Toss a blanket over ‘em
Kookaburra Cup set for tightest finish in history as five clubs battle for two finals spots
LONG-TIME Coast cricket stalwarts cannot remember a tighter battle for a finals berth than what is going on in the Kookaburra Cup this season.
There have been seasons when two or three clubs had a chance of getting to the top four and play semi-finals but nothing to match this year.
Wayne Phillips, who is into his 25th season in local first grade, says the current battle for fourth spot for the finals takes the cake.
“I certainly cannot recall anything like this happening before in my time here,” the Surfers Paradise stalwart said.
“What do we have now, five clubs in with a chance for fourth with only the final round to come?”
Queens (147.40), Broadbeach(130.09) and Surfers Paradise (128.53) will fill the first three positions.
From there it is anyone’s guess after Mudgeeraba-Nerang grabbed outright points on Saturday and went from eighth to seventh, while Palm Beach-Currumbin dropped from fourth to sixth in losing to Southport-Labrador, Alberton moved to fourth with a win against Broadbeach and Coomera slotted in at fifth after beating Burleigh.
Southport slipped from seventh to eighth despite winning.
After the weekend results Alberton have 104.22 points, Coomera have 103.41, PBC have 99.70, Mudgeeraba have 99.56 and Southport have 97.41. That represents only 6.81 separating fourth from eighth.
Mudgeeraba took maximum points (18.65) from Loganholme at Bartercard Oval, scoring 6-265 and dismissing Cobras for 69 and 144.
Alberton was the big result. After scoring 9-239 on day one, the Force bowled Broadbeach out for 197 and now prepare for a crucial final-round match away to Palm Beach.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Surfers had to fight hard to defend 201 against Helensvale-Pacific Pines (184); Coomera scored 265 in response to Burleigh’s 206 and 4-175 at Pro Insure Oval; Southport-Labrador (247 and 5-120) beat PBC (180) at Salk Oval; and Runaway Bay (117 and 6-52) fell to Queens (6-253 declared) at Sam Loxton Oval.
That game was highlighted by a knock of 104 by All-Australian Country rep Jimmy Spargo and a 50 from his brother Michael.