THE closeness of the Northern District Cricket Association A Grade season is set to continue through to this weekend’s finals, with all four teams capable of qualifying for March 10’s grand final.
Although defending premiers, Leitchville/Gunbower goes into the finals series with prized second semi-final hosting rights, the club’s opponent will have the edge during tomorrow’s game at Gunbower.
Cohuna United and the competition’s southernmost side both won seven games during the season, but United played one more game, resulting in being five points off top spot on the ladder.
United also has the edge over Leitchville/Gunbower, winning all three encounters between both sides during the season.
Tomorrow’s visitors won by three wickers at home in round four and by two wickets at the Cohuna Recreation Reserve back in late January, but it is the club’s one-wicket round nine win at tomorrow’s venue that United will draw inspiration from.
United will look to the experience Daniel Cooke displays with the bat and the all-round skills of Logan Spittal to progress to the grand final, whilst Tyler Jones and Kurt Brereton – who both scored centuries in last weekend’s win against Wandella – will be pivotal to Leitchville/Gunbower’s chances.
The loser of the second semi-final will play in Sunday’s preliminary final against the victor of the first semi-final between Nondies and Wandella.
The Cohuna Recreation Reserve tenants moved to third on the ladder last weekend thanks to the bye, whilst the Bombers fell from the top of the ladder to fourth spot.
However, the Bombers go into the match with a 2-1 advantage in ties between the sides during the season.
Last season’s grand finalists won by 52 runs when the teams last met in early February, with Mick Bott and Rohan Oliver leading the way with the bat and ball for the Bombers.
Nondies – who won by 24 runs when the teams last met at the Cohuna Recreation Reserve – will look to Sam O’Shea and Rhys Bradley to keep their season alive for at least one more day.
Preliminary final dilemma
BOTH Leitchville/Gunbower and Cohuna United will have preferred opponents the teams would like to face in Sunday’s preliminary final.
If United keeps its perfect record against Leitchville/Gunbower going, the defending premiers would much rather face Wandella than Nondies for the chance to progress to a third consecutive grand final.
The competition’s southernmost side has won its past four matches against the Bombers, including the only two times the teams have played against each other this year.
Although Leitchville/Gunbower holds a 2-1 advantage over Nondies this season, the Cohuna Recreation Reserve tenants won by seven wickets when the teams last met in mid-February.
However, if United loses the second semi-final, the team would need to overcome negative or equal records against both first semi-final competitors to progress to March 10’s grand final.
Nondies claimed two of this season’s three Cohuna derbies– including a 17-run victory two weeks ago – whilst the Bombers and United have won one match each in matches that have progressed in 2017/18.
