GCA - Tatyoon looks set to continue its dominance over the struggling Youth Club when the two teams clash in a quarter final of the Grampians Cricket Association one day competition tomorrow.
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The trip down south to Tatyoon hasn't been all that kind to Youth Club for more than a decade and on the Clubbers' current form, it's only going to be tougher for them as cricket resumes following the Christmas/New Year break.
Youth Club has struggled to put together a full team effort all season. When the bowlers fire, the batsmen fail to follow it up and this sees the side struggling at the bottom of the ladder.
The inability to bat out an entire innings has resulted in Youth Club being dismissed for some dismal totals throughout the season and this came to the fore in the final round prior to the break, when it was defeated outright by Tatyoon.
On that occasion it was Michael Harricks and Andrew McDougall who did all the damage with the ball and it is difficult to see Youth Club improving enough to force a win over the competition leaders tomorrow.
What makes matters worse for Youth Club is its poor record in one day encounters this season, losing all three matches at the start of the season. In the clash against Aradale in round one, the Clubbers were bundled out for just 44 runs, sending a shockwave through the camp.
Unless Steve Le Gassick, Jamie Solyom and Todd Matthews can find form with the bat and support the likes of Cam Kimber, Matthew Healy and Angus Barham with the ball, then Youth Club could be in for another torrid time on the Tatyoon turf.
Taty, with their outright win late in December, appears to have struck form at the right end of the season and Andrew and Tim McDougall, Harricks, Andrew Ward and captain Ash Maconachie are not going to let that slip.
The clash between Swifts/Great Western and Pomonal creates a great deal of interest, as Pomonal will be striving to keep its faint finals' hopes alive.
Pomonal has shown glimpses of form throughout the season, but like Youth Club, has struggled to put in a full team effort to get over the line.
It won't be an easy task against the powerful Swifts/Great Western combination, with Travis Nicholson, Gary Ranton, James Devery, Sam Cocks and Jackson Dark all capable of making big scores and Dark, Marc Brilliant, Jacob Seeary and Ranton forming a formidable bowling attack.
Pomonal will be relying on its young guns, Alex Malligan, Luke Jordan, Rick and Lee Oliver to do the bulk of the scoring tomorrow and then have the Oliver brothers, along with Al McKay take regular wickets to give themselves a chance at North Park.
The shape of the top four will change tomorrow night following the clash between Buangor and Aradale on the turf at Alexandra Oval.
Aradale is currently holding down third spot on percentage ahead of Buangor, with both teams on 24 points. However, one will take the upper hand as of tomorrow, claiming the outright third position and guaranteeing a spot in the finals.
Buangor has been the quiet achiever this season after under performing a little in 2012/13. A win over Tatyoon early set the scene for Buangor to start its rise up the competition ladder, showing that if young guns in Harry and Jack Ganley, Jack Fraser and Chris Jerram fire, then anything is possible.
They will need all guns blazing this weekend on Ararat's tricky turf wicket to launch a counter attack against Aradale's bowling brigade, which is led by paceman John Butler and all-rounder Brent Tate.
Tate has also been in form with the bat this season and with support from Travis Horvatek, Mitchell Wood and young Tyler Cronin, it could see Aradale sitting in the box seat late in the afternoon.
Tomorrow's matches
A Grade
Tatyoon v Youth Club (TAT) - T McKinnis
Swifts/Gr. Western v Pomonal (NP) - S Hayter
Buangor v Aradale (AO) - P Harris
B Grade
Willaura v St Andrews (WILL) - A Farish
Pomonal v Navarre (POM) - D Hey
Halls Gap v Youth Club (HG)
Swifts/Great Western v Chalambar (RO)