Big Oz/NZ contingent for Fiji's Crompton Cup

The Crompton Cup, the biggest event in Fijian cricket, has attracted its largest field in years.

Seven Australian entrants and a New Zealand team will join eight local sides in the annual tournament to be played over Easter in Nadi and Lautoka.

Among the Australian teams is the Reg Clark Cricket Club, a mainly Aboriginal combination from near Newcastle in New South Wales.

Other Australian teams include Queensland's North Rockhampton and Beaudesert clubs, Sydney's Oatley Hotel, Cronulla Seagulls and Erskine Park clubs and Tatts Hotel, a team from Hillston, approximately 300 kilometres from Wagga Wagga, the home town of Michael Slater and Mark Taylor.

The Fijian participants are Suva Crusaders and Suva Warriors; as well as combinations from Lautoka, Nadi, Labasa and the outer islands of Komo, Moce and Lakeba.

Qualifying matches of 30-overs-a-side will start the tournament on Thursday, April 20. The quarterfinals will be played the following Saturday with the final contested on the Monday.

The tournament was mvoed to Lautoka and Nadi from Suva due to more favourable weather conditions.

Trophies will be awarded to both teams and individuals.

Meanwhile, the first annual Tower Insurance Easter Cricket tournament will be held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands over Easter.

Three Australian teams which missed entry to Fiji's Crompton Cup will play in the inaugural staging of the event being organised by the Cook Islands Cricket Association.

North Sydney, Kirribilli and Canberra's Australian National University will join local club sides in the three day tournament.