Finals field set after tight Round 14 finish

AN exciting final day of the GCA1 at the weekend has seen the top four locked in, after one of the tightest seasons in recent history.

Starting from the top, North Geelong have completed a dominant campaign with a convincing win over Newtown & Chilwell and look primed for a league record-breaking seventh straight premiership.

After making last year’s grand final, the Two Blues experienced their 10th loss of the season and finished last by two games.

An impressive run chase by St Peter’s saw them knock off second-placed East Belmont and sneak into fourth spot by just 0.236 ladder points.

The Saints faced 11 less overs than the Lions but finished the match 23 runs ahead, largely thanks to an unbeaten 83 from Brad McMaster.

Despite the loss, East Belmont had already sewed up second spot.

A 131-run effort from captain Jordan Moran helped Grovedale chase down South Barwon in comfortable fashion, but the victory was still not enough to give them a finals berth.

The Tigers were the unlucky side that fell under one ladder point short of the fourth-placed St Peter’s, with the Swans finishing one spot behind them in sixth.

In their first season back up in the first division, Lara locked in a place in a finals thanks to a tight victory over St Joseph’s.

Luke Wilson took five wickets in the win which resulted in the Cats finishing third and the Joeys seventh.

The weekend has set up two intriguing finals clashes, with North Geelong to host East Belmont in a qualifying final and Lara to host St Peter’s in an elimination final.

Despite the Magpies finishing first, the Lions are the only side to beat them this season.

The Saints and the Cats have faced off twice, with both sides taking one win each.