Bushmen chase outright to nab finals berth
THE first part of the equation is simple for Mudgeeraba-Nerang – they simply must take outright points today against Loganholme to survive in the finals race.
If they do that – and the Bushmen are in an excellent position in the match at Bartercard Oval – results elsewhere could turn the race for the finals upside down.
Top three sides Queens (133.67), Broadbeach-Robina (124.36) and Surfers Paradise (116.82) – are safe for the top three places but with just today and the final round to go, there are six clubs fighting for one semi-finals berth.
Palm Beach-Currumbin (94.90) are fourth, followed by Alberton (91.69), CoomeraHope Island (89.96), Southport-Labrador (83.74), Runaway Bay (82.35) and Mudgeeraba (80.91).
So the fate of the Bushmen is in their own hands with 12 points, plus bonus points, up for grabs with an outright win against Loganholme, who resume at 9-69 chasing Mudgeeraba’s 4-265 declared.
“The plan is to get that last wicket quickly then put Loganholme back in,” Mudgeeraba skipper Mitch Daly said of a possible 18-plus points haul.
“But we must win outright and have three other results go our way.
“Even then, we may still have to go outright, outright, to get into the semis because Southport play Loganholme in the last round.”
The three results that Mudgeeraba need today are for Alberton to beat secondplaced Broadbeach-Robina at Alberton, for Southport-Labrador to beat Palm Beach at Salk Oval, and for Burleigh to upset Coomera-Hope Island at Pro Insure Oval.
Southport are defending 247, Coomera-Hope Island resume at 3-133 chasing Burleigh’s 206 and Broadbeach have a big ask responding to Alberton’s first innings score of 9-239.
In the other two matches, Queens are poised to clinch the minor premiership, resuming at 1-40 at Sam Loxton Oval chasing Runaway Bay’s first innings total of 117.
And at Hession Oval, Surfers Paradise hold the upper hand after making 247 against Helensvale-Pacific Pines, who resume at 2-49 and will kill off the Bay’s finals hopes with a victory.