Clubs of legend, Bowral and Wingello, do battle again

Two bush clubs famed for producing two of Australia's greatest cricketers are to go head-to-head next weekend in the final of the Highlands District Cricket Association 2002/03 first grade competition in rural New South Wales.

Bowral United, the modern-day equivalent of the town club for which a young Don Bradman initially played his cricket, are to meet Wingello, the village Bill O'Reilly once played for.

Bradman, the greatest Test batsman in history, was known during his playing days as the Boy from Bowral, having grown up in the Southern Highlands capital. And before Shane Warne's rise to fame, many regarded "Tiger" O'Reilly as the best leg-spinner Australia had produced.

Saturday and Sunday's clash at picturesque Bradman Oval - a venue which in recent years has hosted numerous matches involving various international touring sides - will mark the first occasion that their old clubs have met in the Whyte Cup final since the Wingello Tigers reformed in the late 1990s.

United was well beaten by Wingello in their semi-final encounter a fortnight ago, after making just 86 batting first - having also lost to the Tigers in the final of the HDCA's separate one-day competition in December. However, the Bowral side won through to the season finale with a convincing seven-wicket first innings victory over arch rivals Moss Vale at the weekend.