Surfers eye the future
PUTTING the building blocks in place for an improved Kookaburra Cup effort next season will be the focus for Surfers Paradise during the next three weeks, despite the chance to spoil the finals party for their first-grade rivals.
Rooted to the bottom of the ladder for much of the season, the Demons entered their penultimate fixture against Southport Labrador on Saturday with little to play for.
But with veterans Ryan Beere (67) and Chris Swan (49) leading the way, they showed fight to muster 183 at David Johnston Oval despite a haul of 5-36 from left-arm offspinner Oli McGee.
Opener Harry Maher then smashed a quickfire 50 to steer Southport to a position of power at 1-65 from 12 overs, with the eighth-placed Tigers desperate for victory to remain in the finals hunt.
Surfers will face another playoff aspirant in Queens in Round 17 before a bye to end the season, but Beere said dashing other teams’ dreams was not a motivating factor for his side.
“For us, that’s not really that high on the to-do list. Whether it’s motivation to spoil the party (I don’t know), but it’s just winning games of cricket,” the 34-year-old wicketkeeper and opening batsman said.
“For us, it’s just taking some momentum into next season so if we can win a good amount of games leading into the end of season I think we can take that into next season. It’ll be some confidence for the guys, scoring some runs and taking some wickets so we can end on a higher note.
“It’s going to be tough (to beat Southport) with them finishing where they were. We’d have to take a few early ones next week but anything’s possible.”
Elsewhere on Saturday, captain Corey Galloway starred with 110 as Alberton Ormeau made 271 away to Queens, while Mudgeeraba Nerang reached 9-255 at home to Burleigh thanks to half-centuries from Zac Gayfer (55) and Dayne Siede (52).
At Sam Loxton Oval, Runaway Bay quick Harrison Foyle took 5-10 to have Coomera Hope Island on the ropes at 5-32 after his side made 197 on the back of Zach Hollis’ 63.
Helensvale Pacific Pines declared at 9-244 at Hession Oval, with Broadbeach Robina 1-32 in reply.