AFTER just two rounds of the Murray Towns A grade cricket season Imperials and Mannum have emerged as a likely contenders to knock some of last season’s finalists out of the top four.
Monarto and Mannum take up the top two spots after beating Wanderers and Jervois in their first two matches.
Imperials are sitting third after beating premiership favourites Karoonda in their first match and smashing through Meningie last week.
Imperials v Mypolonga
Out of all the undefeated sides it is Imperials that looks the most ominous.
While there are still some questions about their batting, the Blues possess a bowling arsenal with more power in it thean any team in the competition.
“Squeak” Thoman, Shaun Golding, Clay Leckie and Luke Harrowfield are all strike bowlers that possess pace and bounce.
With Craig Fidge returning, Nathan Hutchinson providing a spin option and Nathan Williams a possibility to resume later in the season, Imperials’ bowling boasts incredible depth.
But they run into the reigning premiers who are in pretty good knick after knocking off Karoonda last week.
Inspirational captain Mark Oborn is set to return, veterans “Jack” Daniell and Aaron Zrim are as potent as ever and with young guns Gene Robinson and Mitch Vanson in great form, Mypolonga will be hard to beat.
Both sides have good bowling attacks so it’s a question of whose batting can stand up.
Imperials’ recent form is too good to resist and I’ll go for them in a close one.
Mannum v Monarto
Ever since they came into the competition Mannum has had the wood over Monarto and I can’t see things changing this week.
With a footy trip on the weekend the Black Caps will lose some significant players including Sam Pfeiffer and Ty Pfeiffer and Mark Rumbelow.
This leaves a huge hole in their batting order and with Mannum hitting form with the ball last week I can’t see Monarto making enough runs.
Mannum looked like they might struggle at the start of the season but then captain Dwayne Krollig, as he has been known to do, pulled a few tricks out of his hat.
His injured shoulder magically healed quickly enough for him to bowl brilliantly last week, he has coaxed strong line-and-length bowler Aaron Sinkinson out of temporary retirement and found two very handy recruits in Danny Walker and Wanderers premiership player Michael Trotter.
All are starting to hit their straps and at home I’m backing the Kookas to get up comfortably.
Meningie v Karoonda
The Magpies are wounded.
They are sitting bottom of the ladder at the minute and with captain and star batsman Corey Knight missing this week, there is every chance they could continue their losing streak against the erratic Meningie. It all depends which Meningie we get this week.
Will it be the confident Meningie that easily defeated reigning premiers Mypolonga in the first round?
Or will it be stumbling Meningie that was dismissed for a dismal 43 last week?
I know I keep saying it, but so much depends on whether Stewart Willis and Richard Boscence make runs.
Fail and the side will capitulate again, make runs and the Lakesiders are every chance of victory.
Karoonda are low on confidence at the moment and need blokes such as Luke Hocking, Bruce Kerr, Rhys Bullard and Josh Rudiger to find some form.
Eli Koch and Scott Huxtable return this week to give them a bit of bowling depth and even though it’s at Meningie, I think Karoona will just get home.
Wanderers v Jervois
If ever there was a chance for the Bluds to chalk up a win it is this week.
Wanderers, similar to the start of last season, have begun slowly and at present do not look a premiership threat.
But as they showed last season, that could change quickly.
With loyal club servant Michael Trotter gone and Noel Hartman, Todd Blucher and boom recruit Simon Williams unlikely to play much A grade this season, the Woo Hoos do not look as formidable as first thought.
Both sides have youthful bowling attacks that are vastly improving.
Sam Robinson and Kieran and Bryce Jaensch are all menacing on their day, but they need to find more consistency.
Jervois have two very good up-and-coming bowlers in Andrew Penhall and Adrian Lloyd.
Both young lads spearhead their side’s attack and are rapidly developing.
The Bluds must make a decent score to have a chance.
“Happy” Gilmour is leading by example, but they need a bit more from Brenton Schultz and Adam Towill, who are both capable batsman.
But the experience of Wanderers will be enough to get them their first win.
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