The Hounds meet the reigning premier SRP Mud Dogs, who must win to be a chance to defend their title.
Hounds could still lose to Mud Dogs and make the final, but a win would guarantee a third successful appearance in the final.
The Hounds’ clash will be the second game starting at 2pm, following the game between Shepparton based Jarvis Delahay Crushers and the Cobram based Cobram Panthers which start at 11am.
Both games are in fact crucial as to which teams will play-off in the final.
Hounds certainly have some in-form batsmen going into its clash, skipper Adam Ward (Rochester) and Kyabram’s Kyle Mueller are coming off centuries in club games last Saturday, while Fire Brigade’s Paul Newman was also among the runs with 95.
That followed a knock of 84 not out in a GM Cricket Twenty-20 clash two nights earlier.
Unfortunately, Hounds’ boom recruit, former Australian fast bowler James Pattinson’s recent wrist injury needs more surgery and he has been a reluctant withdrawal from the team.
Jaw dropping innings
There has been some huge hitting in cricket of late but none as jaw dropping as the performance Steve Barrett turned on for Cooma against Kyabram Fire Brigade in the Goulburn Campaspe’s Twenty-20 competition last Thursday night at Kyabram’s Northern Oval.
Barrett plundered 126 off 56 balls with a gobsmacking 15 sixes and five fours.
Barrett even upstaged Fire Brigade’s batting genius Paul Newman who had earlier made an unbeaten 84 with nine fours and four sixes off 58 deliveries which helped his team to a healthy 5/182.
But Barrett, playing by invitation with his old club, was able to upstage Newman’s effort which delivered Cooma a win with three balls to spare.
‘‘He hit them as clean as a whistle and it’s the best batting I’ve seen for a long, long time,’’ was how Fire Brigade’s Brenton Sheppard, who took Barrett’s wicket, summed up the innings.
It was Sheppard’s A-grade debut for Fire Brigade, which he celebrated with teammates and his three children — along with a wicket and innings of 12 not out.
But there was an anti climax for Cooma which then had the game taken from it under the rules concerning numbers of non GM Cricket players in the competition.
Pendlebury at Euroa
Euroa Football Cub will have a famous footy name in its ranks this season.
The 2022 GVL runner-up has added Ryan Pendlebury, younger brother of Collingwood legend and champion Scott Pendlebury, who played in Sale’s runner-up side last season in the Gippsland Football League.
Pendlebury joins another star recruit Will Hayes, who has played AFL with both Footscray and Carlton, at the Magpies who gave hot favourite Echuca a run for its money in last year’s GVL grand final.
Longwood bullant logo
Longwood Football Netball Club will have a new logo this year.
The Kyabram and District Football League battler has added a bullant and also the word Redlegs added to its original logo.
The additions are designed to give recognition to the club’s history which stretches back to 1888 — that’s 135 years ago.
They are a resilient lot at Longwood and let’s hope they can make some improvement this year on the playing field.
Storm hits Benalla
A violent storm which hit Benalla last Saturday night has presented plenty of problems for the Benalla Saints Football Netball Club.
A fallen tree smashed the club’s canteen and building at the showgrounds, the home of the Goulburn Valley League club.
Two netball shelters were also blown off their base and pushed up against a shed.
The Saints have had their worries in recent years trying to field football teams in the three tiers of competition, but there is some optimism returning to the club.
Former junior and dual premiership thirds coach Geoff Hill has taken over the presidency of the club and former players in David Mennen, Nick Mellington, Tom Bennett and Nick Brazil have committed to return this season to help with numbers.
