By Nick Creely
WGCA PREMIER
REVIEW – ROUND 9
While Kooweerup had to endure yet more dominance from Pakenham superstar Dale Tormey, the Demons had the last laugh to keep its hold on top of the Premier division ladder in round after the Christmas break.
The two great rivals went to battle in their first game since the Lions’ extraordinary round six triumph over the Demons, but this time Mark Cooper’s side turned the tables and showed even more ruthless intent.
Skipper Rob Elston won the toss and elected to bat, where it was Tormey who once again provided the class, crunching 70 – a knock glittered with his trademark powerful strokeplay – to guide the Lions to a competitive 5/190 off its 40 overs. Ben Maroney also contributed 46 at the top.
Tormey sits with 661 overall runs this season at 82.6 and is within striking distance of his remarkable debut season for the club last year, where he crunched 1051 runs.
For the Demons, Jess Mathers (2/24) did a fine job despite the Lions’ aggressive intent with the bat.
The Demons had very little interest in making the clash a thriller, knocking down the runs in just 36 overs and with eight wickets left in the shed with opener Chris Bright (86) in dominant touch to continue his superb individual campaign.
Tyler Clark (41) and Chris O’Hara (37) were others to strongly contribute with the blade on a golden day for the Demons
Tooradin, meanwhile, kept pace with the Demons with a tricky win against Devon Meadows at Glover Reserve on Sunday as the Panthers celebrated its Family Day.
Batting first, the Panthers had their moments to notch up 156 in 39.4 overs, with Kyle Salerno (41) and Lucas Ligt (28) in the runs in the top-order, but a collectively solid bowling effort, led by Russell Lehman (3/21) provided headaches to set up what seemed a routine chase.
But the Panthers had a spark – largely through Coby Podd (2/35) and Lukas Hoogenboom (1/17) – to leave the Seagulls’ top order shaky at 3/31.
Class, and vital experience then took over, as Lehman (62 not out) and Neil Peake (64) cooly guided the Seagulls to a six-wicket win.
An utterly astonishing performance from Merinda Park skipper Jarrod Armitage, meanwhile, couldn’t quite get the Cobras over the line in a fascinating contest against Cardinia.
The imposing seamer didn’t bring himself on until the fifth change, and by then the Bulls had a strong start and a large total on the cards, sitting 2/115.
But Armitage changed the course of the game in a decisive 3.5 over spell, snaring the frightening figures of 6/9, dismantling the Bulls’ middle order with utter class to roll the home side for just 135.
Skipper Bradey Welsh (45) and Matt Welsh (43) contributed 88 of those runs at the top of the order with no batsmen able to reach double figures after number three.
Despite Armitage then cracking 37 from number four, the Cobras were rolled for just 93 inside 31 overs, with Matt Welsh (3/17) backing up his effort with the bat with a brilliant display with the ball in hand.
In the final clash of the round, Clyde moved 12 points clear inside the top-four with an absolutely vital win against fifth placed Cranbourne Meadows.
The Cougars were brilliant in its win, rolling the Rebels for just 90, with Liam Bennett (4/17) and Brett Reid (4/10) doing the bulk of the damage with the ball.
The home side took just over an hour to find the runs with eight wickets still left in the shed, with Kane Avard remaining unbeaten with a well-made 35.
