Above: Paul Bright’s steady bowling will be a key to Kooweerup’s Agrade premiership chances at Pakenham this weekend.By Ian Ferguson
MINOR premiers Cardinia and last season’s Bgrade flag winners Kooweerup will do battle for the 200607 Agrade premiership this weekend.
West Gippsland has been blessed with exciting grand finals in recent years and this clash has the potential to be another nailbiter.
Cardinia has been consistently impressive all year with its performances and possesses an imposing team balance.
Its new ball attack is steady. In Dwayne Doig it has the competition’s premier spinner and the Bulls’ fielding has improved greatly under the guidance of their astute captaincoach Mark Cooper.
Cooper is the leading run scorer in the WGCA this season and he is a vital cog in Cardinia’s runmaking performances.
Troy and Ben Da Rose, as well as Luke Turner, John Nooy and Jamie Glen, provide useful support, but when Cooper fails the Bulls have struggled to achieve a winning score.
However Cardinia is well versed in Agrade finals’ matches and will not wilt easily under pressure.
Like Cooper, Chris O’Hara is the lynchpin of Kooweerup’s batting.
The team relies on this capable opener to play a long innings and it is no coincidence that when the Demons compile an imposing total it is O’Hara who is among the leading runmakers.
Captain Matt Davey is also vital for the team’s prospects with his dangerous swing bowling and his explosive batting. He is well supported by Carl McGregor in the Demons’ attack and the popular Englishman has boosted the Kooweerup team this season.
In the final washup, it may be a battle between Cardinia’s experience and superior team balance opposed to Kooweerup’s explosive batting and growing self belief.
The Demons have slightly more fire power than Cardinia, and they are tipped to maintain their winning momentum and carry the 200607 premiership cup back to Kooweerup.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:BGRADE
Neither team was expected to be part of the finals’ action by the last weekend in March, but both KilcundaBass and Nyora recorded outstanding semifinal victories and deserve their chance of achieving premiership glory.
Each team successfully defended a small total to achieve its grandfinal position, so morale will be strong in each camp.
The Sharks’ trio of capable fast bowlers, combined with excellent fielding, lifted them to a stirring win over the previously undefeated Nar Nar GoonMaryknoll team.
It was an inspired bowling performance from Nyora’s Kevin Toogood that destroyed the Upper Beaconsfield batting lineup.
Both teams lacked batting depth in their semifinal games, so it is likely to be a tight, lowscoring contest.
KilcundaBass has the classiest batsman in Bgrade with Paul Palmer and if he scores well, the Sharks should prevail. They are a more seasoned unit than their enthusiastic Nyora opponents are and it is the KilcundaBass Sharks who are tipped to enjoy a victory feast and make their debut in WGCA Agrade ranks next season.
Grand final tips in all grades, with likely winners in capitals.
Agrade: Cardinia v KOOWEERUP.
Bgrade: Nyora v KILCUNDABASS.
Cgrade: Beaconsfield v LYNDHURST VIKINGS.
Dgrade: MERINDA PARK v Pakenham UpperToomuc.
Egrade: CARDINIA v Gembrook.
Fgrade: CLYDE v Emerald.
Under17 North: Emerald Black v BEACY BANDITS.
Under17 South: Merinda Park v TOORADIN.
Under15 North: EMERALD BLACK v Pakenham Upper Yabbies.
Under15 South: Cardinia v TOORADIN.
Under13 North: BEACY MINORS v Upper Beaconsfield Maroons.
Under13 South: MERINDA PARK v Devon Meadows.
