By DAVID NAGEL
WGCA LOWER GRADES
REVIEW – ROUND (day 2)
BLAZING centuries to Beaconsfield’s Brian Monaghan and Kooweerup’s Stephen Johnson and a magnificent seven wicket haul from Catani G-Grade opener Adam White… it all happened in the WGCA lower grades on Saturday.
B GRADE
KOOWEERUP (1/195) veteran Steve Johnson (104 not out) has continued his successful transition from a senior premiership star to lower grade run machine with a brilliant century against Tooradin (120) on Saturday.
A member of the Demons’ drought breaking premiership team of 2009/10, the affable top-order bat made it three centuries in four seasons, Saturday’s romp adding to his mighty 163 against Pakenham Upper/Toomuc in 2011/12, and to his 108 against Officer at the beginning of the following season.
Johnson and his partner in crime, Brent Wilson (67 not out), flayed the Seagulls’ attack, sharing an unbeaten 180-run stand that kept the Demons wedged firmly in second position.
Merinda Park (5/156) was another team in complete command with the willow, the Cobras retaining top spot on the table with a comfortable hunt down of Upper Beaconsfield (99).
Resuming on 1/45, most of the Cobras got starts, with Karanbir Tiwana (37) the better of the day-two performers. For the second week running it was Paul Matthews (4/53) who played a lone hand for the Maroons, backing up his top score of 32 with a fine 22 over spell.
Devon Meadows (7/311) spared no mercy on Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (139), keeping its finals’ hopes alive with a powerful batting performance against the Goon at Glover Reserve.
After losing their first three games, the Panthers now sit just half a game outside the top four after Luke Howard (95) masterminded a risk-free run chase with eight Panthers making their way into double figures. Openers Jason Brzezowski (45) and Pete Deighton (32) set a solid foundation while Antony Scott (29 not out) made hay while the sun shone late in the day.
Third-placed Beaconsfield (188) has moved two games clear of Gembrook (153) after Mitchell Hayes (4/16) proved the late-afternoon wrecker at Perc Alison Oval.
The Brookers were chugging along OK, at 5/130, before Hayes claimed the wicket of Matt Frosdick (15) and the Tigers were away. Hayes capitalised on the great work of opener Geoff Bliss (2/21 off 10), while Brenden Small (31) and Ryan Scott (28) were just two Brookers who failed to kick on after fast starts.
C GRADE
OFFICER’s (7/231cc) master of destruction has done it again with Daniel Irvine (6/19) cutting a swathe through Tooradin (107) at Starling Road on Saturday.
Irvine has C Grade in his sights this season after taking 6/34 in the 2012/13 F-Grade grand final, and then 6/41 in last season’s E-Grade decider. Both of those magnificent performances led the Bullants to flags and in his current form, well… a third consecutive triumph is on the horizon.
Irvine’s six-wicket haul from the weekend follows on from 3/29 against Lyndhurst Vikings and 4/42 against Merinda Park – stop Irvine and you go a long way towards stopping the Bullants! Craig Spicer (20) and Steve Rendall (20 not out) did best for the Seagulls.
Pakenham (0/144dec and 1/24) has made its way to the top of the ladder after claiming its second outright victory in just three outings after brushing aside an undermanned Cranbourne Meadows (136 and 31) at Toomuc Reserve.
Lions’ skipper Mick McLaren declared overnight, with Jack Melbourne (4/14) and Rod Berry (4/17) wasting no time in rattling through the Rebels for a second time. Steve Insall (12 not out) then steered the home side in the short journey to maximum points.
All Greg Benoit (77 not out) needed was a little help, the Lyndhurst Vikings (154) number four left stranded as his side failed in its chase of Pakenham Upper/Toomuc (234). Benoit had the Vikings best positioned at 3/94, but Ben McLeod (3/17), Ben Jarred (3/36) and Ryan DeReus (2/49) put their stamp on proceedings to give the Yabbies their second win on the trot.
Cardinia (9/209) broke a four-game losing streak after finishing off its fine work from day one against Merinda Park (115) at Rythdale.
Resuming on 0/43, the Bulls were already well on their way to victory, and Brad Remy (61), Daniel Boyle (52) and Jye Remy (23) made sure there were no big surprises along the way. Grant Mills (2/17) toiled best for the Cobras.
D GRADE
ALL four games in D Grade were won by teams defending totals, the very best of those efforts coming from Pakenham Upper/Toomuc (137) who scored an unlikely victory over Officer (113) at Syme Road.
The Yabbies really did apply the brakes on day two, with Jonathon Rewell (2/23 off 19), Rohan Burns (2/23 off 17), Chris Brook (1/17 off 13.3) and Ron Milnes (2/17) all combining ruthless efficiency with a dangerous edge.
Merinda Park (6/212) has continued its roller coaster ride this season, sweating bullets before overcoming the challenge of Clyde (202) at Lyndhurst Secondary College.
The Cobras’, who haven’t won or lost two games in a row this season, were staring down the barrel of defeat after Mark Coe (80) and Piere Hazendonk (32) put on an even 100 for the opening stand. But the efforts of Bo Hellmann (4/40) and Dilen Samarakoon (3/27) turned things around for the Cobras, who claimed the upper hand with the Cougars stalling at 7/158. Adrian Buller (22) and Cory Willshire (27) went down swinging but it was the Cobras who held on for a super-important victory.
