Page 40 Tuesday, 25 February, 2014
| starcommunity.com.au
Sport The pressure’s on By ADEM SARICAOGLU KEALBA Green Gully still has a sniff at snatching top spot on the Luscombe Shield ladder but will need its bowlers to dig deep this weekend against Gladstone Park. The second-placed Cougars currently sit four points behind Pascoe Vale Central in the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association’s top division. But with the ladder leader struggling in its two-day clash with Sydenham Hillside, Kealba will likely claim top spot - with finals set to begin in two weeks’ time - if it can get the win. The hosting Cougars were sent in to bat first in the cool conditions at Green Gully Reserve - a decision that proved a wise one by Gladstone Park captain Matthew Nyhus on Saturday. Two Kealba batsmen, including captain-coach Evan Long (caught for two), had already been sent back to the dressing room before 20 runs were even posted on the scoreboard. Former captain-coach and opening bat Andrew Lambropoulos was left to salvage the innings for most of the day as he helplessly watched four batting partners fall by the wayside. Eventually Lambropoulos fell on his own sword for 46, leaving Kealba stuck on 5/72. That soon became 6/78 and then 7/83, but a last-ditch 32 by tail-ender Jarrod Catania and cameos from Tristan Krizanic
(16) and Danny Viani (12) helped extend the Kealba innings, and just as importantly the final total, which stood at 143 before the final wicket fell in the 60th over. Gladstone Park faced 21 tricky overs in the middle late in the day’s play but handled them with class, managing to post a very handy 1/40 by stumps. Needing another 104 for victory, Gladstone Park will begin day two in the box seat. However, as the Cougars have nothing to lose having already secured at least second spot, Green Gully Reserve and the Gladstone Park order could be in for a fiery 59 overs of play this coming weekend. Meanwhile, Sydenham Hillside will be desperately hoping their crosstown rival can beat fourth-placed Gladstone Park on Saturday. The Storm, just two points outside the top four, is on the verge of an unlikely and season-defining upset against Pascoe Vale Central. Sydenham Hillside needed only 54 overs to dismiss Pascoe Vale Central at home on Saturday before spending the final 26 overs of the day’s play in the middle with the bat. This weekend the Storm resumes its chase at 2/57, needing only another 55 runs to win. To get into the top four, the Storm needs to win and Gladstone Park must lose.
FOOTSCRAY Edgewater remains in second spot on the Victorian Premier Cricket ladder after a 52-run win against the Camberwell Magpies on Saturday. The Bulldogs posted 9/261 in their first innings on the back of a brilliant 95 from Travis Dean. In reply, Camberwell made a strong start to the run chase with Thomas Rickarby digging in at the top of the order. The Magpies looked in control with the score at 1/48 until a Footscray triple strike changed the momentum of the match. Lucas Dredge, Mitchell Winter-Irving and Hamish WinterIrving combined for three quick wickets to have the Magpies in trouble at 4/67. The Camberwell middle order batsmen refused to give up though and set about getting the run chase back on track. Justin Lampard (38), Amrith Eldridge (57) and Jack McNamara (36) kept the scoreboard ticking over. However, with no-one able to go on and make a big score, the
pressure began to mount. With the score at 6/207, the Footscray bowlers produced another passage of brilliance, taking the last four wickets for just two runs to seal the impressive victory. As well as his early strike, Dredge remained a constant headache throughout the Camberwell innings as he stormed to his best bowling performance of the season. Dredge finished with figures of 5/31 to easily be the pick of the bowlers. He was well supported by Hamish Winter-Irving who took 2/40. The result takes Footscray to an equal competition best 14-3 win/loss record for the season. The Bulldogs are just two points behind top of the table St Kilda and have a nine-point buffer over third-placed Geelong. In other Victorian Premier Cricket results, Geelong got the better of Hawthorn Monash University, Ringwood defeated Melbourne, Essendon beat Prahran and Dandenong were too good for Northcote.
�� Star… Connecting people with the local sport they love.
Sports
shorts Eagles crash out SUNSHINE ended its dismal 2013/14 summer in disappointing fashion on Saturday, going down 10-3 on the road to fellow battler Upwey Ferntree Gully in Division One Summer League Baseball. The Eagles were desperate to end the season on a positive note but simply could not get going on Saturday, falling to their 23rd and final loss of the summer. Sunshine, led by returning favourite son Earl Byrne, finished last on the Conference Two table and also collected the unfortunate tag of having Division One’s worst win-loss record at 2-23. In comparison, Conference One cellar dweller Sandringham boasted a much better, but still disappointing 7-16 record with one draw. It is not yet known if Sunshine will be relegated to Division Two as a result, with Baseball Victoria expected to look at the current league structures during the coming off-season. Essendon, Geelong, Melbourne and Blackburn will fight it out for the Division One title. BATTING certainly wasn’t the go at Robert Bruce Reserve on Saturday, where Keilor is hosting Airport West St Christopher’s in the final home-and-away round of the Senior Division in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association. The Blues, who seem destined to finish secondlast this season, only lasted 22.4 overs out in the middle before getting dismissed for just 71. Visiting Airport West then managed to last a bit longer, but they too were dismissed before the day’s play was out, falling for 127 one ball shy of the 41-over mark. Usual suspect Dan Schuppan was the main man and clear standout of the Keilor bowlers, claiming six wickets for just 31 runs in his 15-over spell. Trying to avoid an outright defeat, Keilor will resume its second dig this weekend at 3/37 - 12 overs into the innings. Hans Fernando is currently 26 not out and will join Lachlan Sneddon, who is yet to score, out in the middle this Saturday.
Andrew Lambropoulos top scored with 46 runs for Kealba Green Gully Picture: EMILY LANE on Saturday. 77338
Dogs in box seat By LIAM TWOMEY
Connecting people and communities SUN
Lucas Dredge was the star for Footscray Edgewater on the weekend Picture: DAMIAN VISENTINI with five wickets. 110197
WEST Newport is on track to claim a spot in the final four in the Williamstown and District Cricket Association’s A Turf competition after performing well with both bat and ball away to Gellibrand on Saturday. Gellibrand was sent in to bat and could only last 54.5 overs out in the middle at Digman Reserve, losing its 10th and final wicket for a total of just 141. West Newport faced 22 overs late in the day’s play and despite losing a wicket in that time, is already halfway through its chase. This weekend the visitor will resume at 1/78. Meanwhile in another crucial A Turf game taking place in the WDCA this weekend, St John’s looks to be in the box seat and will likely avoid the wooden spoon after gaining the upper hand over fellow cellar dweller, Williamstown Congs. After posting a declared 9/182 on Saturday, St John’s has Williamstown Congs stuck on 2/16 going into day two. WITH the third race of the Footscray Cycling Club’s four-race FORM700 Series being washed out, the whole series came down to Sunday’s finale held at Altona’s Drake Boulevard in picture-perfect weather. With serious prize money on offer and so many riders still in the hunt, racing was both hotly contested, aggressive and ‘marked’, with riders willing to chase down any attempted breaks. Total Rush rider Dom Dudkiewicz took three from three races in a hat trick that saw him score the maximum points available in A Grade’s race and continue a run of astounding form. Even though he had an unassailable lead, Dudkiewicz knew that it would be a complex race because the minor placings were up for grabs. “A Grade’s race was very aggressive but also very defensive; there were a lot of guys who were in a position to finish well in the series, so it was on,” he said. Dudkiewicz finished ahead of the very consistent Ross Mueller in second and Graham Carlson in third.
Contact Star Sport with sport stories and results on phone 9933 4800, fax 9933 4844 or email: starsport@starnewsgroup.com.au