THE teams that gained the higher ground in week one
of the premier grade, DJ Strachan Shield, maintained their advantage and secured victory in magnificent cricketing conditions in the second round.
Woori Yallock had the most difficulty securing its victory.
After rolling through the Hoddles Creek batting line up for 105, the Tigers were wobbling at 3/18 overnight. The wobble became a noticeable shake as the wickets continued to tumble at the start of week two at the hands of Nick Bark (3/26) and David Chesney (3/45). With six wickets back in the shed and still some distance from their desired total for victory, the Tigers were looking for some inspiration.
As anyone in the game knows, when chasing a low total, all you need is a big partnership to break down the opposition, and Woori Yallock found that in the pairing of Greg Selby and Aaron Rowe.
The contrasting nature of the partnership, with the carefree power of Selby (57) well complemented by the dour and resolute defence of Rowe (22), allowed Woori Yallock to secure a tricky victory by three wickets and secure their place in the top three.
Woori Yallock now travels to Seville in a massive clash for its aspirations of going a step or two further than last season while Hoddles Creek is now desperate to turn things around as it hosts Mount Evelyn as victory is now becoming vital for the Wombats to remain in touch of the top four.
Warburton-Millgrove is quickly establishing itself as early season premiership favourites as for the second game in a row, it emphatically disposed of its opponents with ease. After dismissing Healesville for 150, it managed the tricky chase with no skip of a heart beat with the loss of just three wickets. Club stalwart Liam Barnard anchored the chase after the early loss of in-form Ben Lever last week, and his superb unbeaten innings of 62 added another bow to the already growing arsenal as the in-form Burras are threatening. With a batting line-up boasting an all-round balance of attack, defence and experience, and a bowling attack that has new ball brilliance and slow bowling guile, the boys from the end of the road are looking the goods. A match up against the struggling Yarra Junction, with some added spice of the Levers’ defection, gives the Burras plenty of motivation to flex their muscles in this competition. Healesville will enjoy the round off after a torrid start to the season. It will need to use the break to find its mojo, or it will find itself well off the pace come Christmas time.
Seville is quietly going about its business in the quest to add another Strachan Shield to its cabinet. The Blues were slow to get the ball rolling, but they find themselves well entrenched in the top four after squeaking past Yarra Junction. Seville would’ve been disappointed with the total of 163 it posted, but in typical fashion, its bowlers were quick to put that behind them, and even quicker to put the opposition bats to the sword. The Eagles had no answers to pace, control, and skill of Seville pacemen Dean Troyhan (6/32), Matt Tilney (2/25), Matt Hadlum (2/44), and other than some resistance from Captain Quiton Hodgkinson (30), the home side had no answers and were swiftly dismissed for 118.
The young challengers keep lining up for a shot at the title, and Seville will be keen to challenge the boys from Woori Yallock. On the other hand, with its season starting to go off course, Yarra Junction will be keen to straighten its ship against the flying Burras.
DJ Strachan Shield
Seville 163 (S. Rackham 73no, D.Troyhan 27, L. Aitkens 21, M. Hottes 2/0, B. Nightingale 2/21, C. Spaulding 2/40) d Yarra Junction 118 (Q. Hodgkinson 30, M. Hottes 16, D. Troyhan 6/32, M. Tilney 2/25, M. Hadlam 2/44), Woori Yallock 7/125 (G. Selby 57, A. Rowe 22, N. Bark 3/26, D. Chesney 3/45) d Hoddles Creek 105, Warburton Millgrove 3/154 (L. Barnard 62no, Dan Lever 25, C. McGrath 1/12 D. Moore 1/25) d Healesville 150 (A. Hamer 39, B. Mackey 27, Dan Lever 5/34 David Lever 3/30).
RA Finger Trophy
Woori Yallock 8/210 (T. Smith 67, K. Smith 43no, J. Pobke 5/34, Doc Chesney 2/45) d Hoddles Creek 171 (Doc Chesney 48, M. Robinson 34, B. Johnson 4/37, M. White 3/33), Coldstream 211 (B. Walsh 40, S. Phillips 78, B. Jones 4/30, L. Goodman 5/21) d Mount Evelyn 140 (B. Jones 65, C. Doyle 38no, D. Sharp 5/27, D. Olliffe 2/15), Seville 173 (H. Byrne 51, J. McInnes 40no, M. Johnson 38) and 1/115 (M. Dall 51no) d Yarra Junction 100 (A. Doolan 24, E. Buckley 24, R. Prouse 3/16, M. Sandfort 3/21), Warburton-Millgrove vs Healesville 9/313 (M. Jackson 93, W. Maile 61, T. Appleton 4/92, M. Hadj 2/49).
