A spot in the finals is on the line for Nagambie on Saturday as it prepares for a round 12 home contest against the side it is looking to replace in the top six.
Nagambie, following a washout last weekend, returns home to take on rival Waaia in a clash that could have big implications on the Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield ladder.
The Lakers, who sit in eighth spot, are seven points behind Waaia (sixth) and desperate for a win.
With his side’s season hopes on the line., Nagambie playing captain Mark Nolan understands the importance of this clash.
“If we lose this we’re pretty much gone. We know we have gotta win this and possibly get a bonus point to keep our season alive,” he said.
“We go in with plenty of freedom because no-one is really expecting us to win, so the main thing for us is to get out and just enjoy ourselves and enjoy playing which is something we probably have missed.”
It has been a frustrating campaign for the Lakers.
Following a stunning win over premiership fancy Numurkah in December, the Lakers have only managed three wins.
Throw in a bye, a heatout and a washout to start 2023, Nolan’s charges have only hit the field twice since the Haisman Shield returned on January 7.
“It was pretty disappointing to not play last week. Not much is going right for us,” Nolan said.
“But credit to the boys for sticking fat and not dropping their heads.”
Nolan’s Waaia counterpart Mitch Cleeland said his side would look to scrub out one rival side’s finals hopes on Saturday.
“It will be a good challenge for us, it’s never easy going down there and we’ve yet to win there. Nagambie have been able to build that into a bit of a fortress,” Cleeland said.
“We know we have got to keep beating these sides around us if we want to play finals ... the boys are excited to get down there.
“Hopefully we can get a little bit ahead (of sixth spot) and there’s extra motivation if we can win and knock them out of finals.”
Cleeland said the Bombers would make one change this weekend with Aaron Shelton unavailable and Tim Belford making his way back into the line-up.
The home match will be a big day for Nagambie with the club hosting its Pinks Stumps Day.
In the remaining matches, Euroa’s Friendlies Oval will be a battle between two evenly-matched outfits.
Tatura (12th) makes the trek to take on Euroa (11th) as the two sides look to end the season on a high.
Mooroopna will be hoping to get out on the field in its clash at Kialla against Old Students following its washout last weekend.
Shepparton United has the difficult task of taking on ladder leader Katandra, while Northerners hit the road to take on Kyabram.
Central Park-St Brendan’s plays host to Karramomus in the final match of the round.
What the other clubs had to say
Kyabram playing coach Jackson McLay
“It is a big game for us on Saturday, especially not getting a game in last weekend.
“They (Northerners) are pushing to make the six, so it is a massive game.
“We have been a little inconsistent. We have been doing enough to get the win, but I don’t think we have hit our straps quite yet.
“There are lots of things to keep working on and selection is extremely tight, so blokes know they have to be putting in the work.
“Our focus is to bat out our 45. Our top seven is really deep. We know we can put a big score on the board and we back ourselves to defend any score we put up.
“If we can keep batting deep, we will be in every game we play.”
Shepparton United playing coach Chaminda Vidanapathirana
“They are a very strong batting group. If you look at the scores, they are the ones who have been consistently scoring 200+ runs.
“We have one of the best bowling attacks in the competition, so our aim is to keep them below 200 and try and chase the runs.
“We have Rehan (Bari) coming back from suspension to the team as well, so hopefully that will strengthen our batting order.
“Last week we lost the game by 30 runs and we missed him in that middle order when we needed a partnership.
“Hopefully him coming back into the team will strengthen our batting and we can cause an upset by beating Katandra.”
Tatura playing coach Daniel Coombs
“We go in with the same side as last week and nothing really changes for us, we have the focus of keep taking our chances in the field, bowl tighter lines and put scoreboard pressure on.
“Euroa played pretty good cricket to start the season, but have struggled to score runs lately, so that’s what we’ll try to exploit on Saturday.
“Try and restrict them and put pressure on. I expect it will be a pretty even game, they’re in a very similar spot to us with some younger guys, so it should be a good contest.”
Round 12
Central Park-St Brendan’s v Karramomus
Shepparton United v Katandra
Kyabram v Northerners
Old Students v Mooroopna
Nagambie v Waaia
Euroa v Tatura
Aydin Payne (News sports editor)
Central Park-St Brendan’s, Katandra, Kyabram, Mooroopna, Waaia, Tatura
Last week: 3. Total: 42.
Tyler Maher (News editor)
Central Park-St Brendan’s, Katandra, Kyabram, Mooroopna, Waaia, Euroa
Last week: 4. Total: 45.
Zac Standish (News sports reporter)
Central Park-St Brendan’s, Katandra, Kyabram, Mooroopna, Nagambie, Euroa
Last week: 3. Total: 47.
Bransen Gibson (News sports reporter)
Central Park-St Brendan’s, Katandra, Kyabram, Mooroopna, Waaia, Tatura
Last week: 3. Total: 39.
James Kleeman (News reporter)
Central Park-St Brendan’s, Katandra, Kyabram, Mooroopna, Nagambie, Euroa
Last week: 1. Total: 42.
Ron Anderson (News sports sub-editor)
Central Park-St Brendan’s, Katandra, Kyabram, Mooroopna, Waaia, Euroa
Last week: 3. Total: 46.
Michael Van Dorsser (Cricket Shepparton figure)
Central Park-St Brendan’s, Katandra, Kyabram, Mooroopna, Waaia, Euroa
Last week: 3. Total: 47.