By CHRIS ANDERSON
CRICKETERS across the Yarra Valley woke to the sound of pouring rain, thunder and lightning, and could’ve been forgiven for thinking this day of cricket was done.
This wasn’t to be the case as the rain eased and play started on time.
The unpredictable nature of the weather was offset by the predictable nature of the play as the games in DJ Strachan Shield were clinched by the teams holding all the aces after day one.
Hoddles Creek’s unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt as they were unable to chase Healesville’s total of 8/269.
From the word go, the Wombats were on the back foot as young star Dermott Fry (4/35) clinched two wickets in the first over, then proceeded to put the Hoddles Creek batting line up well and truly on the back foot.
With the assistance of his opening partner Luke Zanatta (2/25) and their slow bowling brigade, Healesville never gave Hoddles Creek a sniff.
Regular wickets saw the innings wrapped up at 138, a massive 131 runs shy of the total.
Simon McLachlan (40) and Will Trotter (27) did their best to put some respectability in to the total late in the piece; however, that was the only thing that could be achieved after their experienced top order collapsed.
Healesville now has the break, and after the comprehensive victory, and a levelling of the win/loss ledger, the Bloods can move on with confidence that they can make a difference this season.
Even though it was the first taste of defeat for the Wombats, the nature of the loss would be disappointing as they need to back up against a red hot Woori Yallock.
Woori Yallock remains the only undefeated team this season as they put on a clinical display over two days against Mount Evelyn.
The Tigers made light work of the Mount Evelyn’s total of 172, as they absorbed the best the Rovers could muster.
Openers Ryan Smith and Mick Dwyer absorbed some good bowling, particularly a fiery opening burst from Damian Cupido, but also managed to tick the score over at a reasonable rate.
With an opening partnership of 103, the pair had put their team in an impregnable position as they were able to dictate the tempo of the innings.
Despite some excellent bowling from young left-arm off-spinner Jed Thompson (2/59), and the wicket of Dwyer, the scoring rate was as such that Ryan Smith, and new partner Luke Smith, could nudge the ball around and cruise to the target.
Two late wickets gave some joy to a Mount Evelyn side that had battled hard, but the day belonged to Smith as he clinched his maiden A Grade century in a masterful display by himself and his team as they passed the target with seven wickets in hand, and 15 overs to spare.
After clinching the title last season, Woori Yallock has done nothing to dispel the fact they are the team to beat this season.
They will look to keep the ball rolling against Hoddles Creek, while a stumbling Mount Evelyn faces a battle of two of the youngest teams in the Valley as they face an equally struggling Seville.
Seville was no match for the experience and skill of Warburton-Millgrove as it was put to the sword on day two.
Chasing the challenging total of 208, this contest was done and dusted early as the Burra’s star opening bowler David Lever (6/40) smashed through the Blues top order, then brother Daniel’s (4/10) off-spin ripped through the tail to see the visitors tucked away for 63.
Eyeing off an easy kill and some outright points, the home side asked Seville to bat again, but as is so often the case, the Blues mustered better resistance, and pride, in the second innings to safely navigate the remainder of the day to finish at 2/89.
Blues stalwart Andy Kay (35n.o.) wasn’t going to allow his club to be embarrassed, as his inexperienced teammates supported him in the cause.
Seville will now look to a solid week on the track as they will view next week’s clash against Mount Evelyn as an opportunity to break their run of outs, while Warburton-Millgrove will hope to build on their momentum, and continue to grow their stakes in the premiership race, as they face a Yarra Junction team that could just about throw them anything.
DJ Strachan Shield
Hoddles Creek 138 (S. McLachlan 40, W. Trotter 27, D. Fry 4/35, L. Zanatta 2/25) def by Healesville 8/269 (A. Violi 72, B. Scanlon 59, J. Derix 3/34, N. Lawlor 3/69), Warburton 208 (J. Lewis 63, David Lever 38, Daniel Lever 28, M. Hadlum 4/59) d Seville 63 (David Lever 6/40, Daniel Lever 4/10) and 2/89 (A Kay 35*), Mount Evelyn 172 (D. Cupido 40, J. Fraser 29, C. Witherdin 21, D. Mock 5/46, B. Hayes 3/62) def by Woori Yallock 3/175 (R. Smith 100, L. Smith 26, M. Dwyer 19, J. Thompson 2/59).
