COHUNA United’s Northern District Cricket Association A Grade finals campaign will be on the line tomorrow at Riverside Park.
Last season’s preliminary finalists, who have not won since the opening weekend of the 2016/17 season, face an in-form Wandella in a match that has changed venues to accommodate a pre-season camp for Victorian Football League side, Williamstown.
United – whose last match was a four-wicket loss against Leitchville/Gunbower 13 days ago – sit three wins outside the top four with five rounds remaining, but will observe the bye in the final weekend of the home and away season.
On the other hand, the Bombers go into the match brimming with confidence following last weekend’s win against Nondies – a game that saw captain, Isaac Hogan, Mick Bott and Rowan Oliver take control of the match at a time when it was needed.
If this trio, as well as regular contributors Greg Dickson and Brodey Farley fire, United could face a 10th consecutive loss.
However, if Ian Mathers and Cooper Neil replicate their efforts with the bat and ball in their last outing for United, the visitors’ finals hopes will still be alive.
Nondies will have other ideas across at Leitchville, when the fourth-placed side takes on competition leaders, Leitchville/Gunbower.
A win by the Cohuna-based side and a United loss will determine the competition’s finalists for season 2016/17 – a possible scenario thanks to both Nondies and Leitchville/Gunbower sharing the points in the two occasions the sides have met this season.
The composite side – which defeated Barham/Koondrook last weekend – will be refreshed after a number of its players took part in six matches in the space of seven days, thanks to Bendigo Country Week, association and Regional Big Bash commitments.
Jack Lunghusen and Casey McNaught will aim to keep their good form with the bat and ball going, and if the pair achieve this, the defending premiers will be on track to host the second semi-final on March 4.
Nondies will look to improve on last weekend’s efforts with the bat, with Liam Treacy to be a dangerous prospect with the ball following last weekend’s spell that produced five wickets.
Challenge for finals spots
THE battle for fourth spot on the Northern District Cricket Association B Grade ladder will intensify tomorrow, with Barham/Koondrook and Cohuna United taking on the competition’s top two teams.
The match of the round will be at Riverside Park, where competition leaders, Wandella host fourth-placed Barham/Koondrook.
The Bombers recorded a 91-run win against Cohuna United six days ago to reclaim top spot on the ladder, whilst the border side fell to Leitchville/Gunbower by 22 runs.
Another key match to the finals race will occur at the Cohuna Recreation Reserve, where second-placed side, Nondies take on Cohuna United in the last of the B Grade derbies this season.
With both sides recording losses last weekend, a victory will help with each team’s goal of either finishing in the top four or hosting one of the finals on March 4.
In the final match of the round, third-placed Leitchville/Gunbower will look to increase its margin over the battle for fourth spot on the ladder with a win against Kerang Fairley Town.
Leitchville/Gunbower recorded its first win since the mid-season break last weekend against Nondies and go into the match as favourites to produce an eighth victory of the season
However, the Kerang-based side will go into the match confident of a win, thanks to a round nine victory against tomorrow’s hosts, as well as last weekend’s eight-wicket success against Barham/Koondrook.
