Aces off to Ford Trophy big dance at Puke Park

Friday 23rd February 2018

Aces off to Ford Trophy big dance at Puke Park

The Auckland Aces’ and Central Stags’ 2017/18 One-Day campaigns come to a head tomorrow when they face off in the Ford Trophy Final at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth.

The Aces travel down to New Plymouth today after a crushing victory in their Semi-Final against Canterbury on Wednesday.

“We showed what we can do at Colin Maiden on Wednesday,” says Captain Craig Cachopa.

“That was a performance we can be proud of. Jeet [Raval] played a superb innings for us and the bowlers backed it up, but now we turn our focus to the Stags.”

The Aces have already beaten Central at Pukekura Park this season with a five wicket win in the first half of the Ford Trophy season.

“We can take confidence from that win knowing we have already done a job against the Stags in their own backyard, but this is a final and we know they will be well up for the occasion,” says Cachopa.

With a win on Wednesday, Aces Coach Mark O’Donnell says his team are riding a wave of momentum heading into the Ford Trophy Final.

“Sometimes it’s good for a team to keep playing and stay in the groove. We have been tracking well this campaign and it’s now up to the senior guys to step up in a big game and show their experience,” says O’Donnell.

The winner of the One-Day Ford Trophy receives $60,000 in prize money while the runner-up will collect $15,000.

The Final will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport with tickets available at ticketek.co.nz

The Ford Trophy: recent champions
2016/17 Canterbury (defeated Wellington Firebirds at Rangiora)
2015/16 Central Stags (defeated Canterbury at Pukekura Park)
2014/15 Central Stags (defeated Auckland Aces at Colin Maiden Park)
2013/14 Wellington Firebirds (defeated Northern Districts at Bay Oval)
2012/13 Auckland Aces (defeated Canterbury at Eden Park Outer Oval)
2011/12 Central Stags (defeated Auckland Aces at Pukekura Park)
2010/11 Auckland Aces (defeated Canterbury at Queen Elizabeth II Park, Christchurch)
2009/10 Northern Districts (defeated Auckland Aces at Colin Maiden Park)
2008/09 Northern Districts (defeated Otago Volts at Seddon Park)

MATCH DETAILS:
Central Stags v Auckland Aces
Saturday 24 February
Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
11am

Auckland Aces
Craig Cachopa (c)
Finn Allen
Michael Barry
Jamie Brown
Mark Chapman
Ben Horne
Donovan Grobbelaar
Ben Lister
Tarun Nethula
Robbie O’Donnell
Glenn Phillips
Jeet Raval
Sean Solia

ends

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