Catani (218) did as expected; proving the gap between the top and bottom sides is quite vast with a commanding victory over SFX Old Collegians (124) at the College.
An absolute rout looked likely as the X-Men slumped to 5/17 at one stage, before skipper Gary Lock (51) and Matt Swift (37) showed their team mates the way with fighting knocks. It took some real perseverance from Josh Bethune (4/21) and Chris Banbury (2/13) to shift Lock and Swift and book the Blues their place at the top of the table.
Emerald (111) has dropped from second to third on the ladder after the Bombers’ batsmen misfired against Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (234) at Worrell Reserve.
Only Liam Dirckze (31) and Andrew Morris (24), who shared a 52-run stand for the fifth wicket, stood firm, as gentle giant Ash Bailey (4/28 off 22) and Brenton Huyskens (3/50) led the Goon to their second victory of the season.
E GRADE
DANIEL Andrews may have been elected the new Premier of Victoria but its Beaconsfield’s (308) Brian Monaghan (140) who gets our vote as Saturday’s real star after his brilliant century against Lang Lang (195) at Holm Park Road.
Monaghan turned what looked to be an even contest after day one into a one-act affair, playing the anchor role as the Tigers toyed with the visitors’ attack. Wayne Holden (36), James Johnstone (28) and Declan McDermott (24) joined in the fun as the home side kept in touch with the top four. James Weitering (2/75 off 28) was valiant for Lang Lang.
Devon Meadows (9/206) thoroughly deserves its position at the pointy end of the ladder after the Panthers escaped from a huge hole against Kooweerup (198) at Lakeside Oval.
Resuming at 3/32 the Panthers slumped to 5/49, before Matt Davidson (70) and Mark Hosking (39) joined forces for a match-winning 102-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Hosking’s departure still saw the Panthers with some work to do, Davidson taking his side to the brink of victory before skipper Paul Borg (15) iced a delicious looking cake. Koowee skipper Glen Burns (2/39 off 14) gave his all for the Demons.
Officer (9/249cc) has leapfrogged Devon Meadows into top spot after claiming outright victory over Nyora (136 and 8/83).
The Bullants’ first built on their overnight total of 6/121, courtesy of a half century to Greg Henderson (63) and an exciting knock from Tom Carlyle (48), before sending the Maroons in for a second time. David Howarth (25) was brave for the vanquished, but in the end succumbed to the fire power of Jonty Bennie (3/44) and co.
Pakenham (193) has taken its biggest scalp of the season, defeating third-placed Gembrook (176) in a real fight to the line at Gembrook.
The Lions never really tore through the Brookers, who had many starters, with Jackson Hillard (4/44) and Dave Nobels (3/26) having to work hard for their rewards. Nobels claimed the wicket of Josh Newman (62) to turn the contest the Lions’ way.
F GRADE
THINGS are a little tighter at the top in F Grade after Lyndhurst Vikings (227) claimed one of the games of the season against top team Officer (221) at Singleton Reserve.
Victory was never going to come easy for the Vikings, with Lee Wolfe (5/57 off 22.1), Damien Ludowyke (2/45 off 19) and Don Francis (2/64 off 20) having to bowl themselves into the ground to get through. Officer had many contributors with Callum Hughes (51), Rick Marshall (32) and Bradie Gledhill (29) setting up a thrilling finish, while Anthony Hayes (36) almost became a hero. It was fitting that Wolfe claimed the wicket of Hayes to secure the Vikings their victory.
Pakenham’s (8/296cc) huge total proved a bridge too far for Merinda Park (156) at Toomuc Reserve.
The lively pace of Peter Shea (4/38) had the Lions right on top in the early stages before Mandeep Sharma (49) and Russell Jenkin (23) threw their weight behind a Cobras’ revival. New father Dave Selby (2/18) took wickets when they were needed to get his side across the line. Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (9/113) has staggered, after crossing the line against Pakenham Upper/Toomuc (88).
Resuming at 1/60, the Goon passed the Yabbies three down, before Darren Roberts (5/17) gave the Yabbies’ faithful something to cheer about. Daniel Gentile (42) and Seamus Hill (22) were best for the winners.
G GRADE
WOW… 7/33 from 13.2 overs… figures don’t come much better than that and they belong to Catani’s (184) Adam White who put on a stunning display against Lyndhurst Vikings (157) at Catani.
White was quite clearly the difference between the two sides, his seven-wicket haul a far cry from his 0/28 off just two overs against Clyde in D Grade in Round 5. But that nightmare was forgotten as the step down to G Grade gave White the confidence he needed, his spell keeping the Blues in second place on the ladder.
Emerald’s (9/209) lower-order batting strength has saved the day against Merinda Park (185). Matt Livermore (33) had fought hard against Darren Smith (3/43) and Nick Phillips (3/74) but, at 7/121, it looked like the Bombers grip on top spot was weakening.Enter Ryan Appleby (37) and Warrick Marsh (25), whose 72-run stand steered the Bombers to victory.
Clyde (5/329) was never in danger of defeat against Cranbourne Meadows (163) despite the efforts of Ross Hopwood (40), Adrian Savage (30 not out) and Trevor Poole (26). Rhys Cupid (2/6), Joel Driver (2/6), Michael Cloney (2/7), Mick King (2/16) and Roman Maus (2/21) shared the spoils for the Cougars.
