Play has been hosted over the last two Fridays against Finley, with Finley winning the toss and electing to bat first.
The young Cats got off to a good start before Logan Leiper broke through for the first wicket, with the score on 28.
The batsman progressed the score to 46 before Lochie struck with wickets on the next three balls to claim a hat-trick and have the visitors at 4/46.
The hat-trick ball was judged to be LBW, and as plumb as they come, and the raised finger started the celebrations.
The score moved to 52 and Lochie struck again, his ball delivered straight to Leiper who took the catch.
Finley moved the score to 79 before Lochie then clean bowled the next two batsmen. He was looking at another hat-trick, but the third batter survived.
But another wicket for Lochie soon followed, and Jake Herberte cleaned up the tail to have the visitors all out for 88.
Lochie’s 7/27 was off just 7.5 overs. Herberte had 2/6 off his seven overs and Leiper took 1/12 off five overs.
With a enough time still left on the first day, the Rhinos went out to face the first nine overs.
Lochie was unable to continue his heroics with the bat, the first out (7) with the score on 12.
Harry McIlwain (0) was trapped LBW with the score on 18.
Herberte joined Noah Bradley at the crease. With Noah not available for the second week, he started teeing off on the bowlers to finish not out (24) at the end of the day’s play with the score on 2/36
The following Friday, Cooper King joined Herberte at the crease and was bowled first ball of the day.
Enter Bobby Hall who smashed his first ball for four. His second ball was short and he pulled it for six, to the cheering of his team mates. Hall was later bowled for (13).
With the score now 4/50 and Deni still requiring 39 runs to win, Miller Fitzpatrick was bowled for one and the Rhinos were now 5/53.
Logan Leiper was next in and joined Herberte at the crease. The two steadied the ship with some good hitting and good running between the wickets.
Herberte (15) fell just five runs short of the 89 required to win, the pair combing for a partnership of 31 runs.
Will McCartney and Leiper then combined to hit the winning runs.
With overs still left to play, the remaining batsmen built the score to 118.
A reverse sweep shot from Leiper for four was a highlight of day two.
Sam Crossley finished on nine not out with some very good striking of the ball.
The win allowed the young Rhinos to leap frog Finley and finish the home and away season in second spot, and securing a home final.
Deni will again meet Finley in the finals, with day one tonight and day two next Friday.
Play is at 5pm at Memorial Park. Spectators welcome.
