A POTENTIAL preview of next month’s Northern District Cricket Association A Grade second semi-final featuring last season’s grand finalists highlights a key round of matches.
Defending premiers, Leitchville/Gunbower travel tomorrow to take on Wandella, with a win securing home ground rights come March 4’s second semi-final.
The composite side holds a 9.86-point advantage over the Bombers, who need to win to keep their minor premiership hopes alive.
The Bombers go into the match on the back of a seven-game winning streak, with the club’s last loss coming against tomorrow’s opponents back in round six.
Greg Dickson, Isaac Hogan and Matt Wilkinson have all found top form during this period, and need to replicate their efforts to produce a ninth win of the season.
Leitchville/Gunbower – who last played 13 days ago, producing a 77-run win against Nondies – will be refreshed, with opening batsman, Casey McNaught and key bowler, Thomas Dehne – who has taken 20 wickets this season – danger players for the visitors.
In tomorrow’s other A Grade match, Cohuna United can keep its finals hopes alive for another weekend with a win against Barham/Koondrook.
United snapped a 10-match losing streak last weekend against Nondies, and will need to play as good as they did six days ago to record a second win this season against their border-based opponents.
If Bradley Griffiths and Logan Spittal play tomorrow like they did last weekend, the home side could close the gap between themselves and fourth-placed Nondies to one victory.
However, if Matt Thomas – who is on track to claim the competition’s top batsman honour – dominates with the bat and receives support from his fellow top-order batsmen, Barham/Koondrook could keep its chances of playing in the second semi-final alive.
Clearer picture
THE race for this season’s Northern District Cricket Association B Grade finals could be clearer tomorrow, with all three games impacting on the top four chances of five teams.
The match of the round will be at Cohuna, where third-placed Leitchville/Gunbower take on fifth-placed side, Cohuna United.
The composite side moved back into contention to claim the double chance last weekend with a win against Wandella, whilst United – who lost to Barham/Koondrook – can move into the top four with a victory.
The result of the match between fourth-placed Barham/Koondrook and competition leaders, Nondies at Koondrook will also have an impact. A victory to the border side and a United loss could secure the team a finals berth, whilst Nondies will be on track to host the second semi-final on March 4 with another big win.
Meanwhile, Wandella will look to increase its points tally with a win against Kerang Fairley Town in the final of the Riverside Park derbies for 2016/17.The Bombers relinquished top spot last weekend after its loss to Leitchville/Gunbower, and need to win to keep its double-chance hopes alive.
