The Ocean Grove derby is always one of the highlights of the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association calendar, but tomorrow’s round 5 encounter is looming as extra important for both sides.
Ocean Grove hosts Collendina in A1 Grade tomorrow with both sides outside the top four.
The Grubbers are coming off a close loss to Jan Juc while Collendina was ultra impressive with the ball against St Leonards last week in its breakthrough win of the season.
The Cobras need more from their top order, something that skipper Nathan Walter addressed after last week’s win.
“Confidence and shot selection is the thing letting us down with the bat at the moment,” he said.
“That will come when guys start to spend more time out in the middle. We just keep backing the guys we know are up to it and are putting in the work.
“The competition bar, maybe one or two teams, is going to be really open so we suspect we can win most of the games we play.
“I think we’re definitely a chance to push for a finals spot if we can start batting to our potential a bit more.”
It’s not quite panic-button pushing time for Barrabool, but it’s getting close.
The winless Bulls were expected to be a challenger this season, but sit at the foot of the table.
They must beat Queenscliff to give themselves any chance of pushing up the ladder, however the Coutas are improving and look to be thereabouts this season.
St Leonards hosts Jan Juc and will be reeling from an embarrassing batting display last week that saw it capitulate for 50.
The Saints have lost captain Andrew Spengler for the season after he requested to join Newcomb & District.
That leaves a huge hole in the Saints’ batting order, and that was evident last Saturday.
Jan Juc run gun Ben Grinter is in superb early season form and the Sharks should be too strong.
Flag favourites Anglesea host Inverleigh.
The Kookaburras have shown that they belong in the top flight competition after earning promotion from A2 Grade.
