Lake Illawarra have been smashing everyone this season but in good news for Saturday’s South Coast cricket opponent Albion Park they don’t hand out trophies in November.
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The final one-day round of the season means after today all clubs have played one another in the new six team Premier League.
It’s debatable that with Jamberoo-Gerringong and The Rail relegated to a First Grade competition the new six team comp is much better than last year’s eight team version.
Already Lake Illawarra have had four dominant wins and were on their way to a huge score against Shellharbour in round three when the match was called off due to a violent storm.
Oak Flats have found their feet after a slow start and are clearly the second best side having already booked a spot in next month’s one-day final – irrespective of what happens against Kookas this afternoon.
Shellharbour have been up and down but without last season’s skipper Ben Mitchell they are realistically playing for third or fourth spot.
On the first month’s evidence Kiama and Kookas look like they’re chasing the final two playoff spots and would need to improve to be a serious premiership threat.
That leaves premiers Albion Park, who after a disappointing start, broke their duck by beating Kookas comfortably last Saturday.
The Park defended 178 with Raheel Chaudhry taking 3-14 in what skipper Adam Coughlan labelled the best bowling and fielding effort of the season.
‘‘Overall our batting has stood up okay,’’ Coughlan said.
‘‘It’s the bowling which had been letting us down, but hopefully we are back on track with that and can keep improving as a team.’’
The Park face a big test against a Lakers team which are doing everything well: bludgeoning teams with the bat and crushing them with the ball.
Even without their young batting star Kerrod White this season they have hardly missed a beat with four Lakers making a half century in a massive 7-317 against Kiama last Saturday.
In the other round five games, Kookas will want to improve at home to arch-rival Oak Flats, while Kiama host Shellharbour.
Ladder: Lake Illawarra 49, Oak Flats 44, Kiama 25, Shellharbour 25, Kookas 25, Albion Park 20.
SOUTH COAST ROUND 5 (One-Dayers)
Lake Illawarra v Albion Park at Howard Fowles Oval
Kookas v Oak Flats at Oakleigh Park
Kiama v Shellharbour at Cavalier Park
