2006/07 Illawarra Credit Union South Coast Cricket Review

Position: 1st 159pts

Road ahead: Jamberoo, Kiama

Captain: Tony McCabe

Wins: 8

Comment: Form team of the competition. Team bonds well together and they play hard, spirited cricket. Nucleus of the team has played together for a number of years.

Leading the comp at this stage of the year " are you surprised?

No not at all. We have finished third or fourth the last few years and this season the players have performed really well.

So I'm not surprised at all " our aim at the start of the season was to make the top two.

You tipped Oak Flats as the team to beat earlier in the year, Warilla as the dark horse. What has stood out in the competition so far this season?

It is a really tight top five and there is not much between any of us. There is a big gap in points from first to five but there isn't much between the top three.

We haven't played Kiama since the first game so we are yet to see them at their best. They have been going really well.

Has there been a turning point for your players this season?

Probably our wins against Oak Flats and Albion Park. Any time we play there seems to be only a couple of runs or a wicket or two in the match and that is good for the competition.

The thing for us this year is we bat a lot better. In previous years our batting let us down on occasions " I feel this year we are a more balanced side after having always fielded and bowled well.

The biggest thing for the team is the mental side. The last two years we have beaten the top two sides on occasions and now the guys realise they can do it.

Jamberoo and Kiama to come " any predictions?

Oak Flats, Kiama and us are all playing Jamberoo or Shellharbour in the last few rounds. Everyone will be hoping for an outright win to consolidate their positions.

You have shown during the year that you can set and chase big totals " has that been the biggest improvement in the team?

Yeah definitely, chasing 290 against Warilla " well I haven't been in a side that has done that.

Is the minor premiership secure? It's been a while since the last one " what does it mean to the club?

No not at all " we have to beat Rail first. I feel it will count on the match between Kiama and Albion Park next round. That will settle third and fourth and it should be us or Oak Flats.

I know we won four or five premierships straight around 1991-1995.

A semi final showdown with Albion Park is likely if the table stays the same " a grand final replay from last year. Any scars remain from the loss?

They played a really good game last year and we did play well. This year with no Graeme Smith or Jess Hancock I feel it is a different game.

I really respect them as a team " they can get themselves out of trouble and have a good lower order and have beaten us once this year.

Who has been the form side in the competition?

Obviously we are happy with the way we have been going.

Kiama are going very well and have beaten every team but we haven't seen them at their best. They beat us in the SCG cup and from memory it wasn't more than 15 runs or 1-2 wickets in the game.

Warilla are out if it now and are just too far away.

Message to your players&

"You have all just got to enjoy the rest of the season. Take nothing for granted " just because we made the grand final this year doesn't mean we are owed another this year. When we get there we will have to play well and work hard on the day."

ALBION PARK

Position: 3rd 142pts

Road ahead: Kiama, Warilla

Captain: Steve Milgate

Wins: 8

Comment: Real improvers of the competition so far this season. Picked themselves up after the loss of Graeme Smith and Jess Hancock.

They are a tight knit group of players and club, which means they will want to be around eachother in pressure situations.

This will serve them well in the semi finals.

How is the team sitting heading into the finals Steve?

It is important for the team to take things week by week.

For the players the important thing right now is to keep doing the little things right and take their chances.

They are definitely two tough games ahead for us. Warilla are no doubt after our spot.

What are your reflections of your teams season to date?

They year has been a good opportunity to give a few others an opportunity in first grade.

Jason Kast has been a very consistent bowler for us after coming up from second grade. The start of the year we weren't consistent enough " we are now.

Showing steady improvement during the year " was there a turning point that led to that consistency? Not so much a turning point. For us it has just been not relying on any one player " we beat Lake by a few runs and had a close game against Kiama so any of the top four can win.

Who have been the most consistent team this year? Lake Illawarra

What is the feeling within the team at the moment? We are just 11 mates out for a bit of fun on a Saturday afternoon. There are no internal issues and the club is in very good shape.