Palm Beach accepting of their finals fate ahead of must-win battle with Runaway Bay

PALM Beach Currumbin are taking a pragmatic approach to their date with Kookaburra Cup destiny against Runaway Bay on Saturday.

PALM Beach Currumbin are taking a pragmatic approach to their date with Kookaburra Cup destiny against Runaway Bay.

Having not featured in the first grade finals since 2012-13, the Lions are agonisingly close to breaking the drought heading into the final round beginning today.

Sitting just one point out of the playoff spots, they must first conquer the struggling Seagulls at Salk Oval and then hope fourth-placed Southport Labrador fall at home to Coomera Hope Island.

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With their top-four destiny out of their own hands, captain-coach Ryan Kettle, one of three remaining members of the club’s last finals side, said they would enter the battle with Bay like any other.

“Nothing changes for us from what we have been doing post-Christmas,” said Kettle, whose side celebrated a third-straight win with an 88-run defeat of ladder-leading Burleigh last Saturday.

Palm Beach Currumbin captain-coach Ryan Kettle. Picture: John Gass

“We’re just going to play with confidence. Hopefully we get a win and that will be enough for us to make finals. We’re kind of reliant on Southport Labrador to lose to Coomera.

“I’m quite happy with where we are now. We have always had confidence in the squad, right from the first game.

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“I wouldn’t like to say that we went out expecting to be in the top four but I felt like if we played to the best of our ability we were a good chance. There’s probably some games we should’ve won (earlier in the season) but didn’t but going into this weekend we will do what we can and hopefully that’s enough.”

The Lions’ last premiership team in 2010-11 also included Kettle, with the veteran all-rounder joined by current players Jack Vare-Kevere and Jainam Patel in the 2012-13 semi final outfit that fell to Mudgeeraba Nerang.

Jainam Patel, a member of the Lions’ last finals team in 2012-13. Picture: Jerad Williams

Kettle said the side’s post-Christmas form had them on track to replicate that success in the seasons to come.

“I just think our game overall has improved (after the break). Going into the weekend we played Southport (in Round 14), it was a big stepping stone for us.

“We were able to get an outright and that’s really kicked along our season. We want to be in this position and play finals cricket.

“It’s definitely a goal for us in the next few years to make sure we’re a finals team.”

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ROUND 18 FIXTURES:

■ Southport Labrador vs. Coomera Hope Island at GUGC Oval

■ Burleigh vs. Alberton Ormeau at Crowe Howarth Oval

■ Broadbeach Robina vs. Queens at Voice Print Data Oval

■ Mudgeeraba Nerang vs. Helensvale Pacific Pines at Nerang RSL Oval

■ Palm Beach Currumbin vs. Runaway Bay at Salk Oval

LADDER

Burleigh 80

Alberton Ormeau 73

Broadbeach Robina 67

Southport Labrador 56

Palm Beach Currumbin 55

Mudgeeraba Nerang 53

Queens 50

Helensvale Pacific Pines 45

Coomera Hope Island 42

Runaway Bay 42

Surfers Paradise 39