Heavyweights to collide in crucial clash

The top four is settled in SCCA Division 1 fixtures but the order definitely is not, after last Saturday‘s washout between Caboolture and Glasshouse tightened the points spread for the semi-finals even further.

Glasshouse captain Jeremy Schultz and Maroochydore captain Blaine Schloss will lead their sides into a big battle this weekend.

The top four is settled in SCCA Division 1 fixtures but the order definitely is not, after last Saturday‘s washout between Caboolture and Glasshouse tightened the points spread for the semi-finals even further.

Just over seven points covers Glasshouse, Maroochydore, Tewantin-Noosa and Caboolture, and a 46 point gap down to Caloundra in fifth means that there will be no surprise contestants.

Now the order is all-important and the top-of-the table clash when the Rangers hosts the Swans guarantees a change, and the loser possibly drifting down to fourth.

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Each meets bottom-four sides in the final two rounds, meaning any points difference from this clash could be hard to mend.

Maroochydore has displayed marked improvement in its batting aggression of late, after early season dependence on a dominant bowling squad.

Callum Stitt and Zak Willox join skipper Blaine Schloss in the top ten 2-day run-getters, and each displays a different approach to his craft, a healthy attribute in any team, though the rest of the order lag well behind.

Maroochydore's Blaine Schloss. Picture: Patrick Woods

Dan Cahill plays a huge role in the Rangers’ batting outcomes, and has Jeremy Schultz plus Liam Moffett as experienced back-up.

Just three games short of 200, Moffett’s 4616 runs combine with his captain’s achievements to add over 500 matches and 12,000 runs to fall back on.

Both are scarred survivors of the magnificent last-over 2010 grand final loss to Caloundra and realise that the hourglass is nearing the narrow bit.

Bowling has boosted both sides, with the 19 red ball wickets of Luke McInnes leading the competition, but chased by the Rangers’ Steve Heise and Heath Fischer.

Callum Stitt backs up his batting well, and Jett Taylor matures for Glasshouse with every outing.

Glasshouse captain Jeremy Schultz. Picture: John McCutcheon

A close contest depends on all facets of the game, and the catching plus ground fielding of the Swans could be the competition’s best, shaping the comparison where over all rounds, the runs per wicket made for each side are very similar, but the runs per wicket against stat favours the visitors by nearly five runs.

Will this be a factor in a contest that could easily decide the minor premiership?

The other two finals contenders tread the tightrope knowing that any loss to a lower four side could be disastrous, as Caboolture heads to the Showgrounds to meet a Nambour side that has been adding good performances with bat and ball as experience grows.

The Snakes showed the unhealthy reliance on Glen Batticciotto for runs is still present, as the contribution of the rest of the top order was barely a score.

But the boys from Caboolture know how to scrape a win from anywhere.

Tewantin also will be wary visiting baby sister club Coolum, and would be loath to allow the Sharks their maiden win in their north coast contests.

Setting targets has been the home side’s problem, for scoring just over 14 runs per wicket is no path to continued success.

But an assisting wicket could trouble a still-shaky Thunder side early, adding to the demands

on their trusty bowlers.

Fifth position is the new target for Gympie and Caloundra who are separated by less than a quarter of a point in a close lower four, sharing a Keith Manthie Oval wicket that has been weather-beaten of late with the Gold city’s storms.

Both sides have had problems as runs taper off after the first three or four batsmen, so the toss is the first trial for Lewis Waugh and the visiting skipper Wally Wright.

Caloundra faces only top four sides after this, adding to the importance of a win.

DIVISION 1 POINTS AFTER R18: Glasshouse 99.06, Maroochydore 97.89, Tewantin-Noosa 93.16, Caboolture 91.75, Caloundra 45.76, Gympie 45.25, Nambour 44.66, Coolum 39.94.

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