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By Nick Creely Springvale South beared its teeth and smashed Buckley Ridges at Carroll Reserve over the weekend, earning itself a vital week off and a grand final position. The Bloods were merciless from ball one on Saturday on a deck that has been tailored made for spin bowling, and they certainly came to the fore in a clash of the powerhouse clubs of the association. With 11 wickets falling and only 113 runs falling on day one, runs were like gold nuggets. After the Bucks batted first, just 12 runs were scored off the first hour as openers Daniel Watson and Jayson Hobbs put the feelers out, but something was always going to break as soon as spinning duo Malinga Bandara and Jarryd Straker (1/37) got in their stride and allowed the deck to do the talking. And break it did, in the form of the former Sri Lankan test leggie, who is having a stunning second half of the Turf 1 season. Bandara went berserk, spinning the ball a mile to claim astonishing figures of 7/29 off 27 overs, as the Bucks struggled to pick his varieties and keep the scoreboard ticking over. Off the back of Watson (34); who once again looked comfortable; the Bucks scratched their way to 106 in 84 overs, giving the Bloods a tricky six overs to handle. Jurgen Andersen found the late spark on day one for the Bucks, breaking through the defense of Liam Hamilton to see the Bloods 1/7 at stumps. Watson struck early in the day too, removing youngster Mitch Forsyth (4) to bring the score to 2/27, but the class of Nathan King (56) and a gritty effort by Jack Sketcher (32 not out) allowed the Bloods to move to 92, before offie Matt Goodwright picked up King. Steven Spoljaric fell surprisingly for nought only balls later, but it didn't matter, as Sketch-
Nathan King helped guide the Bloods to victory with a superb 56. 178365 Picture: ROB CAREW er and Bandara (8 not out) guided the Bloods home to victory, in dominant fashion. Buckley Ridges have another chance, and will face off with reigning premiers Mordialloc in a preliminary final on Saturday/Sunday at Park Oval, in what will be an absolute belter of a clash. Down at Ben Kavanagh Reserve, It was a case of perfect timing for Mordialloc opener Brendan Morris to notch up not only his maiden century, but his first score above fifty at Turf 1 level. The young opener has an abundance of talent, and brought his very best to the table in the Bloodhounds' crunch semi-final win against Hallam Kalora Park on Saturday and Sunday.
After winning the toss and batting, Jordan Hammond (1/66) had his tail up in a hostile opening spell, and after star opener Ian Daniel was dropped at slip in the opening moments, Hammond got the danger man only balls later after a terrific delivery caught the edge which was beautifully sharked by Ben Hillard low down at first slip. Young gun Jakob Woinarski (22) and Morris helped steer the ship superbly, with the pair adding 57 runs to shield the middle order. Eventually Leigh Booth (1/9) ended Woinarski's 82 ball resistance, but as the pitch flattened and the ball softened, the runs began to flow. Elegant keeper batsman Damith Mapa Ralage (95) and Morris carved the Hawks around the ground as the pair built a mammoth total around their 152 run partnership. Morris eventually reached what was a match turning century; full of crisp drives, brutal stroke play, all weaved together with impenetrable defense. Unluckily for Morris, he was run out for 108 and Mapa Ralage fell agonizingly close to a century after falling in the latter stages of the day, but the Bloodhounds posted what was a commanding 9/308 after declaring with two overs to spare. Will Whyte (4/67) was a bright spark with his bowling on a tough day in the field for the Hawks. Despite the best efforts of skipper Steve Gilmour (91); who fought tooth and nail for the Hawks in his best knock in the DDCA, the Bloodhounds had control of the contest as soon as they walked on the field on day two, removing the visitors for 210 in 77 overs after at one stage being 6/62. In Turf 2, Narre South and Narre North booked itself a grand final showdown, after defeating St Brigid's/St Louis and Parkmore Pirates respectively.
