FINALLY, finals have arrived for Yarraville Club in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division.
The Clubbers knew three rounds from the end of the home-and-away season that they would feature in the March madness.
They have spent the past three matches jostling with fellow finalists Airport West-St Christophers, Keilor and South Caulfield for top position on the ladder.
The minor premiership arrived for the Clubbers on Saturday, despite an upset loss to McKinnon on the road at McKinnon Reserve on Saturday.
Clubbers fast bowler Emmett Bronca said: "It would have been nice to finish off with an extra six points, but we've locked in top spot. They're a quality team so it was good to have a hard-fought game before the finals."
McKinnon posted a competitive 251.
They could not be denied a match-winning score even though Clubbers all-rounder Michael O'Keefe sent down 24.2 overs for a return of 4-36.
The Clubbers issued a stop-start response with the bat to be bowled out for 232. They were in dire straights on 8-132 before a late show from wicketkeeper Kayne Meehan (48) and tail-ender Steven Oosterhof (45).
Bronca is adamant his side will return to form in the two-day Saturday-Sunday semi-final date with South Caulfield.
"All year everyone has chipped in when they had to and if everyone does what they need to do and we stick to the game plan, I'm sure we'll come up trumps," he said.
"But, we're not getting ahead of ourselves because South Caulfield seems to fly under the radar every season and are always up there.
"It's going to be a good game."
■ Footscray United tumbled to fourth in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association north A1 finals pecking order as a result of a "disappointing" last round loss to minor premiers Moonee Valley at Ormond Park on Saturday.
The Bulldogs' first defeat in the new year was not a total disaster as it doubled as a fact-finding mission ahead of a re-match in this weekend's do-or-die semi-final at the same venue.
Bulldogs star batsman Adam Preece said the two-dayer allowed his side to adapt to the Ormond Park surroundings and acclimatise to the bouncy pitch.
"We're doing a few things to combat that, like preparing our turf training wicket similar with more grass on it."
The Bulldogs will go into the cut-throat semi-final as the rank underdogs.
The Valleys are a powerful unit, headlined by the competition's top batsman Arosha Perera.
But, the final round meeting provided an insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the Valleys.
"We still have the confidence to bounce back," Preece said.
"We weren't all doom and gloom after the loss knowing that we will face up to them again this week."
Bulldogs skipper Tarique Jeffrey takes sizzling hot form into the finals.
The leg-spinner bagged 6-86 in 26 overs and looms as a game breaker.
The first ball will be bowled at 1pm.
■ Kingsville Baptists play Aberfeldie Park in the B1 semi-final on Saturday.
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