Dolphins coy over promotion thinking
IT is not clear whether the Gold Coast Dolphins will bite the bullet and reward two inform second graders for their efforts over the weekend.
The chance is there for the Dolphins to elevate opener Scott Palombo and top-order bat Howard Biddle for their final Brisbane Premier Grade fixture against University starting on February 24.
After the Dolphins seniors failed to flatter against Toombul at Ken Mackay Oval on Saturday – the side was out for 248 – the club may be willing to promote either or both of Palombo or Biddle for the final-round match at St Lucia.
Fuelling spoeculation is the fact that both Palombo (120) and Biddle (118) scored tons over the weekend.
But, as club coach Damian Wallis said, the fact the Dolphins seconds are in line for a place in the semis after winning both one-day and T20 finals has to be weighed up.
“I’m not really sure because I haven’t thought about it,” Wallis said when asked about the possibility of a couple of promotions.
Changes are on the cards after a number of top-order first graders made starts against Toombul but did not go on with the job.
Australian under-19 cap Max Bryant made only seven and Jack Hargreaves a duck, but five others were out just when big scores looked likely.
Josh Nelson was out at 26, Max Houlahan for 17, Liam Hope-Shackley made 25, Trent Arnold 25 and Matt Kuhnemann 22.
It was left to keeper Lewin Maladay to top the innings with a fighting 89 over 175 minutes to show the way.