The big four are ready to rumble By Russell Bennett WGCA PREMIER DIVISION PREVIEW - SEMI FINALS KOOWEERUP v CARDINIA Kooweerup Recreation Reserve 1st (11 wins, 3 losses) v 4th (6 wins, 7 losses, 1 draw) Previously in 2017/18: Round 4: Cardinia 84 and 94 defeated outright by Kooweerup 1/99 and 6/80 Round 11 (one-day): Kooweerup (8/166) defeated Cardinia (165) Demons to watch: Mark Cooper (472 runs at 59, 22 wickets at 15.5) and Jess Mathers (325 runs at 40.6, 45 wickets at 10.3) Bulls to watch: Dwayne Doig (36 wickets at 19) and Kallan Braid-Ball (29 wickets at 19.9) TOORADIN v PAKENHAM Rutter Park, Tooradin 2nd (11 wins, 1 loss, 2 draws) v 3rd (10 wins, 2 losses, 2 draws) Previously in 2017/18: Round 4: Pakenham (265) defeated by Tooradin (7/313) Round 11 (one-day): Tooradin (200) defeated by Pakenham (218) Seagulls to watch: Tom Hussey (627 runs at 57) and Russell Lehman (468 runs at 58.5, 24 wickets at 16) Lions to watch: Dom Paynter (170 runs at 28.3, 26 wickets at 11.5) and Zac Chaplin (444 runs at 55.5) It’s amazing how the more things change, the more they stay the same. Despite how much has changed around the WGCA since the 2016/17 season, one thing has remained constant - the four powerhouses in Premier remain Kooweerup, Tooradin, Cardinia, and Pakenham. And once again they’ll feature in the semifinal stage of the top tier of the association. The similarities are uncanny. These are the same semi-final match-ups as last season, with the only difference that Tooradin is hosting Pakenham at Rutter Park. These two match-ups both took place this cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
Ben Parrott and Brad Reiner will both have crucial roles to play in Cardinia’s top order against the finals-hardened Kooweerup this weekend. 178048 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS season in Round 4 (two-day) and Round 11 (one-day). These clashes will feature many of the same protagonists as the stay attractions, but each side has its own breakthrough act of 2017/18. Pakenham’s Zac Chaplin has long been one of the most promising young talents rising through the ranks of the WGCA, but this season he’s established himself as one of the best batsmen in the Premier division in his own right. A dominant driver of the ball, he’s scored 444 runs so far at better than 55. Those numbers speak for themselves, and Tooradin’s bowlers will need to be seriously on their game against him. Kallan Braid-Ball, meanwhile, has taken on plenty of the bowling responsibility at Cardinia in the absence of star former all-rounder Neil Barfuss. With 29 wickets to his name at an average of better than 20, he’s not afraid to bowl long spells - in fact, he relishes it, particularly to the Premier tier’s best batsmen. And then there are the likes of Tom Hussey and Russell Lehman at Tooradin, Dom Paynter and Tom Tyrrell at Pakenham, Mark Cooper and Jess Mathers at Kooweerup, and Dwayne Doig and Alex Nooy at Cardinia. They will all have vital roles to play this weekend, just as they did this time last year. Cardinia will head into its clash against famous long-time rivals Kooweerup with confidence, with two victories over the Demons already this season. But those were in the Twenty20 Kookaburra Cup.
The Demons have had the wood over the Bulls for years now, and that needs to change and change fast - for Nooy’s men to advance to the 2017/18 decider. Every year they seem to match up in the biggest games, and for an extended period now it’s been the Demons who’ve come out on top. “This is one of the most enjoyable seasons I’ve played - it’s like playing with your best mates, so we need to just continue our momentum (this week),” Nooy said. “We’ll go about our own business, but we have so much respect for Koowee and the way they’re led. “We’ve got four or five different guys than we’ve had against them over the past couple of years, and being such a new group I won’t bring up the past. “We’ve taken this year head-on and there are a number of guys under my age, under 23. “I’ll just be telling the boys to treat this like any other home and away game. “If we can expose one end early in their innings, that’ll be handy but we’ve got 11 guys with a role to play and they’re all different.” The boys from Tooradin will also enter their clash with the Lions with plenty of confidence under the belt. A stellar performance with the bat back in Round 4 is sure to serve as a real reminder of just what they’re capable of. But they need to keep the foot down if they grab the momentum. “I think we always match up pretty well with them,” said Seagulls co-captain Cal O’Hare. “Obviously both sides have got a number of guys who play a role with both bat and ball so we’ve both got a lot of depth. I think it’ll be a close game as it always is, and hopefully we can get across the line this time as opposed to last year when they just got us. “The main thing that took the game away from us last year was Dom and Rob’s (Elston) partnership - that’s what cost us the game. “We’re not necessarily looking to change anything, but they’ll be two big wickets again.” For the Bulls and Gulls, the hope is that with a new finals series comes a new change, and a way past the champion Demons and Lions.
