By Chris Anderson
With just three rounds to play in the Yarra Valley Cricket Association, the finals picture is becoming clearer.
In the competition’s top grade, DJ Strachan Shield, Round 11 action saw the top four positions all-but sealed up, with the race for home semi finals all that is left to settle.
Yarra Junction were the big winners of the round as they surprised reigning champs Woori Yallock on the road.
The Eagles did all the heavy lifting on day one of this contest, bowling out the Tigers for a disappointing 146; then, before the day was out, they were able to knock 50 runs off the total with the loss of only two wickets.
Advantage Yarra Junction.
Day two, however, they almost made a meal of the chase.
Going into day two, it was always going to be a case of whether Woori openers Simon Young and Jackson Wright could make enough significant inroads early, in a quest to trigger an Eagles collapse.
Nightwatchman Nick Bark did his job remaining with Matt Robinson to give the visitors a quick start, but Bark’s wicket with the score on 69 triggered an unexpected collapse.
Young sensed his moment to get his team back into the contest.
He proceeded to bowl out Yarra Junction’s key middle order trio – Quinton Hodgkinson, Cam Spaulding and Troy Hancock – all for ducks, which dramatically changed the direction of this match, leaving Yarra Junction faltering at 6/79.
Standing at the other end of the carnage stood the resolute Matt Robinson, and he continued unperturbed.
With Kevin Bomford his new ally, the pair proceeded to repair the damage.
They didn’t allow their opposition, or the scoreboard, to settle as they ensured that not only would they keep their wickets intact, but the scoreboard would continue to tick towards the winning target.
With Robinson leading the scoring, and notching up an impressive half century under extreme pressure, the innings took another twist.
With the score on 119, the Eagles pair lost their wickets, leaving their tail with some 38 runs to chase with just two wickets in hand.
Pat Ford and Hayden Wilson inched their team to the target, but with Wilson losing his wicket with the score on 130, this game concluded in remarkable fashion.
Ford’s short cameo at the end proved critical as he nursed his partners to the finish line while adding crucial runs himself.
The Eagles eventually reached their goal; and not soon enough as their last wicket fell just four runs past their target.
A nerve-riddled, shaky, yet resilient victory.
Woori Yallock were again best served by Simon Young (5/58) who opened the doors for the home team, while Cal Ferguson’s (2/17) late wickets almost snatched a memorable victory.
Seville made Mount Evelyn earn their victory as their contest lasted the distance.
Mount Evelyn posted an impressive 214 on a painfully slow Seville Reserve on day one; and when they collected two wickets late, this contest looked headed for a foregone conclusion.
To Seville’s credit, their young line-up found some resolve against some consistent bowling from the Mounters.
Although the scoreboard failed to reach any great speeds, the home side ensured they would not rollover with an expected collapse.
In hot conditions, they made their opposition toil hard for their wickets.
Wickets did inevitably come, but they were generally met with a new batsman equally as stubborn as the one before in their quest to see the day out.
With the scoreboard fairly stagnant, the home side never really threatened in their chase of the total, but they did succeed in almost seeing the day out.
Eventually, the Blues were bowled out for 134, 80 runs short of the target, and a solid win to Mount Evelyn which now assume second place on the ladder.
Kane Jones (4/17 off 25 overs), Gareth Fraser (2/17) and Jed Thompson (2/45) shared the spoils for a patient bowling line-up, while Andy Di Pietro (27) added some grit after tea, and Michael Stevenson (26no) ramped up the scoring for Seville late in the day.
Mount Evelyn now prepare for an important home clash against Healesville.
With a bye the following round, this will be their last opportunity to test their skills in a two-day contest before finals, so it becomes all the more important for their finals preparations.
Seville will be encouraged by their fight with both the bat and ball against one of the competition’s leaders, and will view their contest against Yarra Junction as an opportunity to claim a top four scalp before the season is out.
Competition leaders, Warburton-Millgrove, have been quietly going about the business since Christmas, and they were impressively clinical in their disposal of Yarra Glen.
The strength of the Burras, and their point of difference from the other teams, is their long batting line-up; and they delivered in spades on day one posting a big total of 333 which the visitors would always have trouble chasing on day two.
That it proved to be as the home team controlled this contest from ball one, and wrapped up proceedings early.
David Brambilla (16) and Brendan Ricci (41) provided their customary resistance at the top of the order, but they both eventually succumbed to the sustained pressure applied from the Burras bowlers.
In particular David Lever, whose virtually unchanged spell of 19.3 overs netted him impressive figures of 5/54.
In the end, the visitors could only see out 41 overs, with their final total of 121 leaving them a considerable 212 runs short of the target.
Warburton-Millgrove now gear themselves up for a challenging run home to finals, and they will relish the opportunity to confirm themselves as the competition’s best team.
First up is Woori Yallock, and, as the Tigers are the only team to beat them this season, they will be out to rectify this situation.
This game is shaping as a big contest for both teams as a win will not only help in the goal for a home semi final, but it would give the winners a considerable mental advantage this close to finals.
Yarra Glen will appreciate the bye to give their team a break and an opportunity to regroup, refresh and refocus on the last couple of rounds which contain a couple of winnable games.
