SPORT Hussey draws the Ridges crowd Aust (31) and Suren Ekanayake (31) all played vital knocks and each played some brutal strokes, while crowd drawer Dave Hussey only managed to make 8 before he fell to the groans of the crowd. Huss, as he is called affectionately by the cricketing world, started his innings with a dashing boundary through, before holing to young leftarm spinner Brayden Sharp. In the young spinner’s short career in cricket, this is sure to be his greatest highlight thus far. With 1.5 overs to spare, the Bucks toppled the Bloods. The game was perhaps an entre to what is set to be a mouthwatering main course, with both sides still yet to hit their peak. The champion will have another chance next Wednesday when the Bucks host Lynbrook in a T20 at Park Oval.
By Nick Creely The annual DDCA Twenty20 competition got off to a start on Wednesday 27 October with big hits, spectacular catches, surprising results but some unfortunate weather capping off the first round. Buckley Ridges v Springvale South Buckley Ridges 6-157 (T. Aust 31, S. Ekanayake 31, D. Watson 30, L. Fletcher 30, R. Priyan 2-16, J. Straker 2-44) d Springvale South 8-153 (R. Quirk 81, S. Mullaney 5-22, H. Ali 2-27) Streams of fans flocked to Park Oval to watch former International star David Hussey play for Buckley Ridges, with the champion batsman the headline act of Round 1 action. The current Melbourne Stars captain was just one of many talking points in an electrifying clash between two stellar sides. The Bloods, who have won the last two DDCA T20 titles, were going in as underdogs, something that has worked perfectly to their advantage before. With cars littered across the ground expectant of some fireworks from the T20 pro, the expectations were high in this heavyweight clash. There were stars everywhere but the foray of talent within the Bucks side was something to behold. Featuring not only Hussey, were captain Steven Mullaney and Luke Fletcher, who are both current first-class cricketers. With the Bloods batting first, they posted an ominous 8/153, with gun marquee Ryan Quirk slamming a destructive 81. The innings was brutal with three massive sixes and three fours leaving the lengthy crowd ducking for cover. It was a day to remember for the young star, having been named in the Victorian Metro Under
Buckley Ridges was simply brutal with the bat. 161142
Picture: GARY SISSONS
19 team just hours earlier. Bucks skipper Steven Mullaney bowled an astonishing spell, taking 5-22. Mullaney, 29, is a class above and will be one of the players to watch throughout the entire DDCA season. T20 legend and marquee player Dave Hussey also bowled but was quite expensive, finishing with 0-26 off 3, while Hussain Ali also impressed with 2-27 off his spell. With an imposing total to chase down, the firepower was just too much to handle for the
Bloods. It’s not as if the Bloods aren’t equipped with some great bowlers, it’s just that the Bucks possess one of the most potent batting line-ups ever seen in this competition. Some of the hitting was just too much for the small ground to handle, with one huge six landing in the lake. The ball had to be fished out with long tree branches by a member of the crowd, much to the amusement of both the crowd and players. Daniel Watson (30), Luke Fletcher (30), Troy
Zoom-zoom Zambora shoots well ahead of the pack Zambora Brockie fired the first shot ahead of Friday night’s $50,000 winner-takes-all Shootout with a resounding all-the-way win at Sandown Park on Thursday. After a luckless run in last Saturday’s Topgun, the dual Group One winner was sent to the boxes the $1.40 favourite and didn’t disappoint, jumping straight to the front and winning in 29.40. Zambora Brockie boasts a best time of 29.14 at Sandown Park and trainer Anthony Azzopardi believes there is a lot of improvement to come from his superstar. “I was hoping that he’d race up to the standard he’s been trialling,” said Azzopardi. “He’s clearly run the fastest time of the night and the track wasn’t fast. He’ll be a lot fitter next week.” Billed as the speed championship of Australia, the unique format brings together four of Australia’s fastest chasers as selected by the Sandown Greyhound Racing Club and Greyhound Racing Victoria. To minimise the chances of interference during the race, finalists were drawn at random and connections given the opportunity to choose their box from which they’ll start. Zambora Brockie was the last greyhound drawn but the result didn’t faze Azzopardi. “I think he’s the likely leader - box five isn’t going to worry him,” he said. “In my opinion, Dundee Osprey is the dog to beat but they’re all great dogs and all are capable of winning.” Following the draw, tab.com.au installed Dundee Osprey the $2.50 favourite for the event ahead of Zambora Brockie ($3). Dundee Osprey was the first greyhound drawn for the box draw and trainer Geoff Scott-Smith had no hesitation in selecting box one. Queenslander Outside Pass ($3.50) will jump from box three, while South Australian Worm Burner ($7.50) will exit box seven. Later in the night, Worm Burner closed out his preparations with a dazzling nine length victory at Angle Park, his 33rd win at his home track. The Shootout kicks off the three week Sandown Superdogs carnival on Friday 4 November which culminates in the world’s richest greyhound race, the $600,000 TAB Melbourne Cup, on Friday 18 November.
Other Results Narre North vs Berwick - Washed Out Cranbourne 2-69 (L. Ligt 36*, J. Cleland 23) d Dandenong West 68 (S. Weir 29, M. Chasemore 4-14, C. Kelly 3-16) Narre South 5-110 (L. Sperling 34, B. Humphrey 25, J. Kari 2-19) d St Mary’s 7-106 (R. Peat 29, S. Phillips 2-18) Hallam Kalora-Park v Beaconsfield - Washed Out Mordialloc 2-110 (D. Matarazzo 66*) d Narre Warren 7-109 (J. Russell 25, D. Frencham 2-12, D. Campbell 2-18, M. Newman 2-23) North Dandenong 6-157 (C. Thewlis 34, S. Mehmood 34, A. Kerr 33, A. Kairon 2-21, A. Pereira 2-29) d Springvale 7-131 (S. Silva 42, T. Harsha 29) S. Nicholls 3-5, J. Andersen 2-18) Fountain Gate v Dingley - Washed out
Caldwell takes Eagles’ helm By Nick Creely
Trainer Anthony Azzopardi has his gun sprinter Zambora Brockie finely tuned for Friday night’s $50,000 Shootout at Sandown Park.
The Doveton Eagles Football Club has announced its new senior coach for the 2017 season and appointed Simon Caldwell to the helm. Caldwell, 36, was selected from a strong pool of prospective candidates for the position with his thoughts on the game and approach to coaching standing out as the right fit for the direction of the club and ambitions for future on-field success. The newly appointed coach brings a vast amount of experience to the role, having previously coached Foster in the Alberton Football League, Kilsyth in the Eastern Football League, and most recently coaching Yarra Junction in the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League. Caldwell replaced veteran Corrie Wilson who has stepped down as the coach after just one season in the role. Doveton Eagles president Shane McGrath said Caldwell’s appointment is set to strengthen the club and help propel the side to build upon its third-place finish in 2016. “The idea of getting Simon down with his experience and his thoughts on the game is to, I guess, make us a more professional outfit. “He comes with a great support staff, he’s very well organised and he’s got a lot of structures and stuff he wants to bring to the club which we think will help us moving forward,” McGrath said. Simon has already begun working with the club on some new development for the coming season as the Eagles look to have on-field success in 2017. It is expected at this stage that the position will not involve a playing capacity, but it could remain a possibility. A date for the ‘meet the coach’ will be set by the club in the coming weeks. 37 DANDENONG JOURNAL Monday, 31 October, 2016