RA Finger Trophy
Gruyere 9/515 (L. Aitken 130, A. Waixel 118, J. Carroll 50, J. Oakley 5/108) d Wandin 9/88 (M. Tilney 6/20 incl. hat-trick) and 7/204 (T. Thorne 53, D. Pearson 51, R. Prouse 3/30). Healesville 120 (B. Horner 36, M. Minney 18, M. Pezzimenti 4/16, B. Walsh 3/25) def by Coldstream 2/128 dec. (B. Walsh 63*, M. Kerr 22, G. Waixel 1/9). Warburton-Millgrove 179 (J. Jufferman 46, T. Walker 42, B. Johnson 5/40, M. White 2/38) d Woori Yallock 158 (P. Broussard 46, A. Ferguson 25, T. Appleton 5/36, T. Murphy 2/15). Seville 10/156 (R. Oates 40, L. Corbett 37*, R. Wilson 3/48) d Mount Evelyn 112 (R. Rawson 29, J. Mullins 5/30). Yarra Junction 174 (G. Thompson 45, D. Chaproniere 34, T. Hawkins 25, S. Robinson 5/37, P. Jones 3/45) and 0/2 d Hoddles Creek outright 9/74 (S. Robertson 39, M. Richards 3/16, T. Cook 3/29, R. Boxell 2/12) and 9/101 (M. Jones 34, C. Bell 22, S. Robertson 19, D. Chaproniere 5/25, M. Richards 2/25).
C Grade
Yarra Junction 177 (G. Lebrocq 48*) def by Healesville 7/246 (B. Keeling 96, S. Fawdry 50, J. Lawry 40, J. Dobson 2/42). Yarra Glen d Marysville (forfeit). Launching Place – Bye.
D Grade
Gruyere District 7/159 (S. Lowe 83, D. Hopkinson 27, L. Dunn 4/7, J. Coutt 1/6) def by Mount Evelyn 7/166 (G. Haken 52, M. Darvell 42, B. Young 4/23, S. Lowe 2/24). Coldstream 6/165 (J. Sedgeman 48, J. Pegg 54*, J. Mullans 2/10, J Beri 2/41) d Seville 7/93 (L. McGookin 42, M. Hardy 12*, M. Palma 6/8, D. Taylor 1/8). Healesville 9/114 (S. Dennett 31, J. Kay 30, G. Lusk 2/0, M. Clare 2/14) def by Yarra Glen 8/121 (M. Clare 45, P. Moors 41*, C. Burridge 2/17, S. Darcy 2/18). Wandin 62 (L. Sinnott 19, A Sequeira 3/13, L. Winter-Annette 2/5, L. Eisen 2/11) def by Launching Place 6/68 (C. Voigt 28*, M. Dower 23*, B. Sinnott 2/7, M. Sinnott 2/11). Yarra Junction 146 (L. Long 64, C. Neil 15, S. Sanders 5/17, D. Anderl 3/17) def by Powelltown (J. Cornish 51*, P. Blight 47, E. Clarke 2/30, A. Clarke 1/26).
One Day Grade
Coldstream 58 (B. Kollosche 11, A. Knight 3/4, C. Tanner 2/2) def by Seville 4/71 (S. Hudson 42*, L. Rice 2/18, L. Creedy 1/12, S. Bethel 1/21), Hoddles Creek 131 (J. Lawrence 49*, J. Crew 37, S. Heatherill 3/21, D. Moore 2/7) def Launching Place 77 (R. DeRoy 23, M. Porter 3/18, A. Randall 2/7). Warburton-Millgrove 7/184 (M. Leeds 40*, J. McIntosh 32, M. Clue 2/15, P. Dunne 2/27) d Powelltown 9/177 (G. McRorie 46*, K. Dunne 33, D. Cerveri 2/9, M. Leeds 1/19), Mount Evelyn – Bye.
