NYAH DISTRICT v WANDELLA
Woorinen won’t be the only team looking to atone for a semi-final defeat on Saturday, with Wandella also set to meet Nyah District in the other semi-final rematch from last season.
Much like the Tigers, the Bombers were found short with the bat in the penultimate weekend of the season last year, having been bowled out for 104 against the Demons.
That was never going to be enough and so it proved, but a new season brings new opportunities with Wandella expected to provide a tough test to the reigning premiers at Nyah.
Tom Bell is expected to come in for his first match for Nyah District after crossing over from Ultima-TUF over the off-season, but it will be the early season absence of dangerous all-rounder Joel Walsh that will have Bombers supporters sniffing an upset.
The Demons still possess a talent laden team with both bat and ball, with Charlie Boulton and Dean Harrop capable of scoring quickly, while talented youngster Max Thompson looks set to take his game to another level.
Question marks still surround the availability of all-rounder Peter Moore for Wandella, with most teams in the SHDCA watching intently to see if he rolls out for the Bombers on Saturday.
If he doesn’t, Wandella can take solace in having a ready made replacement with the ball at least, with tearaway quick Laing Waddingham ready to produce a breakout season after showing his undoubted talent late last year.
The big challenge for the Bombers will be putting a winning score on the board this time around and giving their talented bowling attack something to defend.
RSL v BARHAM-KOONDROOK
Oscar Hier will take the reins of RSL for the first time when the Blues host Barham-Koondrook at Gurnett Oval on Saturday to close out the opening round of the season.
It will be a tough first up assignment for Hier and the Blues, who despite playing their own home patch better than most, will come up against a Raiders outfit that is determined to leapfrog their way into the top four come season’s end.
Jayden Hall and Garry Lolicato will join forces to lead Barham-Koondrook, with Lolicato proving himself to be one of the most damaging players in the competition with bat in hand last year, along with brother Warren.
The Lolicato brothers will be the key wickets for the Blues bowling attack, with the Caldwell brothers, Hier and Lleyton Purcell forming the basis of a strong RSL bowling attack.
The key wicket for the Raiders is undoubtedly that of Blues opener Ryan Hinton, who led the scoring with 526 runs last year for RSL amid another dominant campaign.
The other threat with the bat for Barham-Koondrook will come from Stuart Patterson, who has the ability to turn a game on it’s head in the space of 10 overs with his aggressive and attacking style.
