FRANKSTON TIMES scoreboard
Blues on their own SUB-DISTRICT
By IT Gully HASTINGS sits alone at the top of the MPCA Sub District ladder after smashing Carrum Downs on Saturday. The Blues took 20 wickets for just 164 runs against the Cougars, giving them a 14 point break at the top of the ladder. It was one of Carrum Downs’ worst results in recent times while Hastings appears to be flexing its muscles after a couple of years in lean times. In other round five results, Dromana won a nail biter against Tootgarook,
Carrum was too strong for Balnarring, Ballam Park upset Frankston YCW and Skye recorded a rare win against the up and down Tyabb. The match of the round was no doubt between Dromana and Tootgarook. The Frogs set the visitors 187 for victory after being bowled out in week one in the 78th over for 186. After a wobbly beginning and a middle order collapse, Dromana’s Zac Clan and Craig Dunlop put on a 38-run partnership for the ninth wicket to get their team across the line. The Hoppers looked to be in some strife at 6/90, however, Jedd Savage
(61) was able to offer some resistance. It was then left to Clan and Dunlop to knuckle down and get the runs required to grab the all-important 12 points. AJ King was the front line bowler for Tootgarook with 4/37 from 28 overs, including 14 maidens. Matty Whelan jagged 2/59 from 17 overs. The scoreboard will show that Ballam Park recorded a solid 25 run win against Frankston YCW, however, the scoreboard isn’t always the best indicator. The Knights had just two batsmen score double figures on Saturday, Stuart Plunkett scoring 54 and Jay Yates, bat-
ting at nine, hitting 46. It was enough to record a win. At one stage the Knights were in a world of pain at 5/33, then lost 2/1 to be 7/62. The Stonecats, who batted again and were 0/90 at the end of play, shared the wickets. Lai Leaunoa was the pick of them with 3/48 from 29 overs, the evergreen Andy Kitson snared 3/45 from 25 overs and Jack Butland helped himself to 3/32 from 13 overs. Hastings added just a further 40 runs to its overnight score and lost six wickets, however, it was enough for an out-
right win over Carrum Downs. The Blues responded with 197 in reply to the Cougars first innings total of 62. Hastings then bowled the visitors out a second time for 102. Isuru Dias was outstanding for the Blues in the second innings, claiming 6/27 from 11 overs. Balnarring was bowled out for 189, chasing Carrum’s 256 and Skye bounced back from being 1/15 overnight to score 7/198 to get the win after Tyabb scored 156. Andrew Craddock was superb for the winners with 70.
Imports galore as Langy goes all out for title SOCCER
By Craig MacKenzie LANGWARRIN’S assault on the 2017 State 1 South-East championship will be powered by a raft of visa players. The Lawton Park outfit will throw down the gauntlet to local clubs Mornington and Casey Comets and cashed up Greek-backed opponents Malvern City, Clifton Hill, South Springvale and Caulfield United Cobras by backing the quality of its imports to take the league by storm. Central defender and former Macclesfield Town youth team captain Kieron Kenny has agreed terms with Langy and should arrive within a fortnight. Kenny, 23, is currently on the books of Congleton Town in the Hallmark Security League, which is the former North West Counties League in England. Kenny is a friend of Langy defender Andy McIntyre and looms as an ideal replacement for 2016 Langwarrin captain Alex van Heerwarden who quit the club recently and joined nearby rival Casey Comets in a move that caused ructions at Lawton Park. “I want players that want to play for Langy and any players that leave the club I’m confident that we can replace them with better players,” said Langwarrin senior coach Gus Macleod. The canny Glaswegian will be at the helm for a record 19th straight season having joined Langy near the end of last century, a remarkable feat in a sport renowned for brief coaching tenures.
