By David Nagel
The West Gippsland Cricket Association (WGCA) Premier Division is set for a bumper last four rounds of the season with five clubs still hanging on to hopes of lifting this season’s silverware.
The top-two teams in the competition – Kooweerup and Tooradin – have done the bullocking work and have relatively easy draws that should see them locking horns in the one v two grand final qualifier on Saturday 12 March.
The only question still to be answered regarding that one is the venue, with the Demons in the box seat to host one of the most important battles of the season.
But drop the eyes just a little and three teams – Pakenham (78), reigning-champions Cardinia (66) and a highly-charged Merinda Park (60) – are about to embark on 22 days of madness that will ultimately separate the contenders from pretenders.
Cardinia, although currently vulnerable in fourth, would appear to be the safest bet of the three to finish in the top-four with winnable games against Carlisle Park and Cranbourne Meadows to come.
The Bulls other two games, well a trip to Merinda Park and a visit from Pakenham will give us some idea as to whether the Bulls are enough in-form and totally equipped to defend last season’s title.
Pakenham and Merinda Park are two of the in-form teams of the competition, with the Lions winning all six and the Cobras five of their last six encounters.
But both teams face four of the top-five teams heading home – they play each other in the final round of the season after the toughest of tests against Cardinia, Kooweerup and Tooradin.
The equation for the Lions is pretty simple…win just one of their last four games and they will more than likely play finals.
But if Merinda Park can steal a win over the next three weeks – against Tooradin, Cardinia and Kooweerup – and the Lions lose all three against the same opposition over the same period of time, then the final round of the season will determine who makes the top four.
Clyde (6th) and Cranbourne Meadows (7th) are in limbo – with nothing much to be achieved over the next four weeks with finals out of the question – and so too relegation.
The Cougars – and the Rebels in particular – have already started plans to make a march up the ladder a genuine possibility next season.
And for Carlisle Park – well relegation looms large despite a mainly competitive season in the top-flight of the association.
Let’s hope the winless Vikings can at least taste success before the season comes to an end.
LADDER-R10 W L T D % PTS
Kooweerup 8 1 0 1 1.95 102
Tooradin 7 1 0 2 1.47 96
Pakenham 6 3 0 1 1.98 78
Cardinia 5 4 0 1 1.13 66
Merinda Park 4 4 1 1 0.71 60
Clyde 2 6 1 1 0.76 36
Cran Meadows 2 6 0 2 0.48 35
Carlisle Park 0 9 0 1 0.51 6
WGCA Fixture – Rounds 11 to 14
Kooweerup (102) – Pakenham, Cranbourne Meadows, Merinda Park, Clyde.
Tooradin (96) – Merinda Park, Pakenham, Clyde, Carlisle Park.
Pakenham (78) – Kooweerup, Tooradin, Cardinia, Merinda Park.
Cardinia (66) – Carlisle Park, Merinda Park, Pakenham, Cranbourne Meadows.
Merinda Park (60) – Tooradin, Cardinia, Kooweerup, Pakenham.
Clyde (36) – Cranbourne Meadows, Carlisle Park, Tooradin, Kooweerup.
Cranbourne Meadows (36) – Clyde, Kooweerup, Carlisle Park, Cardinia.
Carlisle Park (6) – Cardinia, Clyde, Cranbourne Meadows, Tooradin.