C Grade
Wandin 9/251 (R. Painter 44, L. Painter 41, D. Whelan 3/38) d Yarra Glen 197 (A. Smith 55, M. Clare 44, B. McKenzie 2/16, D. Thorne 2/19), Yarra Junction 92 (N. Dowdell 24, C. Neil 22, L. Roberts 5/9, M. Leeds 2/18, J. Mullins 2/41) and 127 (B. Hawkins 49, S. Perera 33, L. Roberts 4/31, R. Culwick 2/13) d Seville 48 (L. Roberts 22, S. Perera 3/12, N. Dowdell 4/17, G. Lebrocq 2/4) and 0/28, Gruyere 9/154 (A. Blain 57 J. Carroll 22 S. Fawdry 5/29, S. Neilson 1/12) d Healesville 150 (S. Fawdry 66no, J. Lawry 35, A. Waixel 5/42, N. Hodgetts 2/26), Marysville 4/147 (L. Fisher 90no, T. Gleeson 32, M. Young 2/43 L. Jenkins 1/22) d Launching place 141 (R. Derooy 36no, B. Tauber 28, S. Hill 3/21, K. Fiske 3/47).
D Grade
Yarra Glen 153 (D. Taylor 23no, C. Foden 5/35) d Wandin 131 and 6/93 (B. Sinnott 26, G. Foden 26no, D. Taylor 2/9, J. Peters 2/13), Mount Evelyn 163 (D. Westaway 92, M. Darvell 47, A. Cope 4/29, T. Mon-Aphi 2/25) d Launching Place 118 (J. Colling 28, C. Voigt 15, R. Wilson 5/30), Seville 8/286 (A. Spargo 123, R. Pearse 110) d Coldstream 148 (A. Cummins 30, C. Hirst, C. Bakken 3/25).
One Day Grade
Healesville White 9/185 (S. Gamble 41, J. Plunkett 35, D. Kennedy 2/18) d Woori Yallock 102 (M. Anderson 17, S. Maile 3/20), Warburton Millgrove 100 (C. Neale 40, M. Read 17, J. Nelson 14, B. Sinclair 3/5, J. Laurence 2/15, A. Robertson 2/15) d Hoddles Creek 9/48 (P. Andrews 13, S. Robertson 10, F. deVarga 4/21(Including hat-trick), J. Neale 2/9, C. Sinniah 2/12), Silvan 6/79 (C. Maestro 16, T. Bissels 14, C. Ferguson 2/9) d Yarra Junction 78 (C. Fall 39, M. King 2/22), Mount Evelyn 0/95 (Troy Hancock 65no) d Healesville Red 8/83 (M. Churchill 27, Tony Hancock 2/4).
Under 16
Healesville vs Yarra Glen 193 (R. Johns 33, D. Whelan 30no, L. Hellary 3/29, J. Brooks 3/42), Warburton Millgrove 8/208 (M. Arnold 64no, J. Neale 40no, N. McDonald 19, L. Winter-Annette 2/24, M. Wandin 1/13, T. Chalkley 1/20) vs Launching Place, Seville 165 (M. Dall 49, M. Leeds 38, 3/11) vs Coldstream, Mount Evelyn 3/202 (T. Williams 64no, D. Fraser 61, A. Brisbane-Flynn 40no) vs Yarra Junction.
Under 14
Launching Place/Healesville 148 (J. Birnie 41, C. Parker 29, C. Newell 3/16, D. Cerveri 3/22), Yarra Glen 76 (L. Nettlefold 18, A. Nettlefold 14, M. Hall 3/12, Z. Fawdry 2/5) vs Healesville 1/38 (B. Eacot 20, A. Nettlefold 1/2), Yarra Junction 8/27 (J. Proctor 2/0, T. Tronued 1/0, A. Peters 2/3) vs Seville 3/73 (C. Frankovic 24no, L. Kay 17), Wandin/Coldstream 3/128 (L. Sinnott 43no, M. Sinnott 18, S. Van Hoogstraten 2/9 B. Westaway 1/23 ) vs Mount Evelyn.
Under 12A
Hoddles Creek vs Healesville White 8/184 (D. Ebbels 31no, T. Fraser 26no, T. Cooney 14no, C. Hrabe 2/14, M. Milkins 2/23, W. Hayes 1/15), Seville vs Warburton 6/100 (E. Crowley 27, D. Huggins 2/14).
Under 12B
Healesville Blue 9/115 (J. Gruar 46, C. Kusnezow 11, B. James 1/4 T Swan 1/5) vs Mount Evelyn, Yarra Glen 7/144 (J. Fricke 34no, A. Thompson 19no, R. Wilson 2/5, L. Walsey 1/18) vs Marysville, Healesville Red 5/111 (T. Noar 14, W. Bowen 11, C. Zaicz 2/11, C. Paterson 1/9, T. Osborne 1/10, D. Clarke 1/11) vs Yarra Junction.
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