FINALS hopes are on the line this week in Murray Towns A grade cricket, with some pivotal, season-defining clashes this Saturday.
Third-placed Tailem Bend takes on fifth-placed Karoonda, while fourth-placed Meningie takes on sixth-placed Wanderers, with all teams needing to win firm up their finals hopes.
Monarto v Imperials
Monarto run into an Imperials side desperate for a win to keep their finals hopes alive.
But question-marks loom over key players in both sides.
Luke Harrowfield is reportedly in doubt for this match due to a wedding, while Monarto’s Harry Webb in under an injury cloud.
Despite whoever fronts up its hard to go past Monarto.
Thr Black Caps’ form has been impressive this season.
They still have a relatively young side with just one veteran, in Kym Edwards, and a couple of mid-age players in Harry Webb, Daniel Matthews and Ty Pfeiffer.
The rest of the side is made up of young tyros aged in their early 20s or teens and they have been the reason Monarto has performed so consistently this season.
Harrowfield has pulled out plenty of his Eyre Peninsula mates to fill in for the Blues this season, most of who have not disappointed.
But what hurts Imperials is the unavailability of these players to play every week, hence the Blues’ inconsistent form.
“Doodle” Williams is back for Imperials and he loves bowling against the Black Caps and his aggression and trademark unorthodox run-up will strike fear into the eyes of the Monarto batsman.
William Lipp and Ben Trenordan have shown a bit this season for the Blues so far but everyone must perform if the visitors want to get up in this one.
Monarto should get the chocolates in this one and sure-up second position, especially if Harrowfield doesn’t play.
Mannum v Mypolonga
This will be a mere formality for Mypolonga.
In fact its scary to see what the outcome of the match could be if the Tigers bat first.
Aaron Zrim and Mark Oborn are both in explosive form with the bat and have been putting together some giant opening stands of late.
Zrim scores quickly and powerfully, while Oborn is better at compiling runs, in essence they make the perfect batting combination.
Should they fail the Tigers have plenty of back-up in Gene Robinson, Jared Marsten, Simon Kruger, Jack Daniell and Dylan Oats.
The bowling front in equally as intimidating with Lachlan and Aaron Zrim, Daniell and Robinson all extremely difficult to score from.
Mannum’s only chance is if they bat first and Dwayne Krollig, Noel Hartman, Michael Trotter and Vivian brothers can withstand the onslaught, bat out their overs and post a competitive total.
Unfortunately the odds of Mannum batting out their overs in this match are slim.
Mypolonga will win this comfortably.
The questions is by how much?
Karoonda v Tailem Bend
The battle for third spot is on.
Tailem Bend currently have it, Karoonda want it and that man Luke Hocking will stop at nothing to get it.
Karoonda’s Hocking is the nice guy of the competition, everybody loves “Hocko” and “Hocko” loves everybody…or so it seems.
But under the nice, fluffy exterior is a man that is hell-bent on securing victory in every match he plays and he will stop at nothing to get it.
Hocking has been in sublime form this season but he needs more help.
Rhys Bullard has made some good knocks this season but must work on consistency, as does Christian Koch.
Nick Norman is a youngster at the Magpies that has really stood up this season with both bat and ball and he is the future of the Karoonda Cricket Club.
Karoonda comes up against a Tailem Bend side that boasts more experience than them, despite the fact the Eagles have only been in the A grade competition for this season.
Paul Baxter, Sam Baum, Rick Berling, Chris Kropinyeri and Clint Rigney have all got plenty of years of cricket under their belts.
The real showdown of this match will be Tim Berling coming up against his former side.
It is something that will no doubt make Hocko’s blood boil and I’m sure he will have a few choice words to say to Berling.
Timmy has been in pretty good form since crossing to Tailem however and I’m sure it won’t bother him too much.
This is a tough call, I’m going to go with Tailem, but I’m sure upon reading this prediction “Hocko” will do everything in his power to prove me wrong.
Wanderers v Meningie
This will be a great chance for Wanderers to see where they are at this season.
The Woo Hoos currently sit in sixth position and Meningie fourth.
But both sides, as well as fifth-placed Karoonda, are all locked on 60 points, meaning the outcome of this match will be vital to each side’s finals hopes.
Wanderers’ improvement this season has come from the return of burley veterans Simon Williams and Lee Spurling.
Williams is a formidable man, he strikes the ball with remarkable power when batting.
But it has been his bowling that has been most damaging in recent weeks, with his slow little in-swingers netting him 11 wickets in his past five matches at an economical rate of just 2.1 runs an over.
Spurling has been equally as instrumental with the bat all season.
Throw in the Rehn brothers, Michael Stapleton and in-form youngster Ryan Morris, and all of a sudden there is a bit of depth to the Wanderers line-up.
But the icing on the cake is the return of Wanderers’ spiritual leader, the man with Murray Bridge’s best hair, Phil Scheer.
Wanderers run into a Meningie side that boasts the league’s leading run scorer Stewart Williss.
Williss carries his side nearly every week, especially since Richard Boscence has had a quiet year with the bat so far.
Brad Biddle, Matthew Hera-Singh and Hayden Biddle are providing good support, but can they pull off a win for their side should Williss fail?
I’m going with Wanderers in this one.They have got some momentum, they have been thriving off their home oval in recent weeks and I reckon that man Scheer will inspire them enough to get them over the line.
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