PBC to accept fate in finals

PALM Beach Currumbin are taking a pragmatic approach to their date with Kookaburra Cup destiny against Runaway Bay.

Having not featured in the first grade finals since 2012-13, the Lions are agonisingly close to breaking the drought heading into the final round beginning today.

Sitting just one point out of the playoff spots, they must first conquer the struggling Seagulls at Salk Oval and then hope fourth-placed Southport Labrador fall at home to Coomera Hope Island.

With their top-four destiny out of their own hands, captain-coach Ryan Kettle, one of three remaining members of the club’s last finals side, said they would enter the battle with Bay like any other.

“Nothing changes for us from what we have been doing post-Christmas,” said Kettle, whose side celebrated a thirdstraight win with an 88-run defeat of ladder-leading Burleigh last Saturday.

“We’re just going to play with confidence. Hopefully we get a win and that will be enough for us to make finals.

“We’re kind of reliant on Southport Labrador to lose to Coomera. I’m quite happy with where we are now.

“We have always had confidence in the squad, right from the first game.

“I wouldn’t like to say that we went out expecting to be in the top four but I felt like if we played to the best of our ability we were a good chance.

“There’s probably some games we should’ve won (earlier in the season) but didn’t but going into this weekend we will do what we can and hopefully that’s enough.”

The Lions’ last premiership team in 2010-11 also included Kettle, with the veteran allrounder joined by current players Jack Vare-Kevere and Jainam Patel in the 2012-13 semi final outfit that fell to Mudgeeraba Nerang.

LADDER: Burleigh 80, Alberton Ormeau 73, Broadbeach 67, Southport 56, Palm Beach 55, Mudgeeraba Nerang 53, Queens 50, Helensvale 45, Coomera 42, Runaway Bay 42, Surfers Paradise 39