THE Swan Hill District Cricket Association semi-finals will be held this weekend.
In A grade Swan Hill and Tooleybuc Manangatang will meet at the showgrounds while Nyah District and Tooleybuc Manangatang will do battle at Nyah.
Both games are scheduled to be completed on Sunday.
In B grade Swan Hill takes on Sea Lake Woomelang and Nullawil Culgoa is up against Woorinen.
In C grade, Nyah District plays Woorinen and St Mary’s Tyntynder takes on Tooleybuc Manangatang.
Swan Hill v Tooleybuc Manangatang
SWAN Hill and Tooleybuc Manangatang will vie for a place in the grand final at the showgrounds this weekend.
Swan Hill captain Matt Lanigan said his side would benefit from having a full strength side.
“They really outplayed us when we played last time out at Tooleybuc, but this will be the first time all year we’ve had a full strength side,” he said.
“It helps having B grade in the finals, the numbers at training have been good and it’s good to be able to select from everyone that’s been there.”
Lanigan said the last two rounds had been pleasing, with a first innings win over Nyah and an outright win to steal top spot.
“We did well playing the second top team two weeks ago and have been working hard at training.
“The last month we’ve put in a great performance to bat out our overs.”
Johnny Hirst, Mitch Seton-Stewart and Patrick Noonan will be among those to return for the weekend for Swan Hill.
Lanigan said they would prove important against a star-studded Tooleybuc Manangatang line up.
“Obviously you’ve got Leigh Kentish who’s one of the best players in the league with the bat and the ball and Stuart Dixson is a great cricketer as well,” he said.
“They’ve got a really good team mixture of older and younger players, and they’re like us in a way.
“I think they’re one of the major contenders and it will be a great challenge for us.”
Tooleybuc Manangatang captain Leigh Kentish said he was looking forward to the contest.
“Just like with any game, we’re always confident in our abilities and we think our momentum coming into the finals this year is pretty good. So we’re pretty keen to get out there and hopefully get through to the [grand final],” he said.
Kentish said the key for Tooleybuc Manangatang was to focus on that which it could control.
“Good line and length when you’re bowling; value your wicket; working hard in the field — we need everybody doing their job,” he said.
“We won’t focus on anyone from Swan Hill individually, just on what we can control.”
For other match previews see Friday’s edition of The Guardian (March 15, 2013).
