By DAVID NAGEL
WGCA – GRAND FINAL PREVIEW
DISTRICT
CRANBOURNE MEADOWS will be looking to break a 25-year-old drought when it takes on Officer in this weekend’s WGCA District Division grand final at Officer.
The Rebels’ first XI has not tasted success since Peter ‘Bun’ O’Hare led his side to A Grade victory in 1988/89.
A win against the Bullants will see the Rebels return to the WGCA’s top-flight, Premier Division, for next season. Skipper Brent Murdoch said the talk around the league at the start of the year – putting them in the crosshairs of relegation – only motivated them further though.
“Just pumped – we were touted round one in what was called ‘relegation round’ between us and SFX,” Murdoch said.
“So what we’re able to do this year as a team has been great. To sneak into fourth spot, we knew we were always a chance.”
Batting is the area where the match will be won and lost for Murdoch’s men with Murdoch (639 runs), Shannon Marum (416) and John Emery (357) leading the charge.
It would be a rapid return to Premier for Officer after spending 2011/12 and 2012/13 in free-fall, following back-to-back demotions from Premier and District all the way back to Subbies.
Skipper Shane White has been a crucial addition to the Bullants lower order and bowling attack – charging in for 24 wickets and earning 404 runs and will be the man to watch for the Rebels.
Brent Murdoch will lead his side to victory.
SUB-DISTRICT
TOORADIN will look for its fourth flag in six years and Pakenham will look to open its Sub-District account when the two teams collide at Holm Park Reserve Oval 2.
The Seagulls have dominated this grade since the WGCA restructure at the beginning of 2009 and will be keen to continue that trend.
The Seagulls will need to see off Pakenham’s top order quickly as Josh Gonzalez (370 runs), Nic Close (324) and Greg Interlandi (288) know how to find the ropes. There are options aplenty for Tooradin up and down the order – namely Ben Spicer (364) in the batting stakes while Tim Lenders (27 wickets) has excelled with the ball.
It’s the Lions to win.
