The moment of truth for Ocean Grove and Queenscliff has arrived.
The two teams are locked in an absorbing A1 Grade battle with the result to have major ramifications on each club’s season.
Lose and it’s quite probably a wooden spoon and relegation to A2 Grade. Win and it’s survival in the top flight, but also a shot at finals.
It’s been that sort of season.
Anglesea, Armstrong Creek and Barwon Heads have been the standout teams in the comp, but fourth spot is up for grabs.
Barrabool and Jan Juc are on 30 points with Queenscliff, Drysdale and Ocean Grove on 21.
After day one of the penultimate round, Ocean Grove is 7/167 after several rain delays restricted play to 71 of the allotted 75 overs.
Grove skipper Fletcher Long said his side had four overs this week to try and push to a winning total.
“Hopefully we get a few more on our total,” he said.
“They (Queenscliff) bowled well, but the ground is also extremely slow. We are pretty confident whatever score we put on the board we can defend and get the much needed six points.”
Grove openers David Turner (23 off 43 balls) and Shaun Fankhauser (21 off 37) got the team off to a good start.
But the Coutas’ bowlers proved difficult to get away, especially Tom Kidd, who sent down a marathon 31 overs and although he got just the one wicket, conceded only 54 runs in a superb display of control.
Ned Stephens did a lot of work with 2/55 from 20 overs while veteran left-arm seamer Tony Hanafin took 3/34 from 14.
Zac Jones top scored for the Grubbers with 38 from 82 deliveries and Jacob Taylor dug in for 27 off 117.
Dan Roddis is unbeaten on 27 from 50 balls and probably holds the key to Grove scoring 180-plus.
The two clubs find themselves in a similar situation in B1 Grade with Ocean Grove to resume on 6/168 with eight overs remaining.
Adam Arnold will stride to the crease on 73 while Billy Foord-Engelsman made 43.
Queenscliff used just three bowls for the afternoon. Nathan Merrett bowled unchanged to take 5/95 from 34 overs.
Drysdale made 202 in C1 Grade with Leon Cox smacking 92 from 84 balls and Dylan Justice making 40 not out from 46.
William Finn took 4/39 and Merric Platt 3/19. In reply, the Grubbers will resume on 1/1 after losing the crucial wicket of captain Grag Scarpa just before stumps.
Newcomb proved too good in D Grade, making 8/165 (Mark Hyland 3/6 and Louis Belsar-LeBel 2/18). In reply, Grove was all out for 116 with Joel Baran unbeaten on 41 from 49 deliveries and Shannon LeBel making 36 from 28.
