Ladder positions didn’t change from before the round and Tahara, St Andrews, College Eagles and Hamilton North will battle it out for the B grade title, while St Andrew’s Saints, Casterton District, Byaduk and Grampians will fight for the C grade crown.

Grampians tied with Casterton District

THE rarest of results, the tie, was recorded at Monivae Turf on Saturday, as Grampians and Casterton District couldn’t be separated after 80 overs were bowled.

The Pumas batted first after losing the toss and posted 6-166 from its allotted 40 overs with Campbell Glazebrook (48), Brodie Phillips (36) and Greg Millard (26) among the runs, while Pierce Kelly (2-43) took the honours with the ball.

In reply, Jedd Rhook led the way forward for Casterton District with a great knock of 77-not-out, with Mark Penny (27) giving the youngster great support, with the game eventually ending in a tie to knock Branxholme out of the finals.

College Eagles d Byaduk

WITH both teams entrenched in the finals, there really wasn’t anything riding on the outcome of the game, other than the winners taking that form into the finals this weekend after the sides met at Christie Oval on Saturday.

Byaduk won the toss and elected to bat first and the players were kept at bay by the Eagles bowlers, as the home side finished with 9-91, as Jordy Anthony, Lachy Walk and Ross Milne grabbed two wickets each to share the bowling honours.

The Eagles top four flexed their muscles, as Jonathan Jenkin (37) Ewan Macdonald (37), Elton Brinkman (32) and Milne (29) all spent valuable time in the middle before finals, finishing on 4-155.

St Andrew’s d St Andrew’s Saints

THE Saints had the chance to leapfrog their way into the B grade finals if the team could defat their sister team at Pedrina Park 1 on Saturday.

In reality it was never going to happen for the Saints, as they were held to only 8-83.

Geoff Barker (25-not-out) mounted the only real resistance to the St Andrew’s attack.

In reply, the St Andrew’s top four used the time in the middle to gain form heading into the finals with Josh Evans (73- retired-hurt) leading the way.

Tahara d Hamilton

SAM Brewer registered a run-a-ball century against Hamilton at Tahara Recreation Reserve on Saturday to be in the best possible form for the B grade finals.

Brewer struck 11 boundaries and a further four maximums, posting 108 from 109 balls before being run out, as he led the Bluecaps to 209.

Hamilton was never in the hunt to chase down the target, as it was bowled out for 125 to end the summer for the Blues as Jack Rhook grabbed 4-34 to lead the Tahara attack.

Hamilton North d College

HAMILTON North warmed up for the B grade finals, thrashing last-placed College at Hamilton Recreation Reserve to secure fourth place.

The Hammers posted a huge target of 3-277 with new recruit Patrick Simkiss (94) making an immediate impact, while the ever dependable Darren Groves (72-not-out) knocked up his sixth score over 50 for the summer.

Only Tim Wilson (25-not-out) and John Austin (26) made any real contributions with the bat for College, as the team was dismissed for 108 in reply.