With just six rounds remaining in the Bairnsdale Cricket Association, teams will be keen to come out running, banking early points as clubs jockey for the four finals spots up for offering.
Top four sides Lindenow South Glenaladale, Lakes Entrance, Meerlieu and West Bairnsdale have all impressed pre Christmas but will face a spirited onslaught in the coming weeks from Wy Yung, who have recruited strongly and loom as potential finals smokey.
Here’s a look at where we are at and whats to come.
LINDENOW SOUTH GLENALADALE
CURRENTLY: First.
RECORD: Seven wins and one loss.
FORM: Have put together a near perfect season thus far, but there were concerns inside the Bulls camp that their attitude and aptitude were waning running into the Christmas break. Have played plenty of different players and will be interesting to see what they settle on in the run home to finals action.
HIGHLIGHT: Consistency and form of recruits Luke Schumann and Nathan King, when available. Logan Dunkley’s 10-wicket haul, a pivotal moment in the young man’s career.
LOWLIGHT: Going down to cellar dweller Orbost in round seven.
STARS: Hayden Erfurth (309 runs @ 61.8) is putting together another great season, Schumann showed what he is capable off against Paynesville in the final match before the break, while Scott Dare is always among the runs at the top of the order. One day he will convert a start to a big score. Have got plenty of wickets from Mel Irish (20), King (11), Seth Smith (21) and Logan Dunkley (18) when required.
RUN HOME: Lucknow (Away, one day), Orbost (A, one day), Wy Yung (A, one day), Meerlieu (H, two day), West Bairnsdale (A, two day) and Wy Yung (H, two day).
PREDICTION: Not the easiest run home and the final three rounds will certainly harden them for finals action. The current premiership favourite, with some big tests ahead, but have a strong arsenal and the side to beat. Could Nathan Pollard be the final piece in the puzzle? Time will tell.
LAKES ENTRANCE
CURRENTLY: Second.
RECORD: Seven wins and one loss.
FORM: Have certainly learnt from shortcomings in previous seasons, learning the art of forming valuable partnerships, which has seen higher scoring and the batting out of overs regularly.
HIGHLIGHT: Josh Sackfield’s (400 runs/16 wickets) mega innings of 175 and the form of fellow imports Jack Timms (352 runs/15 wickets) and Sam Kincaid (22 wickets).
LOWLIGHT: The aberration in round six against Lindenow South Glenaladale, when bowled out for 113 in two-day match.
STARS: Have got great service from all three overseas imports, while youngster Liam Allen continues to impress with bat and as a keeper.
RUN HOME: Orbost (A, one day), Meerlieu (A, one day), West Bairnsdale (H, one day), Metung Swan Reach (A, two day), Paynesville (A, two day) and West Bairnsdale (H, two day).
PREDICTION: Have established themselves in a great position, with a consistent team effort. Two-day matches against Metung Swan Reach and Paynesville loom as potential maximum point fixtures. Victory this week over Orbost should set them on the path to playing finals. The new kid on the block, if it can keep it together.
MEERLIEU
CURRENTLY: Third.
RECORD: Five wins, two losses and one no result.
FORM: A brutal side with the bat, who are very reliant on Connor Mitchell (32 wickets @15.22) with the ball. When conditions suit they have mauled sides at an exceptional scoring rate.
HIGHLIGHT: Jay Peiris’ 122 runs from just 77 balls against Paynesville is hard to top.
LOWLIGHT: Were pumped for a big effort in round seven against Lakes Entrance and bowled out for just 102.
STARS: Have a powerful batting line up led by Peiris (384 @ 42.67), Mitchell (291 @ 48.50), skipper Rohan Blandford and Reagan Kyle.
RUN HOME: Paynesville (H, one day), Lakes Entrance (H, one day), St Mary’s Nagle (A, one day), Lindenow South Glenaladale (A, two day), Wy Yung (A, two day) and St Mary’s Nagle (H, two day).
PREDICTION: Will be tested in the next six matches, but may have enough points in the bank to pull through and make finals. Losses to Lakes Entrance and St Marys Nagle could really test their resolve, where lack of bowling depth will be tested in the one dayers. Batting should pull them through.
WEST BAIRNSDALE
CURRENTLY: Fourth.
RECORD: Three wins, two losses, two no results and one draw.
FORM: The reigning premier has looked to be in good form, despite going down to Meerlieu in a run feast prior to Christmas. Didn’t test themselves the week prior against Wy Yung, and were stiff not to get a look at St Mary’s Nagle after making 4/425.
HIGHLIGHT: Brodie Anderson’s unbeaten double ton.
LOWLIGHT: Not getting a crack at Nagle after posting 425.
STARS: Brodie Anderson (507 runs @ 126.75) and Ryan Halford (357 @ 51) lead the way with the bat.
RUN HOME: Metung Swan Reach (A, one day), Wy Yung (A, one day), Lakes Entrance (A, one day), Orbost (A, two day), Lindenow South Glenaladale (H, two day) and Lakes Entrance (A, two day).
PREDICTION: Not the easiest run home, but another side that should head into finals action in good form. Wy Yung match on January 18 will be big test and season defining for the Tigers. Hard to see them missing finals action, with Brodie Anderson almost impossible to dislodge from the crease at times.
WY YUNG
CURRENTLY: Fifth.
RECORD: Three wins, three losses, one draw and no result.
FORM: Unbeaten in the past four matches since going down surprisingly to Metung Swan Reach. The form outfit of the competition who are building strongly.