Classy capture: Alex Metcalfe
Connor’s coming: Connor Belger
Top target: Kieron Kenny
There was a buzz about the club on Thursday when pre-season training started and Macleod is looking forward to seeing his new signings in Langy colours. Kenny has played in the Swedish Second Division with Gaellivare Malmberget and figured prominently in a 2-2 draw with AFC Liverpool in September. The significance of that league clash is that two more Langy imports featured for AFC Liverpool, 23-year-olds Connor Belger and Paul Speed and they are due to arrive in Australia with their partners in midJanuary. Belger and Speed are former teammates at Formby and have been recommended by ex-Langy marquee player and former England youth international Kevin Townson. Belger is a midfielder while Speed can play in midfield or up front. Towering central midfielder Mat Luak, 25, is another Langy capture
and was prominent in Thursday’s training game. The 194cm Sudanese powerhouse from Morwell Pegasus has silky skills and is a former Altona Magic star who also has played college football in the US. Macleod has been in charge of the Scotland team in this year’s All Nations’ Cup, an annual tournament held at Egan Lee Reserve in Knoxfield, and he’s snapped up two more visa players in Scotsman Aaran Currie and Englishman Alex Metcalfe. Currie is a teenage winger who has been involved with Hearts, Hibs, Livingston, Hutchison Vale and Preston Athletic and joined Moreland City in Victoria’s NPL 2 for the back half of last season while 22-year-old Metcalfe is a left-sided player who has had stints with Hull City, Scarborough Athletic, Harrowgate Town and Ossett Albion. Former Brighton and Hove Albion and Pagham defender or midfielder
Alfie Bunker, who has been playing with Doncaster Rovers in Melbourne, quicksilver forward Nasser Mohammad from Casey Comets and teenage Kenyan midfielder Sulieman Ahmad Mahfudh from Hampton Park United also are on Langy’s radar. “We’ve been stable for the last few years so now’s the time to give the supporters and the whole club something to cheer about,” said Macleod. “I’ve won championships with every club I’ve been with so I know what it takes. “It’s about getting the balance right and just remember we’ve got a lot of younger players who now have first team experience, guys like Solly, Brandon, Kurt, CK and Dylan. “We’re going to give this title a good shot. Last season we competed with the top six but bringing in more quality players means it’s time we started beating these types of teams. “I’d like nothing better than to be
With stunning views over Port Phillip Bay & surrounds our beautiful new Function & Event Centre offers the perfect venue for your upcoming celebration. We offer cocktail menus, 2&3 course menus and more, coupled with superb wines and outstanding service. Book in today for your Christmas function! Great new menus available. č V>ÌiÀ } LÞ ÕÀ vwV > V>ÌiÀiÀÃ – Wise Choice. Open now for all bookings 2016/2017 & beyond so call us now on 0466 673 524 to discuss your requirements. Functions by the Bay, Cnr Plowman Place & Young St, Frankston 3199
PAGE 36
Frankston Times 5 December 2016
Sudoku and crossword solutions
in my 20th year here with the club in the NPL.” Entrance to Victoria’s elite National Premier League setup is the carrot being dangled in the faces of State 1 clubs in 2017 and this has sparked a signing frenzy. However, one player unlikely to return to Lawton Park is Warragul United captain Thomas Ahmadzai. One of the gun central midfielders in the competition, Ahmadzai has been courted by both Langy and Mornington among others but is likely to remain with Warragul. If Macleod can retain Robbie Acs, James Foster, McIntyre, Nick Thorogood, Boris Ovcin, Johnny Guthrie, Grant Lane, Sam Scott, Caleb Nicholes and Nabil Mozaffaruddin he may have assembled the strongest squad in the club’s history. Koray Suat and Chris Driver have retired while Anthony Selemidis is believed to be pursuing business interests. Langy’s war chest has benefitted from increased sponsorship from former player Greg Kilner, the principal of Premier Builders’ Group, and another former player in Craig Hosie, managing director of civil construction company LOJAC, who recently joined Premier as a main sponsor. Macleod’s support staff again includes assistants Neil Collyer and Robert Mathieson with Robert Mathieson senior as team manager. Tanya Wallace has stepped down after two successful years as club president, a role once more in the capable hands of John Heskins.