Sport
14 March, 2026
Lush finale - top sides meet on grassy ground
KIngower and Wedderburn meet in today's Upper Loddon Cricket Association decider
THE LUSH Boort Park outfield is set to play a big part in the outcome of Saturday’s Upper Loddon Cricket Association grand final.
Kingower and Wedderburn Band will meet in a rematch of the 2024-2025 decider after winning their semi-finals last Saturday.
Rival captains, Wedderburn’s Isaac Holt and Gower’s Matt Rowe, agree that the slow, heavily grassed surface makes the ground a paradise for big hitters.
Batsmen who can smack boundaries and favour the aerial route will have an advantage over those who tend to knock and nudge the ball around.
In any contest of brutal hitters, Wedderburn might be slightly ahead.
The Band has won one game and lost two against Kingower this season after losing the grand final at Arnold last year, and finished three matches behind their opponents on the ladder.
However, in middle-order behemoth Andrew Brett they have the most explosive batsman in the competition – one who was man of the match in last year’s decider despite being on the losing side. Will Holt is another Band batsman who is dangerous if he gets a start, and well capable of clearing the boundary.
Kingower, for its part, has Kyle Simpson in ferocious form, coming off 58 not out from 34 balls in the semi-final against Bridgewater Bulls and hitting eight fours and three sixes.
Rowe is a fine opening bat for Kingower but tends to be an accumulator rather than an out-and-out hitter.
Fellow top order batsman Will Deason is also better known for his patience than for his striking ability, although he hit three fours and a six in his 30 off 48 balls last Saturday.
Wedderburn will field the same 11 that defeated Boort Yando in the semi-final.
Isaac Holt believed Wedderburn’s strength was in its bowling attack – he took 4-27 against the Magpies, while Will Holt, Adam Postle, Steve Giorlando, Sam Carroll and Finn Turnbull also bowled extremely tightly.
He said Kingower’s lineup had “definitely got some class in batting”, providing a real test for Band’s bowlers.
As well, Giorlando’s move to opening had provided stability to Wedderburn’s top order that was struggling for consistency.
The Gower’s Rowe said Mark Lamprell and Tyler Murphy would return for the grand final.
Veteran Lamprell’s bowling has been a revelation since he returned to the field mid-season, taking nine wickets at a miserly 11.89, while Murphy can strike at a rapid rate with the bat.
Rowe said he hoped his team’s all-round ability would shine on Saturday, noting that the attack had been in good form in recent matches.
Kingower enters the match on an eight-match winning streak – their last defeat was to Wedderburn way back in mid-November.
It shapes as a grand final which is a genuine toss-up ... Wedderburn looking for a breakthrough flag, Kingower keen to keep top billing.
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