THE Northern District Cricket Association A Grade semi-finals schedule will be clearer following the completion of round 16 matches tomorrow.
With Barham/Koondrook having the bye, the competition’s top four teams will meet in key games before the start of the finals on March 4.
The match of the round will be at the Cohuna Recreation Reserve, where third-placed side, Cohuna United takes on last season’s grand finalists, Wandella.
The Bombers hold a four-point advantage over United, and boast a strong record against tomorrow’s hosts that stretches back more than four years, with drawn matches the only way United has claimed the points in the past 14 scheduled matches against Wandella.
United can move into the top two with a sixth win of the season tomorrow, and will be refreshed following last weekend’s bye.
However, the Bombers showed last weekend against Nondies it has the players to challenge for another title, and if the likes of Isaac Hogan and Mick Bott dominate with the bat again tomorrow, Wandella will be on track for a second semi-final encounter on March 3.
In tomorrow’s other match, Nondies faces a must-win game against Leitchville/Gunbower if the side wants to host next month’s first semi-final.
The competition’s southernmost side goes into tomorrow’s match at Leitchville as favourites, having defeated Nondies by 10 wickets when the sides last met in November.
The defending premiers showed in last weekend’s win against Barham/Koondrook it has the players in its side to remain as the association’s top side, whilst Nondies will look to post their first win since January 27.
Title favouritism
NONDIES can secure the Northern District Cricket Association B Grade minor premiership and the right to host the second semi-final with a win tomorrow against Wandella.
The Cohuna Recreation Reserve tenants hold an 18-point advantage against the defending premiers, and a 10th win of the season tomorrow will end the Bombers’ chances of closing the gap.
Nondies goes into the match as strong favourites having won on both occasions the teams have met so far in season 2017/18, whilst the Bombers will remain second on the ladder, no matter the result.
Fellow finals bound side, Barham/Koondrook will aim to close the gap between themselves and third-placed team, Leitchville/Gunbower with a win against Wandella Warriors tomorrow.
The Warriors are making a late charge for the finals, with a win to close the gap between the side and their border-based opponents to less than 10 points.
In tomorrow’s other match, Kerang Fairley Town will look for a second win of the season when it travels to take on Cohuna United.
United’s last win came when these teams last met in November, whilst the Riverside Park tenant’s sole win of 2017/18 occurred when the teams met back in round two.
