Baden Powell snare upset win to face Sorrento in Provincial Grand Final By Brodie Cowburn
PROVINCIAL
BADEN Powell have locked in a Grand Final spot with an upset win over Old Peninsula. The Old Peninsula Pirates were the team to beat all season, finishing with just one loss on their record after 14 games. Baden Powell secured their finals spot with a fourth place finish. They would have to be at their best to move on to the season decider. Baden Powell chose to bat first. A patient partnership between Craig Entwhistle and Rhys Elmi proved crucial for the batting side. The duo combined for 102 runs. Baden Powell’s middle order wasn't able to provide any further support. At the end of the side’s 40 overs they had 145 runs on the scoreboard. Baden Powell’s bowlers had more work ahead of them to wrap up a shock result. The Pirates’ run chase got off to a shaky start. Opener Dylan O’Malley fell first, losing his wicket for just four runs. It is just his second single-digit score of the year.
Things kept getting worse for the Pirates, as the wickets of key batsmen Thomas La Brooy and Wade Pelzer fell shortly afterwards. A few batsmen went on to make good starts, but none of them went on to make a big score. With just 123 runs on the scoreboard, Old Peninsula lost their last wicket. Rhys Whitling was run out with just under two overs left to play, bringing the club’s season to a close. Baden Powell will face Sorrento in the Provincial Grand Final. Sorrento defeated Langwarrin on Saturday to advance to the final round of finals. Jayde Herrick opened the batting for Langwarrin and proved tricky to deal with. He scored 48 runs, his side’s best effort. Langwarrin set Sorrento a target of 153 to score to win. Opener Jedd Falck’s half-century set Sorrento up well. Their path to victory would prove bumpier than expected though. From 4/145, Sorrento capitulated. They lost their next five wickets for just five runs, giving Langwarrin a chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Sorrento managed to hit the winning runs eventually - a Grand Final place locked up with a thrilling one wicket win.
Jackson Mockett played a big part, posting figures of 2/7 and 3/11 respectively.
PENINSULA
THE stage is set. The District Grand Final will be contested by Rosebud and Delacombe Park. Up against the top-of the-ladder Carrum, Delacombe Park would have to bring their best to advance to the season decider. Carrum chose to bat first but had a frustrating time. Many batsmen made good starts, but all were dismissed before they could reach the 25-run mark. Carrum finished all out for 142. Although less than they would have hoped for, they could still secure a win with a brilliant bowling performance. Although both of their openers fell quickly, a strong middle order performance got the job done for Delacombe Park. They wrapped up the win with three wickets left in hand and one over left to play. A dominant bowling display by Rosebud secured them their place in the Grand Final. Rosebud chose to bat first and
PINES and Long Island will do battle in the Peninsula division Grand Final this weekend. Long Island defeated Flinders to advance to the big dance. Star batsman Nick Jewell has struggled at times this season, but looks to be hitting form at the right time. His 62 not out helped Long Island put together an impressive innings. Flinders would have to chase down 196 to win. First drop batsman Shane Beggs top scored for Flinders, putting 45 runs on the board. It ultimately was not enough. Flinders finished their innings at 9/147, 50 runs short of a win. Pines thumped Somerville by nine wickets in their semi-final matchup. Somerville set Pines a target of 95 to win, which they chased down with ease. Pines bowlers Billy Humphrey and
DISTRICT
scored 130 runs. Opener Lyle House top scored with 53. Dromana had no response to Rosebud. They were bowled out for just 75 runs. Michael Clavin was the pick of the bowlers. His 4/24 proved vital for his side.
SUB DISTRICT
TYABB will contest the Sub District Grand Final this weekend after scoring a dominant win over Mt Martha. Mt Martha chose to bat first in the semi-final clash. Their innings didn’t go to plan, as they were bowled out for just 93. Tyabb capitalised on their opponent’s struggles. They wrapped up the win with eight wickets to spare and ten overs left to play. Tyabb will face Carrum Downs in the competition decider. Carrum Downs defeated Balnarring by five wickets in their semi-final clash on Saturday. James Quamby was the winning side’s top scorer with a 50-run knock.
McArdle’s juveniles light up the track HORSE RACING
On fire: John McArdle-trained La Rocque wins the Group Three TBV Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. Picture: Supplied
Be seen everywhere. PAGE 18
Frankston Times
9 March 2021
By Ben Triandafillou JOHN McArdle brought up his second two-year-old Stakes winner over consecutive Saturday’s as La Rocque shot clear to comprehensively win the $160,000 Group Three TBV Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Flemington. Ridden by Jamie Mott, La Rocque sat up on the speed before pulling away from her opposition in the final 100m to win by 1.5-lengths over the Anthony and Sam Freedmantrained Flying Evelyn. The victory kept the Kuroshio-sired filly’s unbeaten record intact having won twice from as many starts. Her stablemate Tycoon Humma scored an impressive victory in the Listed Very Special Kids Plate (1000m) seven days earlier. Despite her early brilliance, Mornington-based trainer John McArdle said there’s still plenty of improvement to come with La Rocuqe who is owned and bred by his wife Bernadette McArdle. “[La Rocque] just doesn’t know what she’s doing yet. She’s a very green horse, she rolled around a bit today. She’s actually an even better horse ridden behind them,” John
McArdle said post-race. McArdle hinted at spelling La Rocque with her stablemate Tycoon Humma with the early three-yearold Spring races on the agenda. He said it was a tough call comparing the two fillies on ability. “It’s a good problem to have. [La Rocque] has beaten her in a trial but in their work at home there’s not much between them,” he said. Jockey Jamie Mott was thrilled to be heading into the Spring with two talented fillies on the up. “I’ve always had a big opinion of this filly and she’s obviously been to the races twice now for two wins so she hasn’t put a foot wrong but she’s still got a few little things to iron out,” he said. “I can’t wait until we get into a better race and there’s genuine speed and she can sit off them because most of her trackwork we do sit her off and she’s quite electric so when she gets a raceday scenario like that you’ll see the best of her. Obviously, we had the filly win last week so two really nice fillies going forward.”