DJ Strachan Shield
Mount Evelyn 214 (K. Jones 106no, G. Fraser 51, M. Hadlum 6/31, M. Proctor 4/74) d Seville 134 (A. DiPietro 27, M. Stevenson 26no, K. Jones 4/19, G. Fraser 2/17); Warburton-Millgrove 8/333 (S. Humphrey 100, L. Barnard 60, B. Lever 39, T. McKail 38, J. Neale 34, J. King 32no, J. Lusk 3/107) d Yarra Glen 9/121 (David Lever 5/54, B. Ricci 41); Woori Yallock 145 (S. Young 63, A. Rowe 18, N. Bark 4/36, C. Spaulding 2/32) v Yarra Junction 150 (A. Taylor 23, M. Robinson 57, S. Young 5/58, C. Ferguson 2/17, J. Wright 2/38), Healesville v bye
RA Finger Trophy
Gruyere District 7/226 (A. Waixel 67, J. Harding 36, J. Dobson 3/54, L. Painter 2/26) d Wandin 223 (L. Painter 61, M. Kushbhat 56, R. Prouse 7/63, G. Sweetten 1/42); Woori Yallock 180 (P. Broussard 52, S. Morgan 30, M. McConnell 4/34, L. Thomas 3/29) and 1/41 d o/r Launching Place /92 (J. Birnie 22no, J. Bayliss 3/21) and 125 (S. Parker 24no, A. Dunn 4/21); Hoddles Creek 7/455 (S. Simmonds 156, M. Jones 101, R. Jones 3/77) d Seville 9/284 (B. Costigan 97, M. Beri 76, W. Trotter 3/32); Warburton-Millgrove 8/142 (A. Doolan 41, P. Osborne 33no, B. Nightingale 3/44, D. Chaproniere 2/36) d Yarra Junction 136 (T. Gaskett 24no, T. Hawkins 17, F. Devarga 3/12, N. McDonald 2/23).
C Grade
Healesville 165 (Z. Fawdry 33, T. Cavill 32, A. Beath 4/27) d Yarra Glen 98 (L. Crawford 47, J. Peters 11, T. Cavill 5/14); Mount Evelyn 6/166 (J. Williams 61, C. Doyle 27, R. Goodinson 2/29, S. Thompson 2/46) d Powelltown 161 (S. Thompson 45, S. Sanders 31, T. Williams 4/37, R. Shepherd 3/48); Wandin 9/226 (L. Sinnott 51, D. Marshall, B. Sinnott 34, C. Hirst 2/23, G. Forster 2/38, L. Kay 2/40) d Seville 9/87 (M. Sinnott 5/44, M. Oakley 2/19).
D Grade
Hoddles Creek 4/247 (S. Robertson 80, B. Cole 60, A. Randall 41) d Seville 89 (R. Culwick 49); Wandin 8/282 (D. Trembath 105, D. Wallis 48, J. Van Raay 2/61, J. Butler 2/33, H. Lane 2/56) d Mount Evelyn 172 (J. Van Raay 46, C. Robertson 35, E. Alderman 4/19, D. Trembath 3/27); Yarra Junction 3/93 (J. Bennett 47, L. Thompson 18, R. Turner 14, G. Ferguson 2/39) d Launching Place 81 (D. Moore 16no, G. Lebrocq 3/10, T. Reed 2/12, E. Clark 2/22)
One Day Grade
Marysville 292 (R. Hodgins 66no, J. Darkin 62, S. Hill 48, D. Hopkinson 2/24, H. Beers 2/42) d Gruyere 45 (T. Goldstraw 4/5, N. Darkin 2/4); Powelltown 9/199 (B. Green 58, M. Clue 39, W. Gribbrock 3/12, B. Alcorn 3/24) d Warburton-Millgrove 8/119 (B. Humphrey 40no, J. Sharp 24, T. Kelly 2/17, M. Clue 2/9); Coldstream 7/150 (A. Cummins 40no, R. Smith 28, V. Wheeler 26, S. Gebert 2/12) d Healesville 4/136 (S. Gebert 40no, B. Louw 40no, R. Smith 2/12, G. Moore 1/10).
Under 16s
Warburton-Millgrove 8/123 (N. Andueza 51no, C. Newell 20, B. Westaway 3/11, J. Coutts 2/27) v Mt Evelyn 1/20, Healesville 8/94 (H. Keeling 25, Z. Fawdry 22no, B. Eacott 19) v Yarra Junction 0/13, Wandin/Coldstream v bye
Under 14s
Seville 2/98 (C. Frankovic 33no, L. Kay 16) v Yarra Glen 6/53 a.o (H. Fleming 2/1, R. Foster 1/7), Mount Evelyn 8/48 (L. Shepherd 32, J. Lee 4, D. Finch 4, M. Sinnot 2/7, R. Thomas 2/13, M. Bradley 2/12) v Launching Place 1/55 (M. Sinnot 30no, X. Beattie 9, T. Ungerboeck 1/9); Warburton-Millgrove v Hoddles Creek-Yarra Junction (game to be played Friday/Saturday this coming weekend); Healesville v Gruyere (no scores)
Under 12A
Coldstream v Hoddles Creek (no scores); Warburton-Millgrove v Healesville (no scores); Seville v bye
Under 12B
Yarra Glen 6/112 (B. Davey 15no, A. VanPutten 11, T. Darvall 2/6) v Mt Evelyn; Launching Place 5/139 (L. Parker 27no, D. Carvill 16no, M. Thompson 2/3) v Marysville; Healesville 7/157 (R. Cameron 33no, J. Handasyde 27no, R. Bomford 2/2, K. Tilney 2/4) v Yarra Junction-Gruyere
Under 10s
Hoddles Creek 2/64 (Vinnie 11, Max 10, Oliver 1/7, Perry 1/7, Farcy 1/8) v Warburton-Millgrove 3/101 (Kobe 21, Zane 17, Josh 1/7, Kobe 1/3)
