Brothers on the cusp of cricket final

DEFENDING premiers Marist Brothers are one win away from a second straight final in the Far North Coast LJ Hooker League cricket competition.

All eyes will be on the Lismore derby when Brothers take on Goonellabah Workers Sports in the semi-final at Oakes Oval on March 22–23.

Brothers broke a 27-year premiership drought last season when they defeated Cudgen in the final.

“We know how hard it is to win a competition,” Brothers club president Matt Cleaver said.

“You need to make the most of your chances when you have a team that’s capable of winning it.

“We’re feeling good, on our day I still think we can beat any team in the competition.”

Brothers finished the regular season in second spot with Cudgen claiming the minor premiership.

It has been another successful year for The Brethren after losing player of the year Kaleb Auld and top wicket-taker Connor Lord from its premiership team.

Cleaver said teenage fast bowler Harry Gillett, English import Harry Donelan and all-rounder Andrew Munroe have helped fill the void.

They still have a healthy mix of youth and experience, with young gun Cooper Williams growing in confidence with the bat while captain Brendan Mitchell is the leading wicket-taker in the team.

“Brendan has seen and done it all, last year was huge for him, too,” Cleaver said.

“He still has that hunger and he’s brought in the team motto that we’re never satisfied until the job is done.”

It will be a challenge, with Goonellabah Workers on a six-game winning streak which included the scalp of Brothers in a four-wicket win last month.

GWS coach Graham Armstrong said the team has been slowly building since November.

“We had a plan at the start of the season and it’s all starting to come together at the right time,” he said.

“We’ve found a decent balance in the team and we don’t have to rely on the same players performing each week.

“They’re a big group of mates here and that really shows in our performances.”

In the other semi-final, Cudgen will be a heavy favourite when it takes on Casino at Reg Dalton Oval, Kingscliff.

Brothers and Cudgen will advance to the final on March 29–30 if the games are washed out.

FINAL LADDER:

Cudgen 96, Marist Brothers 88, Goonellabah Workers Sports 81, Casino RSM Cavaliers 71, Tweed Banora Colts 69, Tintenbar-East Ballina 63, Alstonville 51, Lennox Head 47, Pottsville 33, Murwillumbah 20.