North Albury's representative quick Haydyn Roberts is banking on a change of luck with finals just a week away.
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The right-armer has beaten the bat on countless occasions or had catches dropped to sit on just 15 wickets at 27.
"I reckon I've bowled really well, but have just been unlucky," he offered.
"It's really felt like I've hit a black cat or broken a mirror or something."
Roberts' run has been noted by team-mates, who know how well he's bowled with little reward.
Perhaps his luck is changing though as he's taken 6-31 in the past two games, including a season best 4-19 against East Albury on day two of the double header on February 7.
He also claimed 4-18 against CAW Hume in last Sunday's O'Farrell Cup clash.
"I only ever seem to do that (take a bag of wickets) on Sundays," he pondered.
That augurs well for the Hoppers' finals clash on March 14, which they're guaranteed to win through to as minor premiers, even if they fall in the qualifying finals the previous day.
Roberts is now in his third season with the Hoppers after time at New City.
He snared 31 scalps at 16 and 26 at 21 in 2015-16 and 2016-17 respectively, before playing just the two second grade matches the following season.
Roberts starred on debut at North, finishing fifth in the wicket-takers with 34 and backed it up with 24 last summer.
"I reckon I've slowed down, I've changed a few things," he explained.
"I'm just standing up taller and have changed a little bit in my run-up, hitting the crease a bit harder.
"It seems to be getting a lot of plays and misses, nothing seems to go to hand, I don't know what to do."
The Hoppers are away to Lavington in Saturday's final round and the Panthers have their own 'unlucky' bowler in Daryl Tuffey.
The former New Zealand international is now in his fourth season with the club and is yet to snare a five-wicket haul.
But just like Roberts, Panthers' players have been stunned by the amount of plays and misses the tall right-armer has produced.
In 56 games, including T20s, the 42-year-old has 55 wickets at 17.
The 'unlucky' pair will face off at Lavington Sportsground No.2 Oval.
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"It will be a good game, it will really good to see where we are, going into finals," Roberts said.
IN OTHER NEWS:
North can't lose the minor premiership, but Lavington can still snare second spot, which is the only other position guaranteed a second chance, with a win and if East Albury upsets Albury at the latter's Billson Park.
Elsewhere, St Patrick's is away to Wodonga Raiders, Tallangatta is home to Belvoir, which hasn't won since late January, while New City hosts Wodonga.