Geelong Cricket Club faces a tough task of winning its match against Greenvale tomorrow, its visitors piling on 9/286 last week after being asked to bat.
It was a tight tussle early but a couple of wickets each to Dylan Moroney (2/41) and Hayden Butterworth (3/67) saw the Cats reduce Greenvale to 8/196 early in the afternoon session.
But as the wicket flattened out, so did the potency of the Geelong attack as 27 and 63 run partnerships slowly took the game out of their reach.
While the Geelong batting line up was brittle before Christmas, it has enjoyed better form of late and tomorrow could be a good chance to show it has come a long way since then.
In the Geelong Cricket Association, the division one finalists appear to be finally settled and with one game up its sleeves, St Josephs has come from the clouds to once again be a premiership contender.
Outright points last week over Murgheboluc have the Joeys seven points clear inside the top six and, barring the threat of an unlikely outright win to any of the sides sitting outside the top six, they can use their game against North Geelong this round to fine-tune themselves for another chance at March glory.
The only other game of any significance is between top placed East Belmont and fourth placed Lara at Winter Reserve.
While East Belmont looks like finishing on top, Lara can finish anywhere from third to fifth and will be looking to finish off the home and away season in good form and give themselves the best chance of progressing to the second round of the finals.
Leopold v SOUTH BARWON, Newrown and Chilwell v GEELONG CITY, EAST BELMONT v Lara, GROVEDALE v Bell Post Hill, ST JOSEPHS v North Geelong, Geelong West v MURGHEBOLUC
In division two, the top six is set, the only interest now will be seeing who finishes where.
In games involving finalists, Highton takes on Modewarre at home while Thomson travels to St Albans Breakwater.
With such an even spread of teams this season, the slightest advantage could be crucial so don’t expect to see any teams taking it easy this game.
Winning form is good form and that’s what all the finalists will be looking for.
HIGHTON v Modewarre, MANIFOLD HEIGHTS v Alexander Thomson, MARSHALL v Bell Park, Torquay v ST PETERS, ST ALBANS BREAKWATER v Thomson, NEWCOMB AND DISTRICT v Waurn Ponds.
Division three is the only division where the finalists aren’t yet decided, although with Teesdale having the bye, and therefore guaranteed of six points, it makes it extremely difficult for either Winchelsea or Inverleigh to overtake it.
With both the chasing sides having an inferior percentage, they will need to win their games outright to have any hope.
This really highlights how ridiculous the current GCA fixture is with 12 teams playing a 12-round season, meaning everyone plays each side once, but then only one team a second time around.
Teedale has certainly benefitted this time around but it should never have come to this and, hopefully, is addressed in the off season.
Corio v WINCHELSEA, Corio Bay v BANNOCKBURN, Inverleigh v LITTLE RIVER, Guild St Marys v SHELFORD, LETHBRIDGE v Meredith.
