WGCA round 5 preview

UPSET A-grade results in round four have produced new interest in the competition and some engrossing games are scheduled for round five.
One of the matches of the round will be at Officer, where the Bullants hope to devour the Cobras. Officer recorded a stirring win against the odds at Catani in the last round, thanks to a superb all-round performance from the talented Daniel Savage, and the home side will be confident about its prospects in the coming two weeks.
Merinda Park, however, will be formidable. Its form has been consistently good, its batting is improving and its fast attack is rapidly becoming the best in the competition. This will be a close encounter, with Officer tipped to narrowly collect the points.
Emerald has a strong chance of gaining its first win of the season when it hosts PUT. The undermanned Yabbies were disappointing against the rampaging Beaconsfield in round four, but with players such as the explosive Shannon Price back on deck the Yabbies are tipped to hold out the improving Bombers.
Devon Meadows and Pakenham appear evenly matched for their Steve Vivian memorial match in the Panthers’ den. Both teams recorded narrow wins in round four and the home advantage and slightly better depth should gain Devon Meadows a narrow victory.
In B grade Upper Beaconsfield will be desperate to stay in touch by defeating Kooweerup at home, but the talented Demons have too many guns firing for the Maroons. Nyora faces a huge challenge at Cranbourne Meadows and the B-grade newcomers may lack the batting depth to combat the Rebels’ strong attack.
A-grade fixtures, with the likely winners in capitals, are:
OFFICER v Merinda Park
Tooradin v CARDINIA
Emerald v PUT
BEACONSFIELD v Catani
DEVON MEADOWS v Pakenham
Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll v CLYDE.