Ladder rise is nearly complete for ‘Canes

ALBERTON Ormeau are treating today’s Kookaburra Cup battle with Burleigh as do or die as they fight to complete their rags-to-riches tale.

Wooden spooners last season, the Hurricanes will climb from the doghouse to the penthouse in the space of

12 months if they can topple ladder-leading

Burleigh at

Crowe Howarth Oval on day two.

With the minor premiership on the line, the visitors could manage just 129 last Saturday but fought back to reduce the Bullsharks to 5-80 by stumps on the back of Corey Galloway’s 3-35.

Captain Galloway said with Broadbeach Robina a chance to leapfrog the Hurricanes into second spot should they fall, beating Burleigh was a matter of utmost importance.

“Last year we finished last so if we can win the minor premiership this year it will be a massive achievement for the club. It’s a pretty big step,” Galloway (pictured) said.

“We’re treating (this game) like a quarterfinal to take a bit of momentum into the semis. If we lose we might even lose a home semi so we have got to win, in a way. We don’t want to travel for a semi.

“If we can beat them after they bowled us out for 130, I think that’s going to be a pretty big factor in the finals. We have been a bit lethargic the last few games because we knew we were already in the finals so a win would be good.

“We’re in a pretty even position. We probably need two wickets in the first 10 overs.”

The battle for the final playoff berth will also come down to the final day of the season, with fourth-placed Southport Labrador (7-115) hoping to book their spot against Coomera Hope Island (138).

Should the Tigers slip up, Palm Beach (2-39) could overtake them with victory against Runaway Bay (174), while Mudgeeraba Nerang and Queens are also in the hunt.

The Bushmen are chasing Helensvale Pacific Pines’ 160, with Queens defending 118 against Broadbeach.