SWAN HILL v RSL
RSL has been one of the surprise packets of season 2021-22 so far – but for all the wrong reasons.
Having been the competition yardstick for almost a decade, the Blues find themselves in unusual territory at present. Not only are they sitting outside the top four, but they are a game and a half outside a finals berth – and with just six rounds remaining, they need to start chalking up some wins.
The first of those much-needed victories should come tomorrow at the hands of Swan Hill, who find themselves sitting on the bottom of the ladder and are yet to win a match in the season proper.
The problem with the Swans is it’s hard to tell which of the two main disciplines is their Achilles heel, be it their bowling or batting. From their five home-and-away games so far, they are yet to reach three figures as a team with the bat. Yet just as damning is the fact that they are averaging just four wickets a match from those same five games.
There is enough talent within their team that they should be a lot more competitive than they are currently showing. Cal Noonan, Jacob Hatcher and Lachie Edwards are all more than capable with the bat and are certainly a lot better than their stats to this point of the season would suggest.
The same can be said for Andrew Clark with the ball who, to be fair, has bowled well at times but has lacked help from the other end to build pressure on the opposition.
While RSL find themselves outside the top four, it could very easily be a different story had results last weekend gone their way. Against both St Mary’s-Tyntynder and Nyah District, the Blues were in a position to win, yet on both occasions, they failed to hold their nerve when it counted with both bat and ball.
It’s a point that wouldn’t have been lost on their captain Ryan Hinton – and you can almost guarantee the next time RSL is in a close one, they’ll get the job done.
Having played twice already this season – and with both games ending in crushing wins to the Blues, it would be foolish to suggest the Swans could turn the tables this time around.
Tip – RSL to win comfortably – again.
ST MARY’S-TYNTYNDER v WOORINEN
THIS season’s T20 Grand Final combatants will face off in the opening round of the 50 over format tomorrow afternoon out at the Ken Harrison Reserve.
After suffering their first loss of 2021-22 at the hands of Wandella last Sunday, St Mary’s-Tyntynder will be hoping to welcome back a number of their first 11 players who missed last weekend, including co-captains Jack Shannahan and Austin McKerrow, as well as Corey Daniels, Jared Halligan and Matt Barnes.
Woorinen on the other hand will enter the match both full of confidence and in form, having won all three games since the Christmas break. Much of the Tigers’ good form can be attributed to their performances with the bat, with their whole batting line-up contributing at one point or another.
With that said, two of their younger players have really stepped up to lead the way in Mitch Uhlhorn and Marcus Mangiameli. Uhlhorn, with 152 runs at an average of 30.40, is the leading run scorer in the SHDCA – which is a phenomenal feat considering this is his first full season of A Grade cricket, while Mangiameli is also in career best form having scored 118 runs from his first four hits this season.
This week will be a much harder challenge for the Tigers batting line-up however, as they face the competition’s leading attack – and as there are no bowling restrictions in the 50 over format, they can be assured they’ll be made to earn every run.
Corey Daniels and Nathaniel Holmes-Brown are a lethal opening combination – Daniels forever a threat of ripping through a team, while Holmes-Brown ties down his end and makes scoring difficult. Add in the challenging off-spin of Dom Violi and medium pacers Koben Ryan and Shannahan and the Saints have options a-plenty.
While St Mary’s bowling has been their big strength so far this season, their batting has also been a huge positive, particularly Riley Daniels in the top order. Daniels has the perfect temperament for success in the longer formats – and if he can continue with his current form, he will be the one that holds the key with the bat to the Saints’ chances of success later in the season.
In what shapes as a game that could go either way, the likely inclusion of a number of St Mary’s-Tyntynder’s key players looks likely to swing the pendulum in their favour.
Tip – St Mary’s-Tyntynder to return to the winner’s list.
WANDELLA v NYAH DISTRICT
NYAH District will be looking to continue their good form when they travel to Kerang tomorrow to take on Wandella.
The Demons will still be on an emotional high after qualifying for next Friday’s Kookaburra Cup Grand Final, but before they can turn their attention to that game, they must first get past the Bombers who, it must be said, will also fancy their chances of a win, especially after taking care of the in-form St Mary’s-Tyntynder last Sunday.
With the A Grade competition as tight as it is this season, every game and every win becomes vital – and while the Demons may find themselves on top of the ladder at present, a loss to the Bombers, who are just six points behind, could see them fall right back to the pack.
Charlie Boulton was the shining light for Nyah District last weekend, scoring 48 against Ultima-TUF and then single handily getting the Demons over the line against RSL, scoring a further 60 runs at the top of the order.
While Justin Toomey has also been in great form with the bat this season (129 runs at 43.00), the Demons will need some of the other members of their batting order to stand up in the longer format. Mitch Grinham is one who has shown glimpses of what he’s capable of and the longer version of the game will definitely suit his temperament, as it will for Drew Lloyd, too.
Wandella skipper Greg Dickson and (150 runs at 50.00) and Laine Gibbons (128 runs at 32.00) have been the two shining lights with the bat for the Bombers so far in season 2021-22, but much like the Demons, they’ll need a more even contribution from the rest of their batting order from this point onwards.
It’s a similar story with the ball for both teams as well, with Ryan Barnes leading the way for Wandella and Demons captain Ben Shadbolt both taking 15 wickets this season, to lead the SHDCA bowling aggregate. With no bowling restrictions in the 50 over format, it’s conceivable that both Barnes and Shadbolt could bowl all day from their end each, such is their importance to each team.
Much like the Saints and Tigers, this genuine 50-50 contest will most likely go right down to the wire – and although home ground advantage is with the Bombers, it’s hard to ignore the Demons recent good form.
Tip – Whoever wins the toss will bat – and win.
