With so many permutations surrounding the final make-up of the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A1 grade ladder, one thing is certain for Armstrong Creek.
To have any chance of defending last season’s premiership, the Titans must defeat Anglesea in the final home and away round starting Saturday 28 February.
Of course the Titans need Queenscliff or Barrabool to lose as well, but captain/coach Daniel Maclean said the only focus was on winning.
“We just need to win our game first and if the Queenscliff and Barrabool results don’t go our way, we’ve still got a chance of maybe overtaking Anglesea on percentage, also,” he said.
“We’ve just got to wait and see until the ladder gets finalised so we’re just going to go and do our job first and then hopefully the rest takes care of itself for us.”
Maclean said the challenge of taking on Anglesea was exciting. The Seas are the only club Armstrong Creek hasn’t beaten in A Grade since the club’s inception in 2017/18.
“We are excited, and barring Surf Coast, which we haven’t played, they’re the only team that we actually haven’t taken a victory over in the whole A1, A2 setup,” he said.
“So we’re excited for that challenge and destiny’s in our own hands really. If we play good enough cricket, we can beat them.”
Armstrong Creek’s performance against Jan Juc was the type of cricket that it has been known for – hard, gritty and uncompromising.
After Matthew Kennedy’s century on day one helping the Titans get to 8/236, the bowlers backed it up on day two.
The Sharks were all out for 110 and the loss ended their finals hopes. Only Finn Bilston (36) and Nick Hyden (28) offered meaningful resistance.
Maclean said the prize wicket of Hyden, caught at mid-off, was a bonus.
“We quite often don’t get Nick out, Nick gets himself out when he plays us,” he said.
“He’s a very, very good batsman. It’s not often we’ve bowled him or got him caught behind. He just hit one to a fielder, which is quite lucky, so we were pretty happy with that.”
Maclean took 4/34 from almost 22 overs to get back to the sort of form he is known for – hitting a nagging length and playing the patience game.
“I’ve kind of been a little bit up and down with the ball this year, so it was good “That was good to kind of get a bit of control back with the ball.”
Paceman Ted Walliss took 2/14 from 11 overs and if the Titans play finals, he could be a wildcard coupled with his power hitting down the order.
“It was good to have Ted in there yesterday,” Maclean said.
“He bowled fast and full early and had the ball swinging.”
BARRABOOL just needs to defeat Jan Juc to play finals after a spirited run chase deprived Anglesea of victory. The Bulls reached their target of 180 in the 70th over with an unbeaten 90-run stand for the fifth wicket between Luke Clift (47 not out) and Jame Jirik (42 not out) getting them home after Shane Stevens made 50 at the top of the order. Anglesea still sits second on the ladder, but could finish fifth if Queenscliff and Barrabool both win and it loses to Armstrong Creek by enough to drop out on percentage.
QUEENSCLIFF will play finals if it beats Drysdale after a 136-run win against Inverleigh. Defending 283, the Coutas were never troubled with Tom Kidd taking 5/42 from 20 overs to dismiss the Kookaburras for 147 although Lachie Platt made a defiant 55-ball 59. Inverleigh is in last spot and must inflict Barwon Heads’ first loss of the season to have any chance of avoiding relegation to A2 grade.
BARWON Heads youngster Angus Mackie made his highest A Grade score with a well-made 80 against Drysdale. With top spot sewn up a long time ago, the Seagulls called the game early at 7/190 after passing the Hawks’ 81 all out on day one.
