By Lachlan Onions
ROUND 5 of the Barber Shield will see Penola host East Gambier in a grand final rematch.
The Eagles have won one of their two games this season, while East Gambier has won two from two.
An interesting battle will take place between Penola’s batters and the Bulldogs’ bowlers.
East Gambier has one of the strongest bowling line-ups in the competition, which is spearheaded by captain Alex Hentschke.
He will be supported by Liam Turley, Travis Younghusband and James Sullivan, who are all dangerous players with the ball in hand.
They will have to break through the strong opening partnership of Jack Mullan and Lewis March.
The pair combined for a 109-run opening stand in the grand final last season when these two sides last met.
March has continued to show his defensive prowess this season after he carried his bat to victory for Penola in Round 4 against Mil Lel.
Looking down the order, Drew Clayfield and Tom Clayfield will also be key assets for the reigning premiers.
Drew Clayfield was pivotal to the Eagles’ victory over Mil Lel as scored a half-century and took the game on with nine boundaries.
Mark Smith will also be a player to watch and will be eager to redeem himself after his duck at Frew Park last time out.
With the ball, Penola will look to Lachy jones and Josh Doyle, who combined for seven scalps in Round 4.
However, the Eagles will be tested with Alex Hill and Dion Stratford players to watch.
Stratford started the season strongly with an unbeaten ton in Round 1 and will be a key figure for the Bulldogs over the next two weeks.
When these sides faced off last season, East Gambier took the honours in the two regular season games but suffered a 107-run loss in the grand final.
However, it is unlikely the clash this weekend at McCorquindale Park will be as one-sided as that and a close contest is expected between two of the stronger sides in the competition.
