LESS than a week after playing off in the A Grade one-day final, Homers and Jung will meet again at Horsham City Oval.
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This time the prize on the line will be a spot in the regular season grand final.
The match pits a team of seasoned players accustomed to winning finals against a team that mixes youth with experience.
What Jung’s younger players lack in experience they make up for in enthusiastic energy but that might not be enough.
A resounding win by Homers, along with finishing on top of the ladder, means the side will go in two the weekend’s match as favourite.
Jung will also head into the match without David Puls who led the side’s bowling attack all throughout the season.
The side will need to find other other players to step into the void in order to counter the best batting order in the the association.
A City Oval outfield in pristine condition will make an already difficult task on paper even more difficult in practice.
There will be plenty of value for runs on offer for any batsmen who can successfully apply themselves.
Key Players
Jarred Combe – In a Homers team full of strong top-order batsmen Combe has the potential to fly under the radar but does not. Will also spearhead the bowling attack with the new ball, and can return later to bowl spin depending on the game situation.
Sandy Hodge – Often the rock of Homers batting order Hodge likes to regularly score big just for fun. The opening batsmen has plenty of big game experience and will put it to good use by working his way into an innings if things are tough early on.
Lachie Jones – After scoring a century in the one-day final Jones unsurprisingly looms large as a key wicket again. If Jung fail to remove him early in his innings he will start to dominate bowler. Simon Hopper is another in the same mould who will punish slightly loose bowling.
Sam Leith – The young Jung opening batsmen has steadily improved this season and will be vital to his side’s hopes of posting enough runs. Leith is resolute and willing to attack, if he can apply himself for a long innings he will be an X factor in the game.
Jeremy Pietsch – Pietsch’s form line has seen him in and out of Jung’s A Grade side this season but his late season adds much needed depth to the side’s batting. Will also be important with the ball in the absence of David Puls.
Steven Leith – The Jung veteran has dug the side out of plenty of bad situations this season and could be called upon to do so again. Tyler Puls is another player in a similar vein.
- The City Oval semi-final starts at 1pm.