HISTORY will be against both Barham/Koondrook and Cohuna United as the sides battle for the last remaining Northern District Cricket Association A Grad finals spot.
The border side and Cohuna-based team will take on sides that hold strong records against them in the final round of the home and away season.
Barham/Koondrook, who sit fifth on the ladder trailing fourth-placed United by three points, needs to defeat reigning premiers, Wandella at Kerang and hope United loses to Nondies at Cohuna to make the finals for a third consecutive season.
It will be a difficult task for the border side to achieve, with the team last recording a win back in round nine.
It has been four seasons since Barham/Koondrook claimed points in a match against the Bombers that was not called off due to extreme heat or rain, but the likes of Steve Farrant, Shane Guerra and Paul Molin will be up to the task.
The Bombers have found finals-like form at the right time of the season, and Brodey Farley, Isaac Hogan and Peter Moore will aim to add to their current form with the bat and ball.
Across at Cohuna, United will host Nondies in what could be the competition’s first semi-final encounter on March 5.
Nondies’ loss to Leitchville/Gunbower last weekend ended the 2014/15 grand finalist’s goal of claiming the double chance, yet the side boasts some of the association’s top players.
Clayton Holmes, Jack O’Shea and Jake Thrum will aim to add another Nondies win against their town rivals, who last lost to United early in the 2013/14 season.
However, Daniel Cooke, Logan Spittal and their United teammates will be aiming to add a second win of the season to their campaign and not rely on the result at Kerang to determine their finals fate.
Finals come early
TOMORROW’S final round of the NDCA B Grade season will see the top four teams play against each other.
The match of the round will be at Koondrook, where third-placed side, Barham/Koondrook, hosts second-placed Wandella.
The Bombers secured a second semi-final spot last weekend with a win against Cohuna United, and will look to add a 12th win to their season tally.
Wandella will look to the experience of Russell Bott, Luke Murray and Matt Wilkinson to secure victory, whilst Jacob Barrington and Dylan Robinson can be dangerous for the border side.
Minor premiers, Nondies will use tomorrow’s derby against fourth-placed United as a chance to warm up before a second semi-final encounter against Wandella.
Nondies had to dig deep to defeat Leitchville/Gunbower, with Paul Donat and Liam Treacy proving lower order support when it was needed.
United will rely on Andrew Brown, Cooper Neil and Peter Taylor to record an upset win and take added confidence into March 5’s first semi-final encounter against Barham/Koondrook.
The final game of the round will see Leitchville/Gunbower end its year looking for a win against Kerang Fairley Town.
Last season’s premiers will sit out the finals, but Jack Lunghusen and Hugh McGillivray will aim to give the side a fourth win of the season.
Kerang Fairley Town will have other ideas, with Ryan Barnes and Daniel Higgs aiming to give the side a second win this season against tomorrow’s opponents.
Titles up for grabs
THE first of this season’s premierships will be on the line this weekend, with the NDCA’s junior grand finals occurring.
Reigning premiers, Barham/Koondrook and Wandella will clash at Koondrook in what looms to be an entertaining under 17 decider.
Seven of the competition’s top 10 runs scorers, as well as six of the grade’s top 10 wicket takers, will be on the field in the deciding match of the season.
Wandella defeated the minor premiers by 65 runs in round two, but Barham/Koondrook hit back with a four-wicket win in the final match before the finals.
Across at Cohuna, Nondies and Leitchville/Gunbower Maroon will meet in the under 14s grand final.
Nondies, who finished the home and away season second on the ladder, defeated Leitchville/Gunbower Blue in last weekend’s semi-final, whilst Leitchville/Gunbower Maroon stunned the undefeated minor premiers, Barham/Koondrook.
Nondies will go into the match as favourites after defeating Leitchville/Gunbower Maroon by 102 runs in round one.
