POSITIONS on the Northern District Cricket Association A Grade ladder could change again tomorrow, depending on results.
The match of the round will be at Barham, where title challengers, Nondies will take on Barham/Koondrook.
The Cohuna-based side – who are the only team to have defeated competition leaders, Leitchville/Gunbower this season – will play its first match in three weeks following last round’s bye and the previous weekend’s washout against Cohuna United.
The side has fallen from second to third on the ladder during this period, but can reclaim the prized second double chance position with a win, thanks to Wandella having the bye this round.
Tomorrow’s match is a must-win game for Barham/Koondrook, who are three points outside the top four and need to record one more victory than Cohuna United in the final month of matches to make the finals.
The home side will look to Paul Molin and Mick O’Toole to replicate last weekend’s efforts against United, whilst Jake Thrum and Clayton Holmes loom as danger players for Nondies.
Across at Cohuna, United faces a tough match against Leitchville/Gunbower, who are on track to host the second semi-final on March 5.
The competition leaders held off Wandella last weekend, claiming six wickets for 22 runs to prevent an upset result from occurring.
The scare will spur the premiership favourites, who could have a day out if Tyler Jones, Kurt Brereton and Oliver O’Shea dominate.
It will be a big day for United, who are hosting a reunion of ex-Island players, and a win orchestrated by the likes of Daniel Coates and Kansas Varker could reinforce the club’s position within the competition’s top four.
Twist on the cards?
ANOTHER twist in the battle for NDCA B Grade ladder positions could occur tomorrow, with the result of all games to impact on the battle for second, third and fourth spot on the ladder.
The match of the round will be at Cohuna, where competition leaders Nondies host Barham/Koondrook.
Nondies will host the second semi-final on March 5, but Wandella and Barham/Koondrook are locked in a battle to play the title favourites.
Cohuna United, who are 11 points behind second place on the ladder, could sneak into second place by the end of the month, depending on results.
Barham/Koondrook, who lost to United last round, must defeat Nondies tomorrow to keep within one game of Wandella, who take on Kerang Fairley Town.
The border side will rely on Mark O’Neill and Wes O’Neill to produce an upset win, whilst the home side – who were too strong for Kerang Fairley Town last weekend – will look to Lachie Harbinson and Ryan Holmes to back up their performances from six days ago.
The Bombers will go into their match against Kerang Fairley Town as strong favourites, despite having last weekend’s game against Leitchville/Gunbower cut short by rain.
Russell Bott, Luke Murray and Matt Wilkinson dominated last weekend before the rain fell, and could do the same tomorrow to help Wandella move seven points clear of Barham/Koondrook if results go the home team’s way.
Daniel Higgs and Ryan Barnes will have other ideas for Kerang Fairley Town, who struggled against Nondies last weekend.
In the final match of the round, Cohuna United can consolidate its finals credentials with a win against reigning premiers, Leitchville/Gunbower.
Twenty-two points separate fourth and fifth place on the ladder, and an United win will end any chance of Leitchville/Gunbower making an unlikely finals appearance.
The home side, who stunned Barham/Koondrook last weekend, will look to Peter Taylor and James Wyatt to repeat their efforts with the ball, whilst Leitchville/Gunbower will need Matt Hawken and last season’s premiership-winning teammates to fire to produce an upset result.
