Region's Finest Chase State Cricket's Top Prize

Illawarra Mercury

Tuesday December 23, 2008

By MIKE DRISCOLL

FOUR of the region's best teams are chasing the biggest prize in NSW country club cricket, with the finals of the SCG Country Cup in Bathurst and Orange from Saturday.

The three-day carnival features the top 16 teams from across NSW bidding for a place in the final at the SCG on January 18.

Illawarra will be represented by premiers Balgownie and Wollongong.

Top South Coast clubs Oak Flats and Albion Park are also into the final 16.

Defending back-to-back champions Merewether will not defend their crown after being knocked out in an earlier round.

The 16 teams are seeded, with Tamworth - who have lost the past two finals to Merewether - the No 1 ranked side.

Oak Flats are the highest ranked team from this region at No 4 and take on 13th seeds Waratah Mayfield on Saturday in the round of 16.

Balgownie, despite winning the Illawarra premiership, one-day title and Twenty20 crown last season, have only been seeded at No 10 and meet seventh seed Clarence CC on Saturday for a spot in the quarter-finals.

Wollongong are seeded at 15 and face a tough round of 16 match-up against second-seeded Stockton Northern Districts, while ninth seeds Albion Park take on Maitland (8).

Should Balgownie overcome Clarence CC they would likely face Tamworth in the quarter-finals, with Tamworth favoured to knock out 16th seeds Cowra.

"It's a tough draw, but that's out of our control," Balgownie captain Chris Sheppard said.

Bally made the inaugural Cup final at the SCG in 2002 and Sheppard says the club is taking the carnival seriously.

"We'd love to make the final again," he said. "Except for Paul Lynam and Ben Toussis, who are unavailable, we've put our strongest possible team together."

If Oak Flats reach the final eight they would meet the winner of the Albury-Wodonga v Macleay Valley clash.

A round of 16 win for Wollongong would pit them against either Maitland or Albion Park for a spot in the semi-finals.

The full round of 16 draw and seedings are: Tamworth (1) v Cowra (16); Clarence (7) v Balgownie (10); Albury-Wodonga (5) v Macleay Valley (12); Oak Flats (4) v Waratah Mayfield (13); Stockton Northern Districts (2) v Wollongong (15); Maitland (8) v Albion Park (9); Toronto Workers (6) v Tuggeranong Valley (11); Hamilton Wickham (3) v The Entrance (14).

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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