After claiming four minor premierships last season, City United skipper Matt Trappel says his club's depth was tested fully during a tough 2021-22 season.
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Injuries, COVID and other commitments have meant that City has not named the same first grade team twice and that first grade is the only team going into the semi-finals against Thornton at Robins Oval on the weekend.
Already starting the season without star batter Josh Trappel and leading paceman Tim Burton, it has been a remarkable performance but with so much effort across the club Trappel and his team are determined to push for the title.
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"It has been a tough year for the club, obviously with not having the same team since round one we've had to rely on our depth," captain Matt Trappel said.
"Credit to the guys who did come up but I do acknowledge that it has taken a bit of a toll on the rest of the club.
"First grade is the only senior team in finals this year and we are carrying the flag for the club into the semi-final on Saturday and hopefully the grand final.
"Hopefully we can do the job for the club."
Trappel said selecting a side for the semi-final and deciding who would miss out was incredibly hard.
"We've had 16 core players who have all contributed throughout the year," he said.
"With our pace bowlers I've got four guys who have been doing the job and I had to pick three. Jordan Murphy is unfortunately the one to miss out.
"Leaving out the likes of Jordan Murphy and Ryan Merrick is very hard.
"I've gone with the strike power up front with Tim Baker. Izaac Coyle has been our best bowler all season since he come into the side and for the best make up of the team I've gone with Cam Wynn."
City's spin duo of Todd Francis and Nick Bower will be the key to their attack and in the two-day fixture will bowl a lot of overs.
Bower with 18 wickets is fifth and Francis with 17 sixth on the Maitland first grade wicket taking list.
"The whole of the goal of the year is to qualify for finals, but once you get there any of the four teams can go all the way," Trappel said.
"You just have to put two weeks of good cricket together.
"Not looking too far ahead as this week against Thornton is going to be tough. They have a few guys who can take the game away.
"We've got to make sure we win the big moments of the game and work together.
"Hopefully the rain doesn't get involved too much."
Thornton captain Matt Gabriel admits there are still some scars from last year's semi-final capitulation to Norths and then there was the issue of facing bogey side City United in their semi-final.
"They have been a bogey side for us, but we are going to get a win over them eventually and in the semi-final to book a spot in the grand final is as good a time as any," he said
"We will definitely be using the semi-final loss in our team talks to fire us up and remind us to go in with a lot better attitude.
"Our issue has been with our batting. We shouldn't have lost it on day one in the semi-final when we knew rain was coming the next day."
Gabriel said they had lost twice to City this season, but each time the bowlers had put them in a position to win.
"We've only lost the three games, one was to Wests and two to City," he said.
"Both games against City we bowled first and restricted them to under 200 so that's a big positive. We just need to hold our nerve with the bat.
"Just building partnerships, just being a little more selfish with the bat really was what we spoke about."
City United: Ricky Dent, Andrew Vickery, Karl Bowd, Matt Trappel (c), Todd Francis, Anru Kriel, Nick Barker, Izaac Coyle, Sam Jordan, Cam Wynn and Tom Baker.
Thornton: Jamie Krake, Jono Gabriel, Matt Gabriel (c), Jake Moore, Riley Petrie, Daniel Willis, Jake Reeves, Nicholas Bourke, Elliott Thompson, Brent Dawes and Dean Bradford
Semi-final, Saturday, March 12 and Sunday, March 13. Starting 12.30pm
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