Pledge for vengeance as Queens bowled out
QUEENS have vowed to reclaim their throne next season after surrendering their twoyear Kookaburra Cup stranglehold with a “disappointing” 25-run loss to Burleigh on Saturday.
Desperate to continue their charge towards a premiership hat-trick, the Centaurs appeared on track for semi-final success when they restricted the Bullsharks to 9-146 at Greg Chaplin Oval.
But the wheels fell off for the minor premiers (121 all out) in the run chase, leaving captain Michael Durbridge scratching his head.
“It’s disappointing to lose at the best of times but to go out in the semi-final like that is disappointing,” the 38-year-old said.
“To Burleigh’s credit they played a good game and we probably didn’t play our best. It was just one of those days where all the marginal moments, they won them and we didn’t.
“I thought (their total) was probably about 30 more than we could have held them to. We were in a position to bowl them out for a lot less.
“Still in saying that, it was a really good batting wicket. We got docked three overs by the umpires for a slow over rate, which in the end made a difference.
“No one with the bat played the innings to win us the match.”
With the pain of defeat still raw, Durbridge said the chance for redemption in 2018-19 would be a powerful motivator.
“If you’re going to play, you might as well play with the intent and expectation to succeed,” he said.
“There’s no question we’ve got a really good squad and everyone, with the exception of me, is still young enough to have a few good years ahead of them.”