FOUR teams enter the start of today’s final round fighting for one semi-final berth from the Merri conference but East Warrnambool-YCW coach Mark Murphy isn’t interested in the many scenarios.
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Simply, his side has to defeat second-placed Port Fairy to have any chance of extending its Warrnambool and District Cricket Association season.
In fact, the Broncos hold the key to any possibility of a dramatic ladder reshuffle.
They are fifth, tied with third-placed Russells Creek and fourth-placed Wesley-CBC, four points behind Port Fairy. With six points for a first innings win and 10 for an unlikely outright, the three challengers need the Broncos to deny the Pirates any points.
The Pirates can end all discussions about points with a win.
But Murphy is upbeat his side has the players to produce a season-defining victory, especially on the Broncos’ home ground at Jones Oval.
Murphy, in his first season leading the Broncos, isn’t transfixed on the ladder and other results and he wants his teammates to follow suit.
“We just need to finish off the year right,” he said.
“If it (finals) happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it’s our own fault for not winning games early in the year.”
Murphy said the Broncos, even with a win, would be relying on other results to go their way.
“We just have to focus on winning,” he said.
“The more they start thinking about other teams, they lose focus.
“We just have to focus on the win and we have 11 blokes switched on to the job.”
Murphy said the Jones Oval pitch could be its trump card. He is predicting a hard, batsmen-friendly pitch.
“I reckon we have one of the best bowling sides in the competition. If we can make over 150 we always give teams a run for their money. Our focus is to get runs on the board and let our bowlers do their work.”
He said Port Fairy took more wickets at its home ground than away, underlined by last week’s thumping loss to top side Woodford when it failed to dismiss the Eels as they amassed one of the biggest scores in decades — 9-425.
“Hopefully that will play on their minds,” he said.
Murphy said he believed Port’s bowling attack was strong.
The Broncos made two changes to the side that defeated reigning premier West Warrnambool last week, elevating batsman Nathan Bramwell in place of the extra seamer James Reid. All-rounder Lachlan Morrison also comes in to the starting 11.
Third-placed Russells Creek meets sixth-placed West Warrnambool at Jetty Flat while Wesley-CBC has the toughest task of hosting runaway ladder-leader Woodford at Walter Oval.
In the Hopkins Conference, the race for a top-two spot is down to three teams. Allansford, which hosts third-placed Merrivale, is safe at the top of the table but the outcome has massive implications. If Merrivale produces its biggest win of the season and second-placed Dennington is beaten by bottom side Nestles, the Tigers could leap to second. But Dennington can control its own destiny with a victory against Nestles.
Fifth-placed Brierly-Christ Church is home to fourth-placed Nirranda.
