Cricket association gears up for finals

The Busselton-Margaret River Cricket Association is gearing up for finals after rain washed out the A-grade games on Saturday.

St Mary’s will host Yobs tomorrow for a chance to play in the grand final while Margaret River Hawks play the Dunsborough Cricket Club at Gloucester Park, with the winner progressing to the preliminary final on Sunday.

In B-grade, Yobs will play Vasse Cricket Club at Barnard Park for the opportunity to miss the preliminary final on Sunday, while Dunsborough will play St Mary’s in a sudden death derby semi-final.

In C-grade Dunsborough Cricket Club will play Yobs for a chance to play in the grand final next week. Augusta Cricket Club will play Nannup in Augusta to go through to Sunday’s preliminary final.

St Mary’s are gunning to break the longest A-grade premiership drought in the association’s history, but Captain Danny Hatton said it was just one week at a time.

“It’s the old cliché,” he said.

“Obviously we’re very excited, but to finish on top in cricket when there are finals is less important than say soccer.”

The Saints narrowly pipped Yobs by a point for the coveted Yates Shield thanks to consistency and depth, according to Hatton.

“It’s good for the club, but us as a team need to keep our eyes on the prize and then we will reassess,” he said.

“Ben Mattock has done a great job as club president and we have some great young talent.”