Standard Bank League: Davis looks for another victory (8 February 1999)

8 February 1999

Standard Bank League: Davis looks for another victory

Trevor Chesterfield

CENTURION (South Africa) - Mark Davis is not satisfied with Northerns having won the league crown with the match against Natal still to play at Kingsmead in Durban tomorrow. The Titans captain wants to slay the Natal Dolphins as well if only to keep pressure on the rest of the sides falling over themselves for the crumbs and jostling for better log positions.

It was two months ago when Davis, in a pre-Christmas message to Northerns fans said he hoped to wrap up the Standard Bank League before this last match. "While we also have a few other matters to think about, our priority is to have the league title back where it belongs, in the Titans trophy cabinet before we tackle Natal," had said.

Now he is aiming for a ninth win out of 10 league matches this season and to this extent has set his levels quite high with a slightly amended side heading for Durban today to prepare for the game.

Mike Rindel is back for Deon Jordaan while David Townsend is to travel with the 12 to Kingsmead. Whether the young fast bowler will pick up his first day/night outing depends on the pitch and a couple of other matters.

As Peter Kirsten, the wily Northerns coach pointed out yesterday, now the hard work really begins. The last six to seven weeks of the season when trophies are being played for is where it all counts. And he should know as he did a pretty good job for Western Province in his days at Newlands Now he has Northerns refocusing as new strategies are worked on with the remaining two A Section games just as important to win for the side to make the SuperSport Series final in early March.

"There is still a lot to play for," he said. "Now we have to start thinking as if it is the start of the season, not the end. That is the toughest part of all.

"Refocusing on these last few weeks and have the players prepared to take the other two trophies on offer is what it is all about. Getting the players to think that it is the start of the season gives them a fresh look at where we are going."

Which is the sort of strategy which can only come from someone of Kirsten's class and ability and who has been through it all before.

And it is not just about the A Section trophies. Northerns B have a key game against Eastern Province B in a match they need to win if they hope to cart off the UCB Bowl as well. Northerns B play Eastern Province B at L C de Villiers and the plan is to give players such as Quentin Still, Pierre de Bruyn and possibly David Townsend as well as Pierre Joubert a game to keep them ready for the two tough A Section matches in the last two weeks of the month.

"It is important we keep our thoughts strongly focused on our plans," said Kirsten. "We know it sounds tough, but that is what winning is all about: a lot of hard work."

The Northerns squad for the day/night game against Natal is:

Mike Rindel, Roy Pienaar, Martin van Jaarsveld, Gerald Dros, Dirkie de Vos, Dennis Smith, Mark Davis (capt), Quentin Ferreira, Pierre Joubert, Rudi Bryson, Greg Smith, David Townsend.

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield, Pretoria News