By David Nagel
With the four finalists virtually locked away – attention now turns to the bottom rungs of the CCCA ladder this week as Carlisle Park and Clyde fight for their Premier Division survival.
The Vikings have only had one taste of success in 2023/24, and that came against the Cougars with a 10-run victory in round three.
Meanwhile, Clyde was winless until Christmas but began the new year with a bang against Merinda Park and Devon Meadows.
But those back-to-back one-day wins – in rounds 9 and 10 – still leave the Cougars extremely vulnerable; one win above Carlisle Park with just two rounds of home-and-away fixtures remaining.
But remember, the Cougars are proven survivors!
Last season they looked certain to be relegated, before chasing down 303 for victory in round 13 against Merinda Park, and defeating top-team Tooradin in the final game of the season to send Officer toppling from the top-flight.
Things are not as desperate this year, well…not yet anyway!
Return home from Carlisle Park with the points and Clyde will be free from the relegation battle come round 14; heading to Denhams Road with a ‘free-hit’ mentality against Kooweerup in the final game of the season.
A win for Clyde would also see Merinda Park safe, no matter what happens in its round 13 clash against Kooweerup this week.
But if Ben Perry and his Vikings can claim a second success against Clyde this season…then its ‘game-on’ heading into round 14.
Carlisle Park and Clyde would be level on 30 points, separated by a small gap in percentage, with Merinda Park likely to be just one game clear in sixth.
All three teams would then be on tenterhooks.
Relevant Round-14 games would then include: Clyde (7) v Kooweerup 92), Merinda Park (6) v Cardinia (4) and Devon Meadows (5) v Carlisle Park (8).
Clyde captain Zac Davis will be hoping his team can eliminate that ‘last-round’ anxiety by producing a solid performance against the Vikings this week.
In their most recent outing, the Cougars were no match for a Cal O’Hare and Josh Lownds inspired Tooradin, with a target of exactly 400 expectedly out of reach.
Openers Trevor Bauer and Michael Vandort were the orchestrators of last season’s ‘Houdini-like’ escape, scoring back-to-back half centuries in the final two games that saved the Cougars from relegation.
Those two have been prominent again this season, while Teddy Fonseka, Brett Reid, Mahie Bodahandi and Davis have all made valuable contributions when it’s mattered most.
Both teams have showed glimpses of impressive form, but just haven’t dug deep enough into their collective skill-sets to cause consistent damage.
Clyde will be slightly favoured to win, but we’re going for Carlisle Park to set up a tense and exciting round 14 with a five-run or one-wicket victory.
It’s not often that two double-century makers face each other in the next round, but that’ll be the case when Cardinia host Pakenham at Gunton Oval on Saturday.
The exploits of Pakenham’s Chris Smith (210 not out) and Cardinia’s Alex Nooy (202 not out) were well publicised last week after the club stalwarts joined former Bull Nei Barfuss (202) as the only players to have made 200 in the last 15 years.
The elegant Smith will go down as one of the all-time greats in WGCA/CCCA cricket, while left-hander Nooy rediscovered his former focus to hammer Carlisle Park to all parts.
This contest is all about maintaining momentum heading into finals, with the result to have little bearing on where the teams finish this year.
They’re both locked into third and fourth place – whatever that mix looks like – and will only meet again if they make it through to the grand final.
Kooweerup and Tooradin will make that task extremely difficult, but the Bulls and Lions certainly have the talent to match the big guns.
When players like Dale Tormey and Morteza Ali are not even the headline acts…you know you’re in for a rock-solid contest.
We’ll go for Cardinia to win a close one.
In other games this week Tooradin host Devon Meadows in the ‘South Gippsland Highway Showdown’.
The Seagulls have only lost one game all season and won’t want to make it two, with top spot still well-and-truly up for grabs.
Finish top; win a semi-final; and a home grand final is all yours…it’s that easy!
The Gulls face a perfect introduction to finals, with the clash against the Panthers followed by a difficult trip to Pakenham.
Cal O’Hare and Josh Lownds made big centuries last round, and the Gulls would love one or two others to join that elusive club and be cheery-ripe for finals.
Lucas Ligt and his Panthers will put up a fight, but the Seagulls overall strength will prove decisive.
It’s Tooradin to win comfortably.
And Kooweerup will look to defeat Merinda Park for the second time in two weeks when the Demons host the Cobras at Denhams Road.
The Demons were too good for the gritty Cobras in a competitive Kookaburra Cup grand final at Devon Meadows, with Country Week stars Luke McMaster and Chris Bright leading their team to victory.
Mitch Davey and Steven Dillon are becoming more and more important for the Demons, while Joel Anderson and Rob Maskiell have huge roles to play in the absence of Adam McMaster.
Mat Campbell will be thrilled with the fight his Cobras have shown this season, with Dan McCalman, Bevin Corneille and Cambell Bryan showing great signs of resilience.
But resilience won’t be enough this week…it’s the Demons to win handsomely.
CCCA PREMIER – ROUND 13 TIPS
Saturday 17 and 24 February, 2024
CARDINIA v Pakenham
TOORADIN v Devon Meadows
KOOWEERUP v Merinda Park
CARLILSE PARK v Clyde
