After 15 rounds of the Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League, Wanderers and Sportsmans meet at Wonthella in Saturday’s preliminary final to decide who will meet Towns in the grand final The two clubs have experienced contrasting seasons. Sportsmans were third until the last round when they eased past Wanderers to claim second. Sportsmans had held on to third spot for the first half of the season largely because Bluff Point took two steps backwards for every one step forward while Chapman Valley-Northampton kept losing. Sporties at that point had three wins in eight games. But in December, their fortunes changed and they started winning. They began 2025 with a loss to Towns but crucially beat Wanderers twice and won other games they were expected to on their way to seven wins in eight games. Vital to the winning streak was the signing of 19-year-old paceman Zak Williamson. He has 12 wickets in six games. Another was luring 41-year-old spinner Dan Welsh back, who has lifted his career haul to 388 wickets. Another veteran, 40-year-old Clint Yeates, has 299 runs this season at 59.80. His career figures detail 10,891 runs and 289 wickets. Sportsmans captain Riley Barham said Glenn Wishart was unavailable but believed Jarrod Jupp, who has not bowled in five games, was fit; another win as he has 26 wickets at 9.34 this season. “We’ve gotten better as the year has gone on and think a lot of the improvement is from our fielding so hopefully that can continue,” Barham said. “Juppy should be OK to bowl so that’ll help and Yeatesy has been consistent and it doesn’t surprise me; he’s still one of our best bats and the wicket oppositions are after. “We’re looking forward to the game and know we’ll have to be at our best.” Wanderers’ first eight games featured seven wins but their next eight resulted in seven losses. Five of their side are 17 or younger and two others, including Kade Gillingham — remarkably in his fourth year as captain — are only 21. Gillingham said he was proud of his juniors. “It’s credit to them that they’re half our side and put their best effort in week in and week out; they’re not always going to have a good game being so young, but love their cricket,” Gillingham said. “We haven’t been at our best since Christmas but with our full side back, I’ve no doubt we’ll bounce back. “Sporties have had a great year, they have talented key players and lots of good young cricketers and it will be a game that could go either way.” Wanderers’ main men are experienced. Zane Marwick has 654 runs at 65.40, 28 wickets at 10.21 and 15 catches while Damien King has averaged 33.75 and 17.20 with bat and ball. And, even though he’s 47 and these days usually lets others take centre stage, Sporties know what Shayne Bidwell, a man with 10,542 runs and 604 wickets, can do. In B-grade, minor premiers Dongara are home against Towns while CVN host Wanderers at Mazzuchelli Oval.