Home turf advantage

Decider venue change boost for Atherton

ATHERTON skipper Tommy Boorman says his side will enter Cricket Far North’s 40over grand final with an extra shot of confidence, after officials decided to move this Sunday’s first-grade decider to Atherton’s Loder Park

Boorman said his side would be looking forward to competing for the 40-over silverware on home turf, especially after they had to play last month’s two-day grand final at opposition Rovers’ home ground, despite finishing on top of the two-day ladder.

Boorman said he believed hosting the grand final was just reward for the team that finished as minor premiers.

“It just takes that journey out of it for us, same with coming home,” he said.

“It’s nice to be able to just relax and have a beer after the game and not have to worry about driving home.

“We usually get a decent amount of people who come in and enjoy a beer, watch the game and cheer us on, which is always nice.”

He said the side would look to make the most of their home ground advantage against either Rovers or Barron on Sunday.

“We love playing at home, just like every team,” he said.

“I guess you could say there’s just that slight advantage of just knowing your own ground.

“But, I mean, we lost the other week at home as well, so you never know.

“But we do like playing at home.”

Atherton reached out to Cricket Far North’s fixtures and grounds committee in regards to the grand final venue after securing the 40-over minor premiership last weekend, following a round of washouts.

“We’ve done it in the past,” Boorman said.

“Only two years ago we played Mulgrave, who were minor premiers, in the one-day grand final at their home ground.

“We thought we’d try our luck and see if we could get one up here.

“And, luckily for us, they approved it.”

Atherton will host the winner of tomorrow’s 40-over semi-final between Rovers and Barron, to be played at Griffiths Park, in the decider at Loder Park on Sunday.