PBC one win away from fairytale title
PALM Beach Currumbin’s fairytale rise from last season’s wooden spoon to its first Kookaburra Cup title in a decade will come down to a blockbuster decider this weekend with the only team to best it in 2020-21.
The Lions were undefeated until the 15th round of competition when a rare “bad day” scuttled dreams of the first unbeaten first-grade season in a dozen years.
Steely Mudgeeraba batting ace Josh Nelson was the principal architect of their defeat but Mudgeeraba skipper Mitch Daly said his players wouldn’t fool themselves into believing they had Palmy’s measure.
“You can’t underestimate a team like that,” said Daly, who led Mudgeeraba to the top of the table and a grand final berth after a seasonending injury to regular skipper Dylan McLaughlin.
“Sammy Jarrett, Ben Davis, Jai Patel, Ryan Kettle … I know I’ve named half their team there (as threats) but you don’t lose one game of cricket all year by not being a serious cricket team.
“I think we probably got Palm Beach on a bad day and I’m not sure we can look that much into that result.”
Palm Beach’s latest form doesn’t hold a candle to its early-season winning streak.
A last-gasp victory over beleaguered Southport Labrador and a near-certain semi-final defeat to Surfers Paradise – avoided thanks to the rain – has made the Lions even more unpredictable.
“Every team has up and down moments but they managed to win, that’s what we noticed, even when they got themselves into a bit of trouble,” Daly said.
“Winning is a habit and a culture at that club and they’ve been able to get themselves out of some pretty sticky situations.”
Mudgeeraba is favourite to win its first title since 2009-10, after taking out the T20 crown earlier this season.
The big-hitting stars of that run, including Nelson, Kevin Chapman, Dayne Siede and Daly are more than capable of testing the competition’s best spin attack, led by Ryan Kettle (36 wickets at 9.36) and Ben Davis (23 at 15.25).
Young captain Sam Jarrett says PBC’s balance will be enough to smother Mudgeeraba out of the contest.
“I think we have learned from our mistakes,” he said.
“We’ve gone through that game against Mudge and what we did wrong.
“Their batting is very good but so is ours.”
Robina’s Bill Pippen Oval will host the final on Saturday and Sunday.