Western Suburbs need at least three wins from their next five games to make the Maitland first grade finals.
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Wests start the campaign against Thornton Park at Thornton on Saturday on the first day of round 10’s two-day fixtures.
The Plovers reasserted their finals chances with an emphatic batting performance against Eastern Suburbs last week, but skipper Andrew Trappel said there was still a lot of work to do.
“It was a good win, but one win doesn’t turn things suddenly around,” he said.
“We need to win at least three of our last five games to make the finals, starting with this game against Thornton.
“We will need to be at our best as Thornton are playing good cricket, but have been very unlucky.
“They are a better team than their results suggest. Every team this year can beat the others.”
Wests bowlers performed well to restrict Eastern Suburbs to 235 at East Maitland Park before the batsmen overshadowed them with a devastating performance posting 4/239 in just 30 overs led by half-centuries to Aaron Mahony (63) and Blake Walmsley (62).
Trappell said it was the most even competition in years and had made for great cricket.
“Norths, Kurri Weston and City are probably favoured to make the finals, but I don’t think we will know who is in until the final round,” he said.
Wests are six points behind City United, Raymond Terrace and Eastern Suburbs who are locked on 24 points filling positions three to five on the ladder.
In the other round 10 encounters, Kurri Weston host Raymond Terrace in an important game for both teams. Kurri Weston are three wins ahead of the pack sitting second equal on 39 points with Northern Suburbs, but will not want to drop any games if they are to maintain a top-two finish.
Norths, Kurri Weston and City are probably favoured to make the finals, but I don’t think we will know who is in until the final round.
- Western Suburbs captain Andrew Trappell
City United face Eastern Suburbs in the final match. The winner will steal a break on their opponent on the ladder.
Northern Suburbs have the bye.
It will be a busy weekend for the Plovers as they chase a Twenty20 title three-peat in Sunday’s Hunter Valley Cup finals.
Wests, Thornton Park, Kurri Weston and City United will meet in the semi-finals at Robins Oval and Lorn Park before the grand final at Robins.
The Plovers won the Maitland and District Cricket Assocation Twenty20 tournament in 2014-15 and the Hunter Valley Cup Twenty20 title in 2015-16 and are two games away from defending their title again.
However, they have to first defeat Kurri Weston in their semi-final from 10am at Robins Oval. The other semi-final at Lorn Park, at the same time, will feature City United and Thornton Park.
The winners meet in the grand final at Robins Oval from 2pm.