Wodonga’s coach and captain have been named for Saturday’s blockbuster final round clash against North Albury.
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Mentor Robbie Jackson was forced to retire hurt with a calf complaint against East Albury, while skipper Jack Craig has battled tonsillitis all week.
“Yep, I’m playing, I wouldn’t miss a game,” Craig said.
“He (Jackson) thought he could feel something (in his calf).
“He went down on the ground and I spoke to him about it and I said, ‘there’s no point injuring yourself even more now’ and he’s been recovering with it properly all week.
“He’s alright, he trained last night (Thursday) and we did a centre wicket, he batted and we were running between wickets, he’s fine.”
The match at North’s Bunton Park is one of four pivotal to the make-up of finals.
He’s alright, he trained last night (Thursday) and we did a centre wicket, he batted and we were running between wickets, he’s fine.
- Jack Craig
The top four, which includes North, appears safe, although the competition is so tight, it’s only the top two in Lavington and Wodonga guaranteed a spot.
Third-placed Tallangatta is away to fifth-placed East Albury, while sixth-placed New City’s home to Lavington.
Belvoir sits only 1.58 points out of the six and has received an enormous boost with captain Matt Jaensch returning after three months with a back complaint at home against St Patrick’s.
Last year’s finals were decided with just three balls left in the season when Lavington claimed a late wicket and bonus points to edge out St Pat’s.
If North qualifies for finals, as expected, it will look back on thrilling six and eight-run wins over Tallangatta and Belvoir respectively as the difference.
“They’ve got some good players, so they’re always dangerous, if they fire, you’re in trouble,” Craig said.
Wodonga is still unbeaten heading into round 16, but Lavington’s outright wins over the bottom two in Albury and Wodonga Raiders should see it claim the minor premiership.
“It’s all about getting yourself ready for finals and feeling as good as you can going into finals,” Craig said.
Wodonga toppled Lavington in last year’s grand final.
New City import Saif Zaib will be out to guarantee the Phoenix a finals berth when he farewells the club.
Zaib is set to return to English county outfit Northamptonshire straight after the two-dayer.
He’s the third leading run-scorer with 489 at 40.8.
The only game with no bearing on the top six also has significance.
Raiders are out to break a three-year winless streak against second-bottom Albury.
The team has improved in a number of areas and would love to break the drought.
The ladder is: Lavington 101.37, Wodonga 95.16, Tallangatta 78.55, North Albury 77.99, East Albury 71.68, New City 69.82, Belvoir 68.24, St Pat’s 62.89, Albury 47.89, Wodonga Raiders 35.54.
