PORT Stephens Pythons senior cricketers are on the finals prowl in the Newcastle District Cricket Gilmour Cup Masters Twenty20 competition.

On the eve of the finals the Pythons are one of eight clubs in contention for a top four spot in a log jam scenario with three points separating leaders Toronto Workers Kookaburras (18), Wallsend (15), Merewether (15), Cardiff-Boolaroo (15), Port Stephens (15) and Newcastle City (15).

The Pythons, who have won five of their seven fixtures to date, square off with Newcastle City in this week’s final preliminary round at King Park.

“We need a big victory over Newcastle to lock down a finals spot,” experienced Pythons skipper Josh Moxey told News Of The Area.

“The competition is delicately poised with several clubs capable of winning this year’s title,” he declared.

Other key final round matches include the Kookaburras v Cardiff-Boolaroo, Merewether v Hamilton-Wickham and Kotara v Wallsend.

The Pythons (8-158) posted their fifth victory of the series last week after restricting Wests to 6-99 from their twenty overs at King Park.

In other fixtures Charlestown (5-113) rolled the HamWicks (6-111), Newcastle City (4-117) toppled Merewether (9-114), Stockton & Northern Districts (8-78) edged out Kotara (8-77), Belmont (3-152) defeated Maryland Fletcher (8-139), Wallsend (0-94) blitzed Redhead (91), Cardiff-Boolaroo (0-148) eclipsed Warners Bay (7-147) while Waratah-Mayfield (5-109) upset the Kookaburras (9-103).

The Pythons squad includes Josh Moxey (captain), Jarrod Moxey, Shawn Davies, Jason Eveleigh, David Freeman, Jarryd Johnson, James Middleton, Darren Thomson, Brent Watson, Leigh Williams, Brock Hawley, Troy Elwes, Jody Murphy, Grant Garland and Craig Hunter.

Meanwhile, the Pythons advanced to the Denis Broad OAM Cup Twenty20 semi finals after defeating Wests at King Park last Sunday.

Jason Eveleigh (2-5), Hawley (2-10), Davies (1-7), Jeremy Rushford (1-11) and Tyran Eveleigh (1-20) shone with the ball to restrict Wests to 7-61 off their 20 overs.

Leigh Williams (31 not out off 21 balls) and Josh Moxey (30 not out) steered the Pythons to victory in the ninth over.

By Chris KARAS