AS we enter the final month of the home and away season in the Victorian Premier Cricket Women’s 1sts competition, the matches become more and more season defining. There are still technically seven teams left in finals contention, but the path to finals is a lot harder for some than it is for others. We preview the next round of action.

Box Hill vs Plenty Valley
Box Hill City Oval

This one should go a certain way, and Box Hill will certainly be hoping it goes the expected way.

The Mustangs currently sit sixth on the ladder. They are only two wins behind the fourth placed Bombers, but their less-than-desired net run rate means they have got a bit of work ahead of them in order to secure their place in that top four.

Plenty Valley, on the other hand, might just have one eye on season’s end given their retched run. They are out of finals contention, have not won a game all year, and lay claim to a net run rate exemplary of that.

Prahran vs Melbourne
Toorak Park

Although Prahran is still in the finals race, it has a monumental challenge ahead. Sitting two wins out of the top four, the finals hopefuls have to find a bonus point from somewhere and drastically improve their run rate.

Coming up against Melbourne this weekend certainly makes that task a whole lot harder. Melbourne is the only side that is locked in for a finals berth, but the question now is where it will finish within the four.

In saying that, something would have to go drastically wrong for this side to be dislodged from first on the ladder. They have been the dominant team all year and have not looked close to losing.

Essendon Maribyrnong Park vs Ringwood
Aberfeldie Park

This is shaping up to be season defining for both sides. The Bombers are currently fourth on the ladder, but their place in the finals is far from secure.

They come up against a Ringwood side hot on their heals for that finals berth. The Rams currently sit in fifth place, one win behind the Bombers but with a better net run rate then both the Bombers and third placed Carlton.

So the equation is simple for both teams, they’ve just got to keep winning matches, starting with this weekend’s encounter. It is as easy as that.

Last time these two met was back in December, and it was in fact the Bombers who triumphed that day.

Carlton vs Dandenong
Princess Park

The equation in this one is pretty simple too. Win this one and you will become the second team to lock in its place in this year’s finals.

Dandenong is currently second on the ladder and the Blues are currently third. Both are on six wins, with run rate currently the difference between the two.

Last time these two sides met it was back in December. Carlton got the chocolates that day, so will certainly be hoping to repeat that performance this coming weekend.