Wade's cricket tips - week one

HERE are local cricket writer Wade Gleeson's tips for the first week of finals in the Southern Cricket Association.

FIRST GRADE: After toppling top-of-the-table St Annes, I’m tipping New Norfolk I to defeat Wellington by two wickets and play St Anne's twice in three weeks. Matthew Bowden should get among the runs and Josh Rowlands will grab some wickets, with the game to be decided in the final over. Qualifying final at Eady St Oval No 1,  at 10.30am Saturday.

SECOND GRADE: With Gretna playing some good cricket of late it’s going to be a good match against Sorell on their home turf. Both teams are one-all from the roster matches and I’m tipping Gretna to win by 25 runs and advance to their first SCA grand final. Mathew Burns with his experience will make a good score with the bat and Corey Ransley will take control with the ball. 2nd Semi-Final at Sorell, 10.30am Saturday.

THIRD GRADE: Given they haven’t lost a match all season thus far, one can’t go past New Norfolk II in the semi-final against Campania at Tynwald Park. Stewart Rice will put on a clinic with both bat and ball and guide his team to a grand final berth. Red Caps by plenty. 2nd Semi-Final at Tynwald Park, 10.30am Saturday.

SEVENTH GRADE: In the first semi-final between Molesworth II and Sorell, I’m going with Molesworth. Both teams sit on 66 points each and with this the match will be a ripper. Jayden Wilton should get among the runs and Sam Triffitt will lead from the front with the ball. 1st Semi-Final at St Virgil's College Oval 1, 10.30am Saturday.

WOMENS: I’m going to tip New Norfolk to defeat top-placed Brighton in an upset. The teams met in Round 6 with Brighton taking the chocolates but this time I feel it will be a different result. Amity Booth will make a good score with the bat, while Kelley Kemmler will have the Brighton batting line up in all sorts of trouble. New Norfolk by 11 runs or two wickets. At Thompson Oval, Pontville, noon Sunday.

KSCA LADDERS 2018/19
At the conclusion of the roster season

FIRST GRADE (Top five to play off for finals)
St Anne's 78
Wellington 72
New Norfolk I 64
St Aidan's 60
Rokeby 49
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Claremont 36
Old Beach 26
Montagu Bay 0

SECOND GRADE (Top four to play off for finals)
Sorell 72
Gretna I 66
Knights 64
St Anne's 55
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Richmond/Cambridge 55
Derwent 27
Molesworth I 23
Marquis 12

THIRD GRADE (Top four to play off for finals)
New Norfolk II 95
Campania 73
MacKillop Beltas 67
Wellington 63
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Bagdad 40
Old Beach 24
Richmond/Cambridge 20
Sandford 16

FOURTH GRADE (Top four to play off for finals)
Weily Park 78
Hobart 72
Montagu Bay 68
Wellington 60
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St Aidan's 44
Bothwell 43
Gretna 19
Claremont 10

FIFTH GRADE (Top four to play off for finals)
Lindisfarne 83
St Virgil’s 74
St Anne's 55
Knights 52
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Bushy Park 47
New Norfolk III 42
Brighton 33
Bagdad 0

SEVENTH GRADE (Top four to play off for finals)
St Aidan's 70
Wellington 69
Sorell 66
Molesworth II 66
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MacKillop Beltas 65
Bothwell 56
Montagu Bay 54
Knights 43
St Anne's 41
Old Beach 36
St Virgil’s 28

WOMEN’S T20 (Top four to play off for finals)
Brighton 48
St Anne's 42
Montagu Bay 42
New Norfolk 36
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Knights 30
Sorell 30
Wellington 24