Mt Clear does not want to leave its finals’ destiny in the hands of anyone else.
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For that to be the case, it must defeat Napoleons-Sebastopol this week to deny a Darley side, who plays Brown Hill in the final round, that is six points behind the Mounties on the ladder.
While Napoleons-Sebastopol sits eighth on the ladder, Mt Clear will not be taking it lightly – having lost its last three encounters with Naps-Sebas.
The last time Mt Clear enjoyed success in either format against Napoleons was round 13 in 2015-16.
“We won’t be taking them lightly,” Skipper Darcy Thomson said.
“We know what that they can do.”
The Mounties will still be riding a high following its Regional Twenty20 Big Bash triumph on the MCG on Tuesday.
Thomson was stoked with the result, and from a two-day competition point of view, some key players found form over the past seven days.
Nathan Yates and Sam Giblett in particular have found some great form with the bat.
On their day, the duo are two of the Mounties most influential players and are hitting their straps at the right time of the year.
“We just have to get the win.
“We don’t want to put it in anyone else’s hands.”
IF DARLEY is to play finals, it will need a little help from Napoleons-Sebastopol.
Step one in the Lions quest for a top four spot is to defeat the winless Brown Hill, step two will require Naps-Sebas to knock-off fourth-placed Mt Clear – even then, it will come down to percentage.
Darley is mindful of not getting ahead of itself and taking the six points for granted against the Bulls. While Brown Hill has been unable to register a victory this season, it will be hungry to break the donut and has shown signs that it can produce quality cricket at times – it has just been a matter of consistency.
Captain Ryan Knowles has enjoyed a strong Melbourne Country Week and will be hoping to continue that form. While it will be the Brown Hill youngsters that the club will be looking towards to set the tone.
The Lions have won their past two matches to keep their finals dream alive.
Captain Michael Alexander expressed his disappointment to of left its top four aspirations in the hands of others, but now all it could do was fulfil its side of the bargain and hope Naps-Sebas can also oblige.
Outright victory would throw a spanner in the works, netting Darley 10 points which, if Mt Clear were to lose, would take percentage out of the equation.
No doubt all eyes will be on Mt Clear and Darley in the final round of the BCA first grade.
GOLDEN Point’s first XI has been settled for some time – and that won’t change for the final round of the season.
The Pointies are undefeated and have been assured a finals spot for a number of weeks, for its opponents – North Ballarat – a top four spot was secured last week with its win over East Ballarat.
Golden Point captain Josh White believes the best way to build momentum and success is to carry a similar, if not identical, XI into as many games as possible – particularly leading into a finals campaign.
With a mixture of good luck and good management, the Pointies are at full fitness and clearly the flag favourite.
“It’s nice to get the team settled as early in the season as possible,” White said.
“Just to get everyone on the same page, everyone knows how each other plays.”
White said the door was certainly not closed on others trying to break into the team, with Golden Point boasting great depth, competition for spots was hot.
Depending on results, Golden Point and North Ballarat could well face each other in the semi-final.
If Mt Clear defeats Napoleons-Sebastopol and the Pointies win, the Roosters will slip to fourth which would see a rematch of the round 12 meeting.
White said there would be no hiding of cards, preferring not to flirt with its form.
FOR Ballarat-Redan and East Ballarat, there is little more than personal pride on the line this week.
Neither side can make the top four – both sitting on 21 points with three wins and five losses.
The highest either could climb is fifth with a victory, and other results panning out favourably, but the middle-of-the-ladder finish will be viewed differently by each club.
Everyone sets out to make finals at the start of the year, but for Ballarat-Redan this season has been a positive one, despite only having the three wins.
Skipper Jayden Hayes signaled early-on that his side would be filled with youth and it was unrealistic to judge it on pure wins and losses.
As it’s turned out, The Combine has uncovered a number of talented players and at one point put itself in contention to make the top four after winning three matches on the trot from rounds 8-10.
Regardless of this round’s result, Ballarat-Redan will enter next season with plenty of promise and renewed expectations.
For East Ballarat, this season has been one that just never quite got going.
Glimpses of its best cricket throughout, without stringing it together for two days.
A spot in the top four was the hope for the Hawks pre-season, but they will be left to settle for something just outside.