THE Northern District Cricket Association’s top four teams will meet tomorrow in games that could determine the makeup of next month’s finals series.
Fourth-placed Cohuna United and second-placed side, Wandella will meet at Cohuna knowing the winner will finish the year in the highest possible position.
Across at the Cohuna Recreation Reserve’s second oval, third-placed side, Nondies will host Leitchville/Gunbower knowing a win will keep the club’s double chance hopes alive.
United had the bye last weekend, but gained 10 points in efforts to even up the ladder with two sides not having a fourth bye of the season.
Fifth-placed side, Barham/Koondrook will benefit from the 10-point boost tomorrow, but a United win against the reigning premiers will end any hopes of the border side making the finals.
United has not won a match since round four, and will find the competition tough against a Bombers outfit that has dropped one match since the mid-season break.
Wandella’s win last weekend against Nondies gives the side the advantage of claiming a second semi-final spot against Leitchville/Gunbower on March 5, and the likes of Greg Dickson, Isaac Hogan and Peter Moore are finding form at the right time of the year.
United will look to Logan Spittal and Kansas Varker to produce an upset win and book a first semi-final encounter against either Nondies or Wandella on March 5.
Even if Wandella wins, Nondies can keep the battle for the second semi-final alive for one more week with victory against Leitchville/Gunbower tomorrow.
The Cohuna-based side is the only team to have defeated the competition leaders this season, and will go into the game with confidence thanks to the likes of Clayton Holmes, Jack O’Shea and Jake Thrum being in the top five runs scorers and wicket takers in the competition.
Leitchville/Gunbower will have other ideas, with Adam Decicco, Jason Keath and Brad Windridge all standing out in the past few matches.
Semi-finalists locked in
THE NDCA’s B Grade semi-finals could be determined tomorrow if Wandella and Barham/Koondrook win.
The Bombers – who sit in second place more than one game ahead of the border side – can confirm a second semi-final meeting against Nondies on March 5 with a win against Cohuna United.
Barham/Koondrook will remain third if Wandella wins and the side defeats Kerang Fairley Town.
However, if United defeats the Bombers for a third time this season tomorrow, the final round of matches will determine second to fourth on the ladder.
Wandella goes into tomorrow’s match at Kerang in great form, with the side not dropping a game since the round 12 loss to United.
The Bombers – who stunned competition leaders, Nondies last weekend – will look to Luke Murray and Nick Whitfield to confirm a top-two finish, whilst United will hope Cooper Neil and Peter Taylor can replicate last weekend’s form against Kerang Fairley Town.
Barham/Koondrook will be keeping an eye on the progress of the Wandella-United match at Riverside Park, with the border side taking on Kerang Fairley Town.
Barham/Koondrook recorded a 34-run win against Leitchville/Gunbower last weekend, and Dean McGowan and Wes O’Neill could have another day out with the bat.
Daniel Higgs and Mark Higgs will have other ideas for Kerang Fairley Town, who gave the border side a fright when these teams last met at Riverside Park.
In the final match of the round, Nondies will look to bounce back from last weekend’s loss to Wandella with a win against Leitchville/Gunbower.
Lachie Harbinson and Rhys Free will lead the way for Nondies, whilst Matt Hawken and Casey McNaught will aim to produce an upset result for Leitchville/Gunbower.