HIGHLIGHT: Recent form after working hard to entice some quality players to the fold in the pre-season and in recent weeks. David Wolfe, Ray Stevens and Cameron McPhan have all shone when required. Last round addition Ben Channing is a player to watch, as is whether Marcus Latham joins the campaign.
LOWLIGHT: Losses in rounds two to four, culminating in going down to Metung Swan Reach.
STARS: Ben Saxon (270 runs @ 38) and Darcy Murray (18 wickets @ 11.61) have led the way.
RUN HOME: St Mary’s Nagle (A, one day), West Bairnsdale (H, one day), Lindenow South Glenaladale (H, one day), Paynesville (H, two day), Meerlieu (H, two day) and Lindenow South Glenaladale (A, two day).
PREDICTION: Have a tough draw home and will need to play exceptional to make it. May just pull up short, but won’t die wondering.
ST MARY’S NAGLE
CURRENTLY: Sixth.
RECORD: Two wins, three losses, a tie and two no results.
FORM: Last year’s finalist have struggled in season 2024/25, with the sixth spot on the ladder and proximity to the top four flattering their season efforts. Beat cellar dweller last round after a very lucky tie against Paynesville.
HIGHLIGHT: Two wins for the season against Orbost.
LOWLIGHT: Inconsistency and inability to make big scores, with only one score over 200 for the season.
STARS: Harvey Spaxman has been a surprise packet with ball, taking 18 wickets. The competition’s premier all rounder Ricky Tatnell has been restricted by injury and not at his best.
RUN HOME: Wy Yung (H, one day), Paynesville (H, one day), Meerlieu (A, one day), Lucknow (H, two day), Metung Swan Reach (H, two day) and Meerlieu (A, two day).
PREDICTION: Will be keen to win more games on the way home than prior to the break. It’s a possibility but not a given.
METUNG SWAN REACH
CURRENTLY: Seventh.
RECORD: Three wins and five losses.
FORM: Elevated to “A” grade after the season’s commencement, the Swans have surprised plenty with their three wins thus far, though two were against Paynesville. They have tapered off in the final two matches before the break and the going will be tough with key allrounder Mark Hopgood out for the remainder of the season suspended.
HIGHLIGHT: Three wins, highlighted by the Wy Yung victory.
LOWLIGHT: Rolling over cheaply and showing very little fight with the bat on a number of occasions.
STARS: Forhad Haque has been a shining light with bat and ball.
RUN HOME: West Bairnsdale (H, one day), Lucknow (H, one day), Orbost (A, one day), Lakes Entrance (H, two day), St Mary’s Nagle (A, two day) and Orbost (H, two day).
PREDICTION: Will fancy their chances against Orbost in the run home. Will be keen to add to their three wins, but might find the going pretty tough.
LUCKNOW
CURRENTLY: Eighth.
RECORD: Two wins, five losses and a no result.
FORM: Form leading into the break was positive despite falling to Lakes in the final round. Too good for Metung Swan Reach and looked set to test Meerlieu in the abandoned round six clash. Have a young and developing list and form is better than it looks.
HIGHLIGHT: Wins over Wy Yung and Metung Swan Reach.
LOWLIGHT: Losing to arch rival Lakes Entrance three times before Christmas.
STARS: Rico Fourie (287 runs @ 41) has been a shining light at the top of the order, skipper Jarryd Floyd has toiled hard taking 17 wickets with the ball.
RUN HOME: Lindenow South Glenaladale (H, one day), Metung Swan Reach (A, one day), Paynesville (A, one day), St Mary’s Nagle (A, two day), Orbost (H, two day) and Paynesville (H, two day).
PREDICTION: Have a positive draw and can see them winning more games post Christmas, finishing the season and strongly, stealing several places on the ladder.
PAYNESVILLE
CURRENTLY: Ninth.
RECORD: One win, six losses and a tie.
FORM: Have struggled for consistency and disappointingly can get rolled quickly and cheaply. Gallant against the Bulls pre-break after only banking a tie against St Mary’s Nagle when the match was there for the taking.
HIGHLIGHT: Orbost victory in round two and Nathan Schoultz innings of 184 against Meerlieu, when the Gulls posted a losing score of 276.
LOWLIGHT: The tie against Nagle when the match was at their mercy.
STARS: Nathan Schoultz (384 runs @ 42.67)
RUN HOME: Meerlieu (A, one day), St Mary’s Nagle (A, one day), Lucknow (H, one day), Wy Yung (A, two day), Lakes Entrance (H, two day) and Lucknow (A, two day).
PREDICTION: Tough ask to finish, will be hoping for another win and not to get beat outright in the two-day matches.
ORBOST
CURRENTLY: Tenth.
RECORD: One win and six losses and a no result.
FORM: It’s been a disappointing season for 2022/23 premier with personnel changes making life tough. A disappointing result in final Christmas game against Nagle after looking to have turned the corner when knocked the Bulls off in round seven.
HIGHLIGHT: Round seven victory over Lindenow South Glenaladale.
LOWLIGHT: Slow start to the season and turn over of personnel over the last two seasons.
STARS: Luke Endley has been impressive with the bat, as has Jayden Price but he hasn’t been able to capitalise on some great starts.
RUN HOME: Lakes Entrance (H, one day), Lindenow South Glenaladale (H, one day), Metung Swan Reach (H, one day), West Bairnsdale (H, two day), Lucknow (A, two day) and Metung Swan Reach (A, two day).
PREDICTION: It’s been a tough season. Will do plenty of soul searching at season’s end, will be even deeper if can’t beat Metung Swan Reach at least once.
