IONA battled in A grade but its B-grade and C-grade sides had good wins, Tim Eurell grabbing 10 wickets in the match to set a new club bowling record.
A GRADE
Iona had a disappointing result, losing outright to Longwarry. In the first innings Iona was bowled out for 60 before Longwarry reached 3/162 and declared.
Iona again struggled with the bat and was bowled out for 88, Shaun Taylor and Simon Finger top-scoring with 15 each.
B GRADE
Iona registered its first victory of the season, defeating one of the top sides Longwarry at the weekend.
Iona (135) started the second week brilliantly, dismissing Willis first ball of the day, Longwarry continued to lose wickets regularly and were in some trouble with the score on 4/36 but B.Majcherzak and Glenn Browney were able to get Longwarry back in the game.
P.Beechey offered good support to Browney and they added 43 for the sixth wicket but, when Michael Neilson rattled Beechey’s stumps, the Longwarry tail crumbled. George Lineham and Micahel Neilson were the destroyers and between them took the last five wickets for just 17 runs. Browney was last to go for 40 and Longwarry was bowled out for 121.
Neilson took 4/39 and Lineham 4/26, but it was Gary Kelly’s first-week effort in a side where no one else made double figures that proved the matchwinner.
C GRADE
Iona continued its great form with a comfortable victory after bowling out Buln Buln for 73 Tim Eurell was superb with 5/9 from 13.4 overs.
When Iona batted Nathan Vistarini and Tom McCormack added 61 for the second wicket. Vistarini cracked a quick 50 before Eurell (64) and Jon Martindale (20) combined to put on 73 for the fifth wicket. Iona was eventually bowled out for 170.
Buln Buln batted a second time and J.Tyrell made 72, but Eurell again bowled well, taking 5/31 for the innings and 10/40 for the match, the best figures in the history of the club.