released from the Volts for the Hawke Cup challenge.
Mr Hodgson said there had been only five full days of club cricket since October.
"We've had a shocking year, but in saying that the weather today is glorious," he said.
The game will be played at Galloway Park in Hamilton, which has proved a boon for batsmen in the past.
The weather report was for fine weather.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - Hawke Cup - Challenge
North Otago vs Hamilton at Galloway Park, Hamilton
North Otago 211 ( M. Wilson 94no, P.A. Todd 44, D.J. Drew 44, Orchard 5-34, Martin 4-79 ) & 154 ( G.J. Billcliff 34, D.J. Drew 26, S.A. Simpson 24, S. Pasupati 18, Martin 4-50, Irwin 2-23, Orchard 2-30 )
Hamilton 301 ( G.G. Robinson 59, M.G. Orchard 58, J.P. Nolen 52no, N. M. Daley 35, A. Somani 28, B.P. Martin 21, D.A. Holt 19, D.G. Sewell 4-40, N.W. Rushton 3-60 ) & 66-0 ( G.G. Robinson 36no, P.T. Otto 27no )
Hamilton won by 10 wickets
Full scorecard for the match