The chance to win through to a grand final is motivation enough for the Bob Berry Blasters and Castlereagh Hornets but there’s another reason why winning on Friday night means so much.
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The two rivals sit second and third respectively on the McDonald’s Megahit ladder but the winner of Friday’s game at No. 1 Oval is guaranteed to leapfrog current leaders Rugby Liberty OneSteelers, claim the minor premiership and advance straight through to the decider.
The loser will face Rugby in the semis and that is not an attractive proposal.
Rugby piled on 206 in its last match and the likes of Ben Patterson, Jordan Moran, James O’Brien and Nathan Munro are all in fine form.
“Rugby’s not a team we’d like to play in the semi,” Blasters’ Wes Giddings said.
“Of the three teams left it’s tight but Rugby has probably got a few more players committed and going harder than Souths (Hornets). Souths are a bit more relaxed.
“Rugby is a team which will definitely be raring to go.”
While Rugby is top of the ladder, the Blasters are the only side not to have lost a Twenty20 this season.
The Blasters have won three from four with one washout, which came when they were due to play Rugby.
The key players have led the way for the Bob Berry outfit this season and Giddings said their regular availability has made all the difference.
“We’ve kept a good core group of guys and we haven’t had too many in and out,” he said.
“We haven’t fielded our full strength team but we’ve been close every game. We’ve been trying to win and not be too lax, which can happen in the night cricket.”
That core group, headlined by Giddings, Greg Buckley, Darrel Williams, Chris Morton and Jason Ryan, will be vital against a Castlereagh Hornets which, while it may be more relaxed than other sides, is just as dangerous.
The Hornets are the defending premiers and possess a group of players, namely Mitch Bower and Henry Railz, who can change a game in the space of a couple of overs.
With such talented players pushing for a place in a grand final the match on Friday shapes as a belter but Giddings said it won’t be as tense as the looming finals.
“Obviously we’re going to try and win but there’s not the pressure of it being a must-win game so we can go in a little more relaxed,” he said.
“It would be good to win but we really need to execute our plans with bat and ball to make that happen.”
Plays starts 6.30pm.
The semi-final will be played the following Friday.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
