MOE will take another step to qualify for a place in the Steve Mayes Hairdressing One Day Cup final when it plays Latrobe at Maryvale Reserve on Saturday.
Three of the seven rounds have been played and unbeaten Moe leads Latrobe three wins to two with Newborough, Mirboo North and Morwell on one win apiece. Another win this week will ensure Moe is in.
Latrobe has a lot of young players who are improving each week and Mark Lawrence has been the stand out so far.
His bowling has improved since last season and has been among the wickets each match and last week took 4/7 from eight tight overs.
Kris Wells has also been in fine form and with Anthony Bloomfield has left the bulk of the bowling to the younger brigade Lawrence, Ash Halkett and Jonathan Hayes.
Latrobe promoted another youngster in Matt Scholz last week and this promising player has switched from bowling leggies to medium pace.
His medium pacers do swing around a bit and make the batsmen think before playing their shots.
There is doubt about Ian Kennedy who strained a quad against Mirboo North but he could be right to play this week.
Moe could be tempted into playing Peter Grima and Dave Kelly after starting with the colts and second grade last week. Captain Rob Phoenix must also be close to starting his season.
Both Grima and Kelly showed enough to warrant selection against Latrobe. However giving them a game could be another matter. Phoenix would get the nod before both of them if he was available.
Thomas Long has been a standout as an opener with the bat and ball although he did not get a wicket last week despite making 86.
New recruit Pat Spiteri scored 99 last week has a batting average of 218 after three games and if Andrew Philip hits his straps then I would not like to be bowling against them.
Having said that it only takes one good ball, or one bad shot to put them back in the pavilion.
Two of Moe's quicker bowlers John James and Matt Clarke have had a problem in bowling a consistent line and length and the umpires have had to extend both arms on many occasions this year.
Perhaps they are trying too hard and they need to get their direction first before accelerating.
Young Sean Spiteri is shaping up as the competition's best prospect in the slow bowling ranks and he continues to improve every week.
Tigers and Dogs do battle
MORWELL will clash with Newborough at the Morwell Turf in a match that could go either way.
The Bulldogs had the services of Wayne Fleming and Alex Sword last week and if they play then perhaps it could tip the scales in favour of the visitors.
Morwell is missing Davin Charleston but the rumour mill suggests he could return and play with CATS in the TDCA.
Craig Giddens has been the backbone of the Morwell batting again this season and I shudder to think what might happen if he lost his wicket early.
Morwell's Mark Cukier is a better bat than his recent performances show and Kris Fortuin is maturing as an opener.
Mirboo North hosts Bombers
MIRBOO North has the chance to score another win when it hosts Yallourn North on the hard wicket.
The Tigers are hoping a few of their more seasoned performers play, otherwise they could struggle to make the finals this year.
It will be interesting to see if Corey Dobson plays in this match as he chose not to play in a corresponding game last season because the concrete wicket was too hard on his ankles. This is a legitimate reason but he has not been at the crease long enough this season for that to be a concern.
Scott Jones found form last week and he needs to get among the runs again in this match. Ryan Nelson and Evan Sheekey need to get good scores.
James Grande has held the Mirboo North batting together in recent weeks and is shaping up as a handy all rounder.
Dale Banks is slowly finding form and some of the Thorpdale recruits are showing they are up to the task by getting runs and wickets.
While the Bombers have been struggling they are on the improve and will make the Tigers battle all the way.
Ladders (not including penalties)
First grade: Moe 30.67, Latrobe 21.92, Morwell 15.83, Newborough 14.9. Mirboo North 13.6, Yallourn North 8.96.
Second grade: Willow Grove 22.32, Moe 22.27, Mirboo North 22.09, St Vincents 21.38, Thorpdale 19.97. Latrobe 16.76, Morwell 16.17, Newborough 14.81, Yallourn North 14.45, Panthers 8.6.
Brincat to lead GCL side
CENTRAL Gippsland will play Bairnsdale at Wy Yung and the team will be led by Newborough's Brendan Brincat with Moe's Andrew Philip as vice captain.
Others in the team are Dale Banks, Damian Turner, James Grande (Mirboo North), Tom Long, Dale Walshe, John James, Jarrod Atkinson (Moe), Mark Lawrence, Ian Kennedy (Latrobe), Luke Nelson (Yallourn North) and Craig Giddens (Morwell).
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