VIC PREMIER CRICKET ROUND 17 (DAY ONE) Dandenong v Geelong 8/312 (B.McDonald 85, M.Reid 63, J.Nanopoulos 4/62); Camberwell Magpies 2/80 v Casey-South Melbourne 165 (C.Benedek 44, W.Walker 5/39); Essendon 205 (A.Smillie 3/37) v Carlton 1/64; Fitzroy Doncaster 248 (P.Dickson 43*) v Kingston Hawthorn; Footscray 1/55 v Melbourne 192 (M.Buchanan 33, J.Sheppard 3/53); Northcote 264 (M.Phelan 117, S.Seymour 2/26) v Prahran 0/12; Monash Tigers 4/99 (W.Agar 3/31) v Melbourne University 141 (L.Scammell 39*, D.Matarazzo 4/25, M.Berryman 3/7); Ringwood 2/138 (P.Jefimenko 38, N.Walsh 32*, J.Freeman 29*) v Greenvale Kangaroos 141 (M.Topp 6/34); St Kilda 3/343 (R.Quiney 142*, D.Egan 73*, J.Manning 68) v Frankston Peninsula DDCA - TURF 1 SEMI FINALS Mordialloc 9/308 (dec) (B.Morris 108, D.Mapa Ralalage 95, W.Whyte 4/67) def Hallam Kalora Park 210 (S.Gilmour 91, C.Athukorala 5/57); Springvale South 4/107 (N.King 56) def Buckley Ridges 106 (M.Bandara 7/29) TURF 2 Parkmore Pirates 97 (R.Hendy 4/18, J.Zietsman 4/38) and 85 (N.Pulham 6/28, J.Zietsman 2/12) def by Narre North 141 (M.Brooks 65, A.Athulathmudali 3/15, N.Kumar 3/29) and 1/45; Narre South 182 (J.Thomas 44, V.Deshpande 4/51, L.Harris 2/5) and 0/68 (A.Mortaza 41*) def St Brigid's/St Louis 68 (S.Phillips 5/27, T.Phillips 3/26) WGCA - PREMIER ROUND 14 (DAY TWO) Clyde 7/147 (J.Simpson 43*, T.Rolfs 3/39) def Emerald 143 (M.Daley 52, N.Sadler 4/33, S.White 3/26); Upper Beaconsfield 130 (W.Haines 59*, T.Tyrrell 3/44) and 6/59 (T.Tyrrell 5/27) def by Pakenham 188 (S.Gramc 42, H.Sharlassian 3/44); Tooradin 239 (J.Lownds 102*, R.Lehman 42, B.Spicer 4/58, J.Mathers 4/62) def Kooweerup 122 (D.Sutton 3/24, B.Lownds 3/31); Merinda Park 262 (D.McCalman 156, K.Braid-Ball 6/81) def by Cardinia 8/280 (B.Parrott 64, B.Reiner 62, T.Wheller 52, M.Thomas 2/23) DISTRICT Officer 9/257 (L.Porter 58, J.Parnall 50, J.Bandara 6/38) def Clyde 9/277 (D.Walton 106*, S.Russell 58, J.Parnall 3/36, L.Porter 3/38); Devon Meadows 508 (K.Salerno 245, S.Clark 100, D.O'Brien 93) def Pakenham Upper Toomuc 122 (L.Plozza 50, A.Adams 4/46, L.Carroll 3/16); Carlisle Park 7/325 (J.Hameeteman 127*, D.Nutting 62, M.Henry 54) def Cranbourne Meadows 173 (A.Uppal 72, H.Straughair 4/35); NNG/Maryknoll 8/225 (H.Webb 70, M.Dodman 58, S.Hayes 55, S.Somers 3/49) def Tooradin 150 (D.Henwood 6/52) VSDCA - SOUTH/EAST ROUND 13 Elsternwick 167 (B.Erasmus 64, B.Nethersole 5/32) def by Malvern 9/195 (L.Walker 75*, R.Pathirana 51, L.Baker 3/5); Ormond 2/116 (G.Chessari 34) def Endeavour Hills 111 (R.Bird 3/16, J.Wild 3/22, J.Bartholomeusz 2/9); Bayswater 5/216 (B.Osbourne 61, T.Nightingale 51, S.Sandhu 2/28) def Box Hill 194 (P.Gloury 51, B.Allan 5/37, A.Adamson 3/40); Caulfield 6/248 (G.Rummans 115, S.Anthony 60) def Moorabbin 102 (D.Denny 3/10, A.Bodycoat 2/4); Croydon 2/133 (A.Fenton 67*) def Mt Waverley 131 (M.Sheedy 40, R.Paterson 4/19, T.McQuinn 4/26); Noble Park 106 (J.Taylor 5/40, A.Jones 2/19) def by Oakleigh 8/191 (S.Townsend 48, M.Fernando 4/33); Balwyn 7/120 (S.Duckworth 34*, D.McKenzie 4/14) def Brighton 110 (S.Duckworth 3/11, A.Young 2/19, D.Gallagner 2/21) MPCA - PROVINCIAL ROUND 13 (DAY TWO) Crib Point 149 (S.Wilson 41, C.King 6/38) def by Sorrento 9/236 (J.Falck 49, R.Wilson 48, G.Barclay 5/76); Langwarrin 135 (T.Campbell 51, Y.Maddege 4/41) and 3/58 (M.Prosser 28*, D.Brittain 3/19) def Baxter 102 (T.Campbell 6/38, L.Paterson 4/30); Mornington 174 (M.Heib 48, A.Gailitis 4/58) def by Peninsula OB 232 (D.O'Malley 50, T.La Brooy 47); Mt Eliza 171 (J.Grant 53) def Pearcedale 166 (L.House 5/23)
Narre Warren Junior Football Club PLAYERS WANTED Boys 8 - 15 years Girls 8 - 16 years AUSKICK 5 - 7 years Friday’s 4.45pm - 6pm
Contact Annemarie
0408036344 registrations@nwjfc.com.au Sweeney Reserve Narre Warren Thursday, 8 March, 2018
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Bloods move closer
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