By David Nagel
The WGCA home-and-away season is done and dusted, with the process of sorting out the contenders from pretenders complete. Gazette Sport Editor Dave Nagel takes a close look at who the players to watch are in this week’s WGCA B Grade semi-finals.
B GRADE
Major Semi-Final
Devon Meadows (1) v Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (2)
Devon Meadows Stats…
Over 100 Runs: Billy Loudon 301, Arthur Churchill 282, Bill Halton 235, Nathan Kleinig 205, Callum Cavanagh 191, Mitchell Kleinig 188.
Over 10 Wickets: Trent D’Alton 26, Mitchell Kleinig 15, Michael Floyd 14, Callum Cavanagh 13, Arthur Churchill 12.
Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll Stats…
Over 100 Runs: Jaswinder Gill 369, Nathan Phillips 261, Tom Medwin 178, Akash Chhetri 141, James Markland 140, Shamraiz Medhi 108, Darcy Taylor 105.
Over 10 Wickets: Abhi Sharma 20, Ash Bailey 14, Kuwarjeet Singh 13, Shamraiz Medhi 13, Nick Mueller 12.
Preview
Devon Meadows and Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll will battle it out for grand final hosting rights when the Panthers and Marygoons lock horns in the B Grade major semi-final at Glover Reserve on Saturday.
The Panthers have been superb this season, winning 10 games on the trot until Clyde brought them back down to earth in round 12. Billy Loudon, Arthur Churchill and Bill Halton have been consistent with the bat, while Trent D’Alton – with 26 wickets – has been one of the standout bowlers in any grade of the WGCA this season.
Throw in the likes of Mick Floyd, Callum Cavanagh and Mitch Kleinig, and the Panthers are one dangerous proposition for the Marygoons to square off against.
The Marygoons are no mugs themselves, having lost just two games this season…but both were against the Panthers.
Jaswinder Gill and Nathan Phillips provide genuine class with the willow, and who wins the battle between these two and D’Alton will go a long way to deciding the outcome.
Abhi Sharma, Ash Bailey and Kuwarjeet Singh will test the Panthers’ talented batting line up, while Shamraiz Medhi can also bob up when needed.
But it’s the Panthers to progress to the grand final in a thriller.
Minor Semi-Final
Clyde (3) v Tooradin (4)
Clyde Stats…
Over 100 Runs: Steve Russell 389, Adrian Buller 354, Shem Smith 174, Nick Miles 153, 139 Gavin Adams 139, Beau Hawkins 109, Ben Reilly 105.
Over 10 Wickets: Shem Smith 17, Ben Knowles 17, Craig Dodsworth 12, Ross Elston 11.
Tooradin Stats…
Over 100 Runs: Peter Stone 319, Rob Simpson 227, Adam Jacobs 178, Owen Johnstone 104, Shane Somers 103.
Over 10 Wickets: Tim Huguenin 20, James Thompson 14, Tadhg O’Riordan 13, Adam Jacobs 11.
Preview
They never met until the last round of the season, but now Clyde and Tooradin will square off for the second week running in a cut-throat elimination final at Clyde.
Tooradin won a tense battle last week, with Connor and Tadhg O’Riordan, and Tim Huguenin, cleaning the Cougars up, before Cooper Shipp steered the Gulls to victory.
It saw the Seagulls leapfrog Emerald into fourth place on the ladder.
But now they’re there, the Gulls can cause some damage with Peter Stone, Rob Simpson and Adam Jacobs capable of taking any B Grade attack to task.
Clyde has been steady, without being outstanding this season.
The Cougars have not won more than two games in a row but have done enough to earn a coveted home final.
Steve Russell and Adrian Buller have been rock-solid with the bat in hand while Shem Smith and Ben Knowles are sure to cause the Seagulls some headaches.
It’s the Cougars to move forward and end the Gulls’ season.
