General News
11 March, 2021
Cats, Bulls in battle of South West’s best
THE best team of the decade and the best team of the past two seasons will fight for glory in this weekend’s South West Cricket division one grand final.
THE best team of the decade and the best team of the past two seasons will fight for glory in this weekend’s South West Cricket division one grand final.
Powerhouse Mortlake and two-time reigning premier Pomborneit will square off in the competition’s ultimate game at Cobden Recreation Reserve this Saturday.
The Cats are chasing their seventh premiership in 12 seasons, while the Bulls are hoping to make it a hat-trick of premierships after wins in 2018/19 and 2019/20.
Mortlake skipper Todd Robertson said the club’s premiership quest was “a club feel” not just division one’s goal.
He attributed the club’s ability to contend year-in, year-out was a testament to its mix of youth and experience.
“Obviously our under 13s and under 16s won and division two is in the grand final as well as division one so the club is abuzz at the moment,” Robertson said.
“It’s in the strongest position its been in for the last 10 to 15 years and there is a really positive atmosphere to be around.
“We’ve had a really good core group of guys as well as each year we’ve been able to blood two or three really good kids that have the ability to turn into really good cricketers.
“Along the way we’ve been able to blood kids and give them a taste of division one cricket which has held us in really good stead because you need good juniors putting pressure on for the future.”
Robertson said his side was expecting a typical, hard Cobden wicket for the decider, adding whichever side can adjust quickest will win the contest.
“I think whoever can adapt to the conditions and bat their overs out will be the key on the weekend,” he said.
“If we can bat out our overs it will go a long way to us getting a score we can defend.”
Bulls captain Grant Place said his club was thrilled to reach the grand final after it almost missed the finals completely.
“It got down to the last five, ten overs of round 18 so it was as close as it could have been,” he said.
“But we got there eventually and put in a good performance on Saturday which was pleasing.
It was probably the first time in my career where we’ve played a decent game in the semi-final for a win so it was pleasing.”
Place said Mortlake loomed as one of the competition’s tougher challenges given its storied history.
“I suppose for the last 12 years now Mortlake are either in the semi or the granny, but predominantly the grand final,” he said.
“They were probably unlucky against Camperdown in the semi-final last year not to make another one but normally if you’re going to make it you’ve got to beat them.”
Place said strong performances from Tom Place, Dave Murphy and Steve Murphy would be huge to his side winning the game.
“A decent batting performance from our top four again (is the key),” he said.
“Our bowling is normally pretty solid so we can hopefully bank on a decent bowling performance and hope that our top four or five can make decent runs.”