Ipson tunes up for swansong
AS the curtain closes in on veteran Brad Ipson’s distinguished career, another is opening for his teenage Coomera-Hope Island teammate Kane Hurley.
Ipson, 36, is adamant he will hang up his creams at the end of this Kookaburra Cup campaign and wants to go out with a second premiership with the Crocs.
At the other end of the age scale is 15-year-old pace bowler Hurley, CHI’s junior player of the year for 2015-16 who is running fifth in the wickets-taken stakes for the local Agrade competition. Hurley has been a surprise packet with 25 wickets at 18.52 average.
“Kane has been a project player for a couple of years and he’s developing quite well,” Ipson said. “He bowls little outswingers, is consistent and bowls good areas.
“He has gone through a growth spurt and his pace has increased. He was a kid last year and as he gets stronger next year he’ll be even better.”
On a personal level, Ipson insists he will call it a day at season’s end.
“I’ll be 37 next season, I’m working full-time, my wife is working full-time and we have two young children,” Ipson said.
“Hopefully I have four more games to go – the last two rounds, then a semi-final and the grand final.”
For that to happen, Coomera must beat Burleigh in a two-day match that starts today at Pro Insure Oval.
“We simply have to win and hope for two good results elsewhere – Palmy to get beaten by Southport and Broady to beat Alberton.”
Queens, Broadbeach and Surfers are guaranteed of finals cricket but Palm Beach-Curr- umbin (94.90), Alberton (91.59, Coomera (89.96), SouthportLabrador (83.74), Runaway Bay (82.35) and MudgeerabaNerang (80.91) are still in the fight for one place.
Alberton will have to do without captain Craig Mitchell against Broadbeach at Alberton today. Mitchell is serving a one-match suspension.
Elsewhere today, Runaway Bay host Queens at Sam Loxton Oval; Palm Beach and Southport clash in a crunch match at Salk Oval; Mudgeeraba-Nerang host Loganholme at Bartercard Oval; and Helensvale-Pacific Pines play Surfers Paradise at Hession Oval.