Marygoons show their might

Carlisle Park opening batsman Lesley Howell plays the ball to cover during the Vikings' tough loss to the Marygoons. Picture: ROB CAREW 174922_01

By Nick Creely

WGCA DISTRICT AND SUB-DISTRICT REVIEW

DISTRICT DIVISION
ROUND 5 (DAY TWO)
Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll’s stirring start to the season continued on Saturday, with the Marygoons crushing Carlisle Park on day two of their clash.
The Marygoons compiled a competitive 169 last week and had the Vikings 2/11 at the beginning of the day’s play, and after the early wickets of Jesse Fitzgerald (8) and George Augustine (8) left them 4/24, couldn’t recover despite a terrific 31 not out to Travis Canavan.
Opening bowling duo Dean Henwood (5/17) and Ken McLeod (4/30) broke the Vikings apart, who were eventually dismissed for a lowly 81.
The Vikings eventually avoided outright, playing out the day to finish on 2/38 in their second dig.
But it caps off a stunning first five rounds for the Marygoons, who have gone from winless the previous two seasons to sitting comfortably inside the top four with a 3-2 record.
Down at Glover Reserve, Devon Meadows predictably knocked off Tooradin after a record breaking day one, winning by a whopping 292 runs.
After Brad Miles whacked an astonishing 260 to guide the Panthers to 8/441 on day one, the Gulls started brightly with skipper Kane Latham (35) and Mitch Halstead (27) putting on 57 runs for the first wicket.
David Freeman (23) and Michael Ralph (47 not out) also played strong hands at the top to have the Gulls at 3/110 at one point and staying competitive, before the class of Matt Hutchinson (3/40), Jamie Cape (2/26) and Lucas Carroll (3/31) eventually took care of the middle to lower order to dismiss them for just 149, a collapse of 7/39.
The undefeated Panthers batted out the rest of the 15 overs of the day, reaching 0/67.
Officer, meanwhile, found some much needed form with a terrific, hard fought victory over Cranbourne Meadows down at Lawson Poole Reserve.
In reply to the Rebels’ first innings total of 188, the Bullants returned to the crease at 1/8 and needing to bat well to claim the points.
The early scalp of Ash Smith (11) – skittled by Mitch Cowell (2/47) – made the score a difficult 2/22.
Billy Carlyle (32) stood tall to provide the spark, with Peter Quinn (45), James Parnall (49) and Anthony Galley (41) all digging deep to help the Bullants pass the total six wickets down.
The Bullants eventually finished the day on 8/214.
In the remaining match of the round, Clyde knocked off Pakenham Upper/Toomuc at Heatherbrae Reserve.
The Yabbies resumed at 2/50 – in pursuits of the Cougars’ 160 – and didn’t last long, skittled for just 105 after a collapse of 8/55.
Harry Singh (3/26) and Roshan Bandara (3/14) starred with the ball after being challenged early in the Yabbies’ innings.
Round 6 will see some more fascinating contests, with a blockbuster between Cranbourne Meadows and Devon Meadows an early top two clash. Clyde will face off with the in-form Nar Nar GoonMaryknoll, Carlisle Park hosts Officer in a crucial match, while bottom placed sides Pakenham Upper/Toomuc and Tooradin will have a point to prove in their clash.

DISTRICT LADDER

TEAM P W L D Pts %
Devon Meadows 5 5 0 0 60 2.70
Cranbourne Meadows 5 3 2 0 36 1.32
Carlisle Park Vikings 5 3 2 0 36 1.00
NNG/Maryknoll 5 3 2 0 36 0.90
Clyde 5 3 2 0 36 0.75
Officer 5 2 3 0 24 1.01
Tooradin 5 1 4 0 12 0.66
Pakenham Upper Toomuc 5 0 5 0 0 0.62

 

SUB-DISTRICT DIVISION
ROUND 5 (DAY TWO)
Aura Vale is creeping closer to breaking into the top four for the first time this season, after a second consecutive dominant victory, this time against Tooradin at Rutter Park.
After the Lakers rolled the Gulls for 117 on day one, the visitors resumed play at 1/103 after 27 overs, with opening batsman Nathan Phillips unbeaten on 74.
Just 21 overs later, Phillips (201 not out) made an epic double century – a knock that included 30 fours and two sixes – to guide the Lakers to 3/274 off 48.3 overs, 157 runs ahead.
Although the Lakers pushed hard for a crucial outright victory, the Gulls finished on 3/104 in their second dig, with Shane Somers (53 not out) crashing his second fifty of the match.
But nonetheless, it’s a massive win for the Lakers, who are beginning to emerge as genuine finals fancies after finishing last in their debut season in the WGCA in 2016/17.
For more on Phillips’ brilliant knock, turn to page 51.
Down at Lakeside Oval, Lang Lang brilliantly chased down Nyora’s day one total of 223, in a terrific team effort.
Despite the early loss of key opening batsman Jess Grima (0), Ross Douglas (63) and Aaron Creasey (64) compiled a fluent 107 run partnership to steer the Swamp Tigers into a match winning position.
Daniel Esler (48) and Shaun Donnerly (28) kept the scoreboard ticking along nicely to help guide the visitors to victory, before a late cameo by Sam Cole (60 not out) rubber stamped an impressive day of cricket by the Swamp Tigers, who finished on 7/288.
Brent Potter (2/43) was the pick of the bowlers and charged in all day for the Maroons, in what was a tough day in the field for the home side.
Pakenham, meanwhile, comfortably defeated Gembrook down at Toomuc Reserve to consolidate their spot in the top four.
After claiming first innings points on day one after surpassing the Brookers’ total of 103, the Lions were eventually bowled out for 208 after a terrific 56 by Stephen Insall.
Brookers skipper Geordie Scott – after claiming 4/43 with the ball – then made 104 not out, as his side avoided an outright loss to finish the second innings 4/156.
In the remaining match of the round, Tyler Molloy (5/26) inspired Catani (9/246) to a comfortable victory over Cardinia (156) on day two, with the Cats remaining undefeated after five rounds.

SUB-DISTRICT LADDER

TEAM P W L D Pts %
Catani 5 5 0 0 60 1.82
Lang Lang 5 4 1 0 56 1.99
Pakenham 5 3 2 0 36 0.81
Cardinia 5 3 2 0 36 0.78
Aura Vale 5 2 3 0 32 1.17
Gembrook 5 2 3 0 24 1.24
Nyora 5 1 4 0 12 0.63
Tooradin 5 0 5 0 0 0.48