Lucindale achieved a Steven Bradbury-like finish to the home and away season and won the minor premiership in the Millicent Naracoorte Cricket Association.


Like the 2002 Winter Olympics 1000m speed skating final won by Bradbury, Lucindale held their nerve to the very end and finished top of the seven-club competition.


They will have the home ground advantage over the Naracoorte Warriors in the first qualifying final on Saturday.


Their opponents sat out their round 14 match as the heat policy meant it was too warm to take to the field at Mick and Jean Walker Oval at Mount Burr.


It is understood the home side was keen to play as they thought a win would have lifted them above the Naracoorte Warriors and into fourth place.


It was not to be and not allowed under the association heat policy in any case.


The next competitive contest at Mount Burr will be a game under lights in round one of the Mid South East Football League on April 5 when Kalangadoo visits.


Meanwhile, if the competing cricket teams play to form, it will be Lucindale who will host the grand final on March 8.


Ace Lucindale batsman Michael McGurk hit a match-winning half-century in round 13 and could be the difference between the two teams.


Nick Cane is well known for his football exploits with Lucindale, Robe (Mid SE) and Glenelg (SANFL) but is also a handy batsman.


The Lucindale bowler most likely to cause strife for the Naracoorte Warriors is spinner Daniel Lane.


For Naracoorte Warriors, Jason McClure and Loren Bald are the two prized wickets.


Bald is aged in his 40s but accumulated 224 runs this season after winning the 2023/24 Association batting trophy.


His son Nicolas is handy with the Kookaburra Tuf-Pitch having claimed 18 wickets during the home and away season.


BLACK HATS VERSUS RENDELSHAM


Reigning premiers Millicent Black Hats and fellow 2023/24 grand finalists Rendelsham dominated the competition until the last month and then both went off the boil.


It is hard to explain why but player unavailability and frequent byes and cancellations may be the reasons.


By dropping off the pace, they face the likely prospect of having a 170km round trip to Lucindale for the season decider.


Rendelsham had a notable game in round 13 when 66 not out from Tyson Smith earned the team a narrow win over the Millicent Black Hats at home.


Rendelsham will be looking to the likes of all-rounders Smith and Jake Wight to lead the charge.


Jacob Carger, skipper Ayden Reid, Sam Bell and Mitch Pulmer are a handy quartet with youth on their side.


One cannot sing the praises of Rendelsham without dwelling on the dedication and many talents of evergreen wicketkeeper/batsman Dwayne Gray.


His fine work behind the stumps has not diminished in almost 40 seasons while he never surrenders his wicket easily but invariably makes valuable runs down the order.


The Millicent Black Hats have a lion-hearted veteran of their own in Michael Gibson who will give his all in every one of the 48 deliveries that he will send down.


Skipper Mitchell Nitschke is a sound batsman with a good eye, newlywed Cooper Hamilton is a handy late-season addition and opening batsman Cambell Hateley is destined for much higher grades of this great game.


So too are the remarkable Lindner brothers who are also teenagers.


Expect a big crowd to watch proceedings at Norm Facey Oval.