North Albury quick Jake Burge's huge praise for Hoppers

Burge is originally from Victoria's Gippsland region and he's also spent two years with Palm Beach in the strong Gold Coast competition and with Brislington in the West of England Premier League.

But none compare with the Hoppers' fighting spirit.

"To be fair, I've not played in a side that's been so willing to win and especially when we're right in the clutches of it," Burge praised.

"We really have a great bunch of blokes, we want to be there and play with our mates."

North's ability to win the tight games is comparable with any club in the association's 163-year history.

In the Hoppers last four finals, over the past two seasons, they've won every thriller.

Last year's preliminary final win over Albury has been well-documented and they've followed it this month with Belvoir (two wickets), Corowa (four wickets after being 6-112, chasing 174) and Saturday's win over Albury (one wicket and one ball left).

Burge hit the winning runs with a cut shot boundary, but the performance of veteran Brendan Simmons can't be underestimated.

Simmons is highly rated within the association, but he's had a poor season, with 262 runs at 16.

Yet despite a lack of form, the left-hander struck a patient 27 not out from 66 balls to lead the Hoppers home.

"He's a good player being that veteran that has played in finals, he takes the pressure well and helps the youngsters," Burge added.

The Hoppers last two wickets needed 32 runs for victory and if you're the fielding team, you would back yourself every time.

But Simmons, Haydyn Roberts (11) and Burge (nine not out) sealed the win.

"We've done it over the three previous finals games, we bat all the way down the order and anyone can get us over the line," he enthused.

For Albury it was a second successive gut-wrenching loss on the penultimate weekend in yet another high-quality clash.

"I think for us we lost the game, then we'd won the game, then we'd lost it again," captain Ross Dixon said.

Dixon pointed to his team's fielding as the difference.

"Our experience has served us well in terms of culture and as a team, but when you get to the last few overs, we weren't as sharp as North was in the field throughout the day," he revealed candidly.

North will meet Lavington on Saturday in a grand final re-match of 2019-20.

The Hoppers were due to meet Wodonga last year, but COVID forced its cancellation with the latter claiming the title.

North stunned Lavington 2-1 two years ago.

The grand final is at Alexandra Park for the first time in 16 years.

ALSO IN SPORT:

Corowa faces East Albury in second grade at Lavington Sportsground No. 2, Corowa plays St Patrick's White in C grade division one and Albury Blue-Howlong meet in C grade division two at Xavier No. 1 and 2 respectively.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: