TOP spot on the Northern District Cricket Association A Grade ladder will be on the line tomorrow at Gunbower.
Defending premiers, Leitchville/Gunbower and the improving Cohuna United can both knock Wandella from its status as competition leaders during the penultimate round before the mid-season break.
Both sides received six points last weekend thanks to washouts, with tomorrow’s hosts sharing the points with Wandella and United’s match against the winless Barham/Koondrook not proceeding.
United goes into the game having defeated Leitchville/Gunbower in the past two encounters between both sides, including a three-wicket win back in round four.
Tomorrow will be Leitchville/Gunbower’s first match since its November 18 win against Nondies, whilst United last took to the field on November 25.
Meanwhile, the battle for the top four could be wrapped up tomorrow if Nondies defeats Barham/Koondrook at Koondrook.
Ten points separates both teams on the ladder, with the fifth-placed border side needing to win to remain in touch with fourth-placed Nondies.
However, if Nondies wins, the margin will increase to 16 points and with both sides to still observe two byes after the mid-season break, it will be difficult for the Cohuna Recreation Reserve tenants to be dislodged from a first semi-final spot come March.
Winning ways to end
ONE of the Northern District Cricket Association’s current longest winning streaks will come to an end tomorrow.
Current B Grade competition leaders, Nondies will take on defending premiers, Wandella with both teams boasting lengthy winning runs.
The Bombers’ last defeat came against Nondies in round two, whilst last season’s grand finalists have not dropped a match since going down to the Bombers in last season’s decider.
The result of this match will have lasting ramifications on the ladder. A Nondies win will place the Cohuna Recreation Reserve tenants in a commanding position to host the second semi-final in March, whilst the Bombers can reclaim second spot on the ladder with a win.
Tomorrow’s B Grade match at Barham will also have ramifications on the battle for the finals. Barham/Koondrook holds a 10-point lead over Wandella Warriors, and a fifth win of the season tomorrow will be more than enough to prevent the Warriors – as well as Kerang Fairley Town and Cohuna United – from finishing higher than fifth come the end of round 18.
The final match of the round will see Kerang Fairley Town aim to record its first win since round two when the Riverside Park tenants host Cohuna United.
