WINGHAM’S Mid North Coast Premier League aspirations have received a huge boost with confirmation leading batsman Michael Rees will play with the side for the remainder of the season.
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Rees, a club junior, could be available for tomorrow’s game against Wauchope at Wauchope.
A former North Coast representative, Rees has been playing in the Newcastle area in recent seasons. He captained Old Bar to a Manning first grade premiership before moving south.
“Michael’s back to the area and we hope he’ll be right for this weekend,’’ Wingham captain Ben Scowen said.
Scowen said Rees will open the batting with his brother, David. Scowen will come in at three with Ben Cole at four. Such is the depth of Wingham’s batting that Mick Stinson, their most consistent batsman pre-Christmas, will bat at 10.
While he hasn’t seen Rees play, Scowen understands he's a quality batsman who has scored centuries while playing in Newcastle. At one stage he was also targeted by a city club.
Wingham go into the second half of the season well placed in second spot with a game in hand. They recovered from a slow start when a number of first graders were unavailable for the early rounds.
"We’re in a good place now. so we’ll be looking to build on that,’’ Scowen said.
Wingham has 38 points, with leaders Macquarie on 43. Wauchope is third place on averages.
Meanwhile there’ll be a local derby at Kempsey when big improvers, Rovers in fifth place meet Nulla, the side currently fourth.