Old Peninsula come out on top, Alp knock helps Somerville to big win, Dromana too good for Carrum By Brodie Cowburn
MPCA WOMENS
A BRILLIANT century from Kylie Walters helped Langwarrin seal a big win on Sunday. Walters has been excellent for Langwarrin this season, with a knock of 104 against Rye last weekend her best. She had scored half centuries in her previous two innings, and now has a century to her name as reward for her efforts. Walters’ 104, paired with an excellent knock of 74 from opener Kiah Laughlin-Glen, contributed to Langwarrin’s big total of 247 from 30 overs. Rye finished their 30 overs at 7/128, more than 100 runs short of what was needed to win. Balnarring scored an impressive win on Sunday, besting Pines by eight wickets. Tootgarook had a bye.
PROVINCIAL
OLD Peninsula emerged victorious from a top of the table clash against Baden Powell last weekend. Old Peninsula chose to bat first and put together a good innings. Most of their batters made handy contributions, helping Old Peninsula reach a final total of 204. Justin Grant top scored for Old Peninsula with 40. Baden Powell’s run chase got off to a good start, but faltered when both openers were dismissed in run outs. Baden Powell kept touch with their target throughout the day. At 6/187 they looked in a good position, but time worked against them. Baden Powell’s innings ended up expiring with the side 13 runs short of a result. They lost three wickets in quick succession to close out their innings as they chased the win. Outside of Baden Powell and Old Peninsula, Langwarrin is also in the mix to finish on top of the Provincial division. They defeated Baxter by three wickets on Saturday to stay in contention. A half century from Rashmika Opatha helped Mt Eliza score a narrow one wicket win over Red Hill on Saturday.
Dog Day: Mornington were too good for Rosebud in Peninsula 2nds. Mornington set a target of 205, but Rosebud only managed to get to 150 in their 40 overs. Picture: Alan Dillon
Mt Eliza chased down 154 to win. Sorrento rounded out the winner’s list by bowling out Long Island for 120, successfully defending their total of 145.
PENINSULA
A HUGE knock from Brenton Alp proved the difference in a high scoring clash between Somerville and Seaford Tigers on Saturday. Belvedere Reserve hosted the two sides. The Tigers were sent in to bat first and put together an excellent innings. Seaford Tigers set Somerville a target of 226 to win. Aaron Mountney top scored with 78. Somerville proved more than up to the task. They lost just one wicket during their run chase, and ended up reaching their target with nine wickets and six overs to spare.
Alp’s score of 113 was the big difference between the two teams. He smashed 15 fours during his electric innings. In other matchups, Pines scored a seven wicket win over Flinders, Heatherhill got the better of Moorooduc, and Mornington got a hardfought win over Rosebud.
DISTRICT
DROMANA kept hold of their spot on top of the ladder with a win over Carrum on Saturday. Carrum started off on the right foot, with openers Matthew Boland and Mark Cooper combining for a 101 run partnership. After their wickets fell Carrum collapsed. The last nine wickets of Carrum’s innings fell for just 32 runs. They finished all out for 171. Jye Voelkl tore through Carrum’s
tail. He posted final figures of 5/37. Dromana chased down their target with five wickets and a little under four overs to spare. They are clear on top of the District division by one win. A big score from Gordon Waterfall was one of the deciding factors in Carrum Downs’ big win over Crib Point. Waterfall scored 94 to help his side to a 71 run win. Around the grounds Hastings hosted and defeated Delacombe Park, and Main Ridge got the points against Frankston YCW at Ditterich Reserve.
SUB DISTRICT
TYABB, Tootgarook, Seaford, and Skye all sit level on top of the table with eight wins each after the conclusion of another round of Sub District division cricket. Tyabb are top of the table by percentage only. They kept hold of that
spot by comfortably defeating Skye last weekend. Malith Chathuranga’s unbeaten score of 86 was the highlight of the day, as Tyabb defeated Skye by 67 runs. Tootgarook let top spot slip when they lost to Pearcedale in a close contest. Tootgarook batted first and put 188 runs on the board. Opener Travis French top scored with 85. Pearcedale proved up for the task of chasing down the target. It ended up coming down to the final over, but Pearcedale managed to hit the winning runs with three deliveries left to spare. Seaford also fell to defeat on Saturday, falling short against Boneo. Mt Martha and Ballam Park rounded out the winner’s list with victories over Balnarring and Rye respectively.
Tassie venture pays off for Nichols HORSE RACING
By Ben Triandafillou SHANE Nichols’ two-year-old filly Blonde Venture clung on to dead-heat in Sunday’s Magic Millions Tasmania 2YO Classic at Launceston. Despite running unplaced on debut at Pakenham earlier this month, Mornington-based trainer Shane Nichols took the chance with the Capitalist filly and shipped the youngster down south to target the $75,000 juvenile race. Handling the journey with flying colours, Blonde Venture scooted clear in the straight and looked to have the win in her sights before a late dive by the Adam Trinder-trained Jaguar Stone made things interesting. Turning to the photo finish, the final result was declared as a dead-heat. Shane Nichols, who has had success with his young fillies heading to Tassie in the past, was thrilled with the way Blonde Venture handled the trip. “It’s a big trip for them. She went over Thurs-
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Frankston Times
22 February 2022
day on the boat with eight others. You can’t send anyone with them as you can’t have anyone down in the hull after they close the doors. The horses are just down there on their own,” Nichols said. “To go there and handle it really well as she did was great to see. She ate and drank really well and duly won.” Nichols said he was more relieved than anything to cling on for a win, albeit as a dead-heat. “She probably had the race won easily and just with the lack of race experience, she just pricked her ears and started to pull up,” Nichols said. “She thought the job was done.” “It was a relief not to get rolled but it would have been nice to have the win on her own but she’s a nice filly. She’ll get better – there’s more improvement left in her.” Blonde Venture is due to arrive back at Nichols’ stables on Monday night and may even be headed for another road trip to the $200,000 Adelaide Magic Millions in a couple weeks’ time.
Nail biter: Shane Nichols’ Blonde Venture (maroon sleeves) dead heats with Jaguar Stone in the Magic Millions Tasmania 2YO Classic. Picture: Supplied