The Bairnsdale Cricket Association (BCA) recommences this Saturday, with all sides a realistic chance of playing finals in March.
With six rounds remaining, places will be decided by form as sides clash in three rounds each of one and two-day cricket.
Meerlieu now occupy top spot, after Lindenow South Glenaladale dropped the final two matches in the pre-Christmas window, with West Bairnsdale sitting third, all three sides locked on 32 points.
Fourth-placed St Mary’s Nagle sits on 22 points, four ahead of Orbost and Lakes Entrance, with Wy Yung (16) and Lucknow (14) still very much in the hunt.
There is another interesting round of matches this week, with plenty of rain around early in the week, pitch preparation might not be ideal.
St Mary’s Nagle will host Lucknow, who can ill afford to lose, defeat would make its task near impossible.
Skipper, Jarryd Floyd and Luke Hedger have been in good form with the bat, while young tyro, Taj Corben continues to impress with his pace and ability to take a wicket.
Nagle will go in as favourite, but with a cloud remaining over the fitness of Andrew Perrin, a lot of pressure will again fall on Ricky Tatnell to perform with both bat and ball.
The classy all rounder seldom lets them down, but when he is dismissed cheaply it does put plenty of pressure on their inconsistent batting line-up.
Thankfully they have clicked more often than not, and that’s why they are currently in the top four.
After a slow and disastrous start to the season, Orbost has worked its way back into a position to make a strong play for a top four spot.
The reigning premier turned over plenty of quality personnel in the off season, none bigger than the competition’s best player, Dylan Jordan, who opted to play in New South Wales this season.
After a slow start, the Blues have improved significantly as the season has progressed, the memory of being rolled for 30 by Meerlieu in round two almost erased.
The Blues will host the Bulls, who will be keen to bounce back from its form slump.
Haydn Erfurth and Scott Dare have made plenty of runs this season and the Blues will be keen to see them back in the sheds early.
Bulls captain Mel Irish has had an outstanding season with ball, troubling most sides with his swing and cut, it will be interesting to see whether he has shrugged off a side injury.
Although the Bulls have plenty of bowling options, his contribution has been pivotal in season 2023-2024.
The Blues are capable of a big score, led by Endley whose batting has gone to another level this season, Welsh is due to hit his straps and Farley looked back to his best against the Seagulls.
Jayden Price, Govender, Seedall and the Hulme brothers are all capable of cashing in.
Lakes, who have been disappointing in recent rounds, will host West Bairnsdale, the Seagulls needing to string a few victories together if they are to repeat last year’s finals appearance.
The Seagulls will be hoping to include co-captain, Ben John (knee) and Nathan King (unavailability) who both missed the match prior to the Christmas break.
Lakes has shown several times throughout the season it is more than capable of matching with the top sides, but has seldom got two batsmen to perform on the same day.
Daniel Byrant, Dane Tinsley, John, Jack Kesteven have all shown glimpses but the Seagulls will need to learn how to put together some solid partnerships if they are to trouble the top echelon of the competition.
The bowling has been solid with King outstanding and at times unplayable, while Tinsley and Kesteven have been valuable contributors, as has the wildcard Byrant.
West is a formidable foe with its big wicket being Brodie Anderson, who most sides have found hard to dislodge this season.
He has got great support from the emerging SamWatts, Ryan Halford and Tom Hudson.
The Seagulls will be hoping to make some early inroads.
The match could turn into a battle of the spinners with Chris Hammond and Anderson prominent in most matches, while captain Halford is always a danger, having taken several significant hauls this season.
Continued page 31
From page 32
Wy Yung, who have claimed the scalp of Lucknow and West Bairnsdale in the last two rounds, will host Meerlieu, who will be keen to defend its top of the ladder spot.
The Tigers will need to get among the Tussocks top order early if they are to give themselves a chance.
Anthony Simpson, Rohan Blandford, Frankie Mostert, Reagan Kyle and Nicholas Adendorff are capable of going huge and causing headaches for Darcy Murray, Stephen Bertino, Sean Phillipson and Marcus Leatham.
The Tigers will need Ben Saxon, Nick Carroll and Todd Murray to be among the runs if they are a chance to cause an upset, but they are sure to get plenty of heat from Adendorff and Mostert.
VALE NESTA OWEN
A touch of sadness over the competition with the passing of one of great servants of the local game, Nesta Owen.
Nesta was a former president of the BCA, and shared a life filled with cricket, in recent times she has been the official scorer of the Lakes Entrance Cricket Club.
As a sign of respect to Nesta, all players and umpires this weekend will be wearing a black armbands.
100 YEAR CELEBRATION
The BCA has organised a great weekend of cricket and a function for Saturday, January 27, to celebrate 100 years of the Bairnsdale Cricket Association.
The day will start with the T20 semi finals and grand final at Lucknow, followed by the reunion evening which will be held at Club Eastwood.
GIPPSLAND CRICKET LEAGUE
Play resumes in the Gippsland Cricket League with Bairnsdale hosting Leongatha at the Bairnsdale City Oval, both sides will be looking to score its second win of the season.
A big win from either side, and a tight victory from Warragul over Latrobe Valley could see the winner of the clash at the Bairnsdale Oval progress to the grand final again Sale Maffra.
The Bairnsdale under 18 side are playing a double header of 20/20 matches at Meerlieu, taking on Leongatha and Warragul.
UMPIRES
This week’s umpires appointments: “A” grade: Wy Yung v Meerlieu (Chris Websdale); St Mary’s Nagle v Lucknow (Geoff Brew, Anna Quinsey-Munro); Orbost v Lindenow South Glenaladale (Ron Smith, Peter Usher); Lakes Entrance v West Bairnsdale (Don Haley, Martin Blennerhasset).
“A” reserve: West Bairnsdale v Paynesville (Damien Tubb); Metung Swan Reach v Wy Yung (John Hine).
GCL – Premier – Bairnsdale v Leongatha (Don Haley, Ron Smith).
Under 18 – 20/20 triple Header at Meerlieu (Anna Quinsey-Munro, Martin Blennerhasset).
