By Ian Ferguson
IT was no joy for the WGCA Warriors losing all its games in the regional country week tournament last week.
After going down in the first hitout against Combined Gippsland, as reported in last week’s Gazette, the Warriors played solidly in its other three games.
GAME TWO
West Gippsland failed by 15 runs and three wickets to match it with the accomplished Bairnsdale team at Traralgon South on Tuesday.
Disastrous runouts to captain Luke Sibley and his Beaconsfield teammate Don Kerslake provided a nightmare start to the Warriors’ innings and the situation became even more grim when opener Mark Cooper fell for 18 and Trevor Johnstone for a duck.
Brad Miles then went to a brilliant catch at midon before cavalier batting from firstday hero Luke Turner restored West Gippsland’s hopes.
Five fours were included in Turner’s quickfire 24 as West Gippsland’s middle and lower order batsmen began to resurrect the team’s poor start.
Matt Davey scored a robust 16 and sensible batting from Jason Dodd and Scott Pitcher enabled the WGCA to scramble to the total of 140 before being dismissed in the 45th over.
Dodd coped well with a minor leg injury to score a handy 23 not out.
After lunch Bairnsdale appeared to be coasting to victory when it reached 91 before losing a wicket, but the determined West Gippsland bowlers kept battling on in the hot conditions until wickets suddenly started to tumble.
Bairnsdale slumped to 6/130 and lost another wicket before it finally eclipsed West Gippsland’s score in its 53rd over of batting.
Devon Meadows skipper Travis Canavan was the star performer capturing 4/15 from seven overs and he received good support from Catani opening bowler Lionel Sexton (2/21 off ten overs) and Upper Beaconsfield spinner Scott Pitcher (1/34 from ten overs).
Don Kerslake also snared a wicket late in the day and 16yearold Beaconsfield player Jack Benbow accepted two excellent catches during his stint as a substitute fieldsman.
GAME THREE
West Gippsland scored 8/184 from its allotted 50 overs against Leongatha, a side it has had some titanic struggles with in past years.
It was a solid team batting performance by the WGCA, but no player went on to a matchwinning innings.
Matt Davey top scored with 29, Colin Tucker, Don Kerslake and Trevor Johnstone also scored in the 20s and captain Luke Sibley reached 17.
Leongatha sneaked home by four runs after totalling 188.
Davey bowled with commanding accuracy to take 1/13 from ten frugal overs, Scott Pitcher gained 2/43 from his ten overs, while Lionel Sexton and Ryan O’Connor also claimed two victims.
GAME FOUR
West Gippsland performed well in the field to remove the Provincial level team Murray Valley for 197 in 48 overs.
Mark Cooper snared 3/33 from ten overs, Ryan O’Connor captured 3/38 from eight overs, Brendan McGrath and Jason Dodd each collected a wicket and there were two runouts.
These dismissals resulted from accurate direct hits from Cooper and Travis Canavan.
Cooper also performed admirably with the bat, scoring 35, while Colin Tucker (34) and Luke Sibley (26) also added useful runs.
At the end of 52 overs, the WGCA totalled 9/165 which was a useful performance against strong opposition.
A detailed analysis of the 2007 team’s performance at this regional carnival will appear in next week’s Gazette sport.
