Gold Coast Dolphins’ men’s first & second grade, as well as first grade women, to play finals this weekend

The Gold Coast Dolphins’ semi-final heroes are taking it upon themselves to underline the city’s reputation as an emerging powerhouse of Queensland cricket.

THE Gold Coast Dolphins’ semi-final heroes are taking it upon themselves to underline the city’s reputation as an emerging powerhouse of Queensland cricket.

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Still one of the smallest of the 12 Premier Cricket clubs, the Dolphins continue to punch above their weight and will have three teams – the first and second grade men, as well as first grade women - contesting do-or-die finals this weekend.

While the men will make trips to University of Queensland and Norths respectively on Saturday and Sunday, the minor-premiership-winning women will tomorrow host Ipswich-Logan for a spot in Sunday’s one-day title decider at Allan Border Field.

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While silverware is the ultimate goal, the players are also determined to prove the Gold Coast can match it with their rivals up the M1.

Paddy Turner (men’s second grade), Belinda McDougall (women’s first grade) and Josh Kann (men’s first grade) from the three Gold Coast teams that will play semi finals this weekend. Picture: Tim Marsden

“We’re the only team down here and Swanny (coach Chris Swan) said at the start of the season to show we’re one of the best teams in the comp and show what we’ve got,” first grade all-rounder Josh Kann said.

“It’s good to have not just one team in finals, like the past few years. To have first grade in the finals, it’s awesome.

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“We had a meeting (on Thursday) and we said ‘finals cricket, no-one goes in on top, any team can win’. The margins in a game are smaller in finals and there’s a lot more pressure.

“The boys have prepared so well over the last few weeks. We’ve won three in a row so that’s been a confidence boost that we haven’t lost in six weeks.”

Turner, McDougall and Kann at Robina. Picture: Tim Marsden

Women’s captain Belinda McDougall said finals appearances for the three sides were positive signs for the club.

“The guys have been training well and obviously that’s shown with their results, and we’re kind of the same. It’s been good to see the guys amongst the finals,” the influential all-rounder said.

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“We actually lost to Ipswich two rounds ago, which was a big shock for us. Then the next week we had Sandgate and they’re a really decent team so we knew we had to pull our finger out and we did. We’re confident but also wary of what (Ipswich) can do. We’re looking forward to that challenge.”

TEAM LISTS

FIRST GRADE MEN

Matt Kuhnemann (c)

Max Houlahan

Jack Hargreaves

Max Bryant

Lewin Maladay

Josh Kann

Hugo Burdon

Liam Hope-Shackley

Nathan Lyons

Scott Palombo

Sam Yabsley

12th man Scott Sanderson

SECOND GRADE MEN

Pat Turner (c)

Canning Mason

Jack Cooper

Will Chapples

Emmaus Benn

Jackson Smith

Luke DeVlieg (wk)

Matthew Grant

Kaleb Auld

Tyler Smith

Kane Hurley

FIRST GRADE WOMEN

Belinda McDougall (c)

Tara Wheeler (vc)

Georgia Redmayne

Rebecca van Helvoirt

Sammy-Jo Johnson

Carly Fuller

Amy Riddell

Grace Parsons

Chelsea Gan

Eliza Flynn

Roxanne Thomson

Mel Lewis

Erin Kelly