Under 16s
Mount Evelyn 7/118 (A. Brisbane Flynn 51, L. Thomas 2/11, C. Steele 2/30, L. Sinnott 1/5) def by Wandin-Launching Place 0/121 (B. Taeuber 51*, M. Pezzimenti 50*). Warburton Millgrove 7/190 (N. McDonald 55*, F. Saurine 37, T. Walker 25, Z. Fawdry 2/23, J. Lawry 2/42, J. Simnett 1/8) def by Healesville 8/207 (J. Lawrey 59*, M. Minney 54, J. Dash 29, J. Buller 4/41, M. Newell 2/29). Seville 95 (T. Tronerud 27, L. Thompson 4/5, L. Jones 3/8) drew with Yarra Junction 2/7. Yarra Glen – Bye.
Under 14s
Healesville Red 195 (H. Keeling 42*, M. Hall 40*, T. Darkin 40*, M. Hardy 2/30) d Seville 116 (M. Proctor 24*, L. Kay 23*, H. Phelan 3/21, J. Shub 3/23). Yarra Junction 8/207 (C. Holmes 51*, J. Ketelaar 36, L. Allosey 28, L. O’Dea 23, F. Lever 3/32, A. Boyle 2/13) drew with Healesville 4/69 (J. Gruar 10*, N. Hilderbrand 8*, D. Ward 2/3), Wandin-Launching Place drew with Warburton 9/144 (C. Newell 50, J. Muir 13, D. Hummer 2/12, X. Beattie 2/23), Yarra Glen – Bye.
Under 12A
Healesville White 5/140 (M. Hirst 12, C. Kusnezow 9, H. Flemming 2/11) def Seville 61 (E. Vanbeek 11*, H. Flemming, C. Kusnezow 3/6, J. Drummond 2/5). Marysville 8/109 (P. Birtchnell 40*, E. Oaten 12, R. Wilson 10, R. Wilson 2/12, E. Oaten 1/7) def by Hoddles Creek 5/143 (A. Hall 30*, O. Simpson 30*, G. Vukmann 13, O. Simpson 3/3, B. Weir 2/9). Warburton Millgrove 8/96 (J. Sharp 11*, D. Walker 9*, E. Crowley-Brown 8*, H. Fry 2/6, M. Wallace 1/5, R. Dash 1/8) d Healesville Red 8/92 (L. English 31*, W. Cooney 9, M. Wallace 8, R. Thompson 4/5, B. Humphrey 1/7, E. Crowley-Brown 1/7, P. Wilson 1/7).
Under 12B
Hoddles Creek 5/30 (A. Waldron 7, R. Brendish 2/4, R. Cameron 2/4) and 2/18 (A. Waldron 4*, A. Darkin 2/0) def by Healesville Blue 4/98 dec. (R. Brendish 14*, R. Cameron 7*, L. Payne 2/4, M. Loaring 1/13). Coldstream 8/112 (H. Wheeler 10*, S. Randell 9, E. Smith 7*, B. Kollosche 7, T. Garner 3/10) drew with Yarra Junction 5/60 (R. Fowley 7, N. Powell 2/6). Gruyere 9/79 (L. Rogers 24, R. Vassallo 10, N. Doyle 2/7, F. Lee 1/1, A. Vanhoogenstraten 1/2) def by Mount Evelyn 3/120 (P. Murphy 21*, J. Taylor 19*, B. Jones 14*, L. Rogers 1/10, H. Beers 1/17). Yarra Glen 3/186 def Launching Place 49 (L. Parker 8, G. Parker 6, C. Adamson 2/13, O. Calder 3/2).
Under 10s
Coldstream 2/67 (Jace H 21, Riley H 11, Amelia 11, Emily 1/, Samara 1/) Launching Place 4/49 (Ellen 13, Beau 10, Chantelle 8, Keisha 2/, Jace 2/), Launching Place 7/32 (L Parker 11, S Voce 7) def by Woori Yallock 6/45 (Cooper 16).
