Geraldton cricket grand final preview: Towns looking for fourth straight title as Wanderers fight to end run

Bring it on. That’s the sentiment ahead of Saturday’s Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League grand final at the Rec.

Both Towns and Wanderers have experience and great youth and there is a massive rivalry between them.

Towns will be looking to claim a fourth straight grand final win, while Wanderers will be determined to end their rival’s impressive title run.

The teams have met five times this season starting with a T20 at Wonthella on November 3.

Wanderers batted first and Towns, notably captain Ringo McKenna (4-6 off four overs), kept them to 9-79. Jeremy Bedford (51) took Towns to a seven-wicket win.

The next day, they played a 50-over game at GBSC Park and Towns made only 88 as Damien King claimed 6-16. Ian Oglesby (53 not out) batted through for Wanderers’ seven-wicket win.

Game three was at the Rec (December 9). Towns, sent in by Wanderers captain Kade Gillingham, barely lasted half their overs in making 62.

King (4-22) again shone after Mitch Thompson (3-17) wrecked the top order. Wanderers had seven wickets in the shed when they won.

Game four was an epic T20 final at Wonthella on February 16. Wanderers made 7-90 with Zane Marwick top-scoring with 21 score, and Sam Crouch and Josh DeLacy taking two wickets each.

Towns replied with 8-91 and won off the last ball. It was stirring stuff and Kodi Giltrow (30) played a vital hand though Marwick (3-17) almost denied them.

They met again the next day at GBSC Park and Wanderers, sent in, made 147 with Henry Anderson (24) top-scoring, while McKenna and Jai Russell both took three wickets. Towns won easily with Giltrow (49) batting well.

So, 3-2 to Towns in head-to-head contests. Make what you will of that.

“Both teams are extremely even and won’t give an inch so it will be a good spectacle I hope,” McKenna said.

“Wanderers has good players across their list and matchwinners everywhere, they’re not a team where you focus on any player specifically.”

Gillingham agreed the ingredients were in place for a classic game

“Whoever plays the best cricket will win and Towns has a great team with lots of good batting and bowling options,” Gillingham said.

“Danger players include Bedford and McKenna and there’s the experience of Russell and Crouch; we match up well and it should make for a great game.”

The season all comes down to Saturday with the A-grade grand final match starting at 11am at the Rec Ground, while the B-grade grand final between Dongara and Wanderers will start at 12pm at Wonthella Oval.