Tigers hunt silverware in Barber Shield grand final against Eagles

ALL ON THE LINE: North Sportsman's captain Matt McInerney will be keen to get his hands on the coveted Barber Shield this weekend, while Penola stalwart George Kidman will not want to let it slip from the Eagles grip when the two sides contest the grand final at Frew Park. Picture: JAMES MURPHY

ALL ON THE LINE: North Sportsman’s captain Matt McInerney will be keen to get his hands on the coveted Barber Shield this weekend, while Penola stalwart George Kidman will not want to let it slip from the Eagles grip when the two sides contest the grand final at Frew Park.
Picture: JAMES MURPHY

BARBER Shield cricket has come down to one more result, with this weekend’s grand final to be contested between Penola and North Sportsman’s at Frew Park.

Penola claimed the Barber Shield honours last season against the Tigers after many years in the wilderness and this year has the chance to go back-to-back.

The A Grade clash promises to be a tight contest over the weekend, with both sides setting the benchmark this season.

The Tigers would start as the underdogs, due to one loss to Penola, with the Eagles undefeated throughout the season.

Both sides claimed solid victories in their respective semi-final clashes – Penola over West Gambier and North over South Gambier.

It was not the ideal start when the Eagles headed out to the middle to set a target for the Roos.

Both openers were gone with just three runs on the board – and both for ducks – from there Penola began to hit its straps, which showed its true depth.

Captain Jase Bateman and Dave Somerfield banged on a 64-run partnership to steady the ship and from there the Eagles took control.

While George Kidman came and went for just two runs, every other player in the roster managed double-figure scores.

Somerfield fell just short of his half-century, but led all scorers with 47.

In the end Penola reached an imposing 189 runs, which was always going to be a tough task for the Roos.

West was never in the run chase, with Michael Waters (4/6), Somerfield (3/35) and Kidman (3/8) on top with the ball, with the Roos out for just 75 runs after 38 overs.

For North it was a similar scenario.

While the top order batsmen were off to double-figure starts, none really went on with the job, until Justin McConnell strode to the crease in the middle order.

He banged on a half-century to help the Tigers to 168 runs.

The target was within reach, but North’s bowling attack was up to the task, cleaning up South’s batting lineup for just 70 runs in the 62nd over.

Declan Kenny rose to the occasion with the ball, with impressive figures of 5/6 off nine overs.

Both sides have been consistent performers throughout the season, with Penola claiming the minor premiership, just ahead of North.

However, two batsmen have stood out.

Penola’s Dave Somerfield has been in ominous form with bat and ball, but with the willow he has smashed 633 runs for the Barber Shield season, at an average of 79.13, with a high score of 138 not out.

No other Eagle has come close to that mark, but for the Tigers Jake Schutz has actually found more runs, with 657.

If those two players fire with the bat for their respective sides, regardless of the outcome it could be an entertaining weekend of cricket.

In last season’s final North claimed the prized scalp of Somerfield for just one run and will look to replicate that feat this weekend.

In a similar scenario, Schutz could only manage three runs for the Tigers.

The Penola side was retired for just 139 runs after 64 overs, leaving a real chance for North to claim the honours.

But it all went pear-shaped for the Tigers, with only Michael Johnston and Matt McInerney reaching double figures, with the side out for a mere 102 runs.

That result in itself is enough to provide motivation for the Tigers, who will want to atone for that poor performance.

Little has changed for the Eagles, with Brad Maney back in the B Grade side due to injury woes, replaced by the equally-impressive Brett Vaughan.

For the Tigers there are several changes.

Jack Armfield, Gavin Coon and Brad Robinson are out, while Matt Robinson will possibly make way for Kayne Badman after a fitness test.

McConnell came into the side this season, while Kieran Ashby and Mitch Lewis also bolster the roster.

The last two-day game the two sides contested was a weather-effected draw in the final minor round of the season.

North’s batting innings produced 163 runs, with Schutz out for a duck.

The Tigers had the Eagles on the back foot early, with openers Jack Schulz and Jack Mullan both gone with the score at just 23.

Bateman and Somerfield to the crease before the weather intervened.

Bateman will be keen to give his charges every chance of back-to-back titles, while McInerney will lead his Tigers by example, in what could be his last game in the black and yellow for some time,

with a plan to head north for district cricket.

Whatever the outcome, the match promises to be an intriguing clash, with plenty riding on the result for both sides.

The grand final action at Frew Park will start both tomorrow and Sunday at 1pm.