BERWICK turfone’s season ended an agonising nine runs short of a grandfinal appearance when it lost the semifinal to Springvale South at the weekend.
The showdown between last season’s premiers Berwick and their opponents in last year’s grand final attracted a large crowd.
It was a tough game of four innings with Springvale South 127 and 159 defeating Berwick 90 and 9/187.
Springvale South won the toss and elected to bat and Simon Cornell took two quick wickets in his first spell and Will Carr one to make it 3/13.
Cornell struck again thanks to a catch from Ryan Crawford, the Bears at 4/22.
Ash Henry struck in his first over with a brilliant caughtandbowled to put Berwick well and truly in the driver’s seat.
Another four wickets fell with relative ease, two to Alex Roberts (2/13), one to Henry (2/53) and another to Carr (2/33) as the Bears were in command at 9/69.
However, the Bloods’ tailenders fought out a crucial lastwicket partnership of 58.
Cornell (417) took his fourth wicket and Springvale South was all out for 127.
Berwick went into bat and Gavin Wills was the only batsman to hold off the bowlers.
Dave Hampton contributed 16, but no other Berwick batsman was able to break into double figures.
Wills was removed for 35 in trying conditions, leaving Carr and Brendan Lloyd notout at play’s end with Berwick 41 runs in arrears.
On day two, Carr was caught off a skied ball after adding four.
A massive 89 overs remaining gave Berwick some prospect of reversing the result and they nearly pulled it off.
Berwick’s bowlers wrestled their way back into the game.
Cornell was again outstanding taking 2/21 off 11 and Carr (2/20 off 14).
Roberts took a vital toporder wicket, but it was Jarrod Goodes and Ash Henry who swung the momentum Berwick’s way.
Goodes struck immediately, a wicket with his second ball thanks to a catch from Steve Carr. When he also removed Danny Law for 51 the game was back within Berwick’s grasp.
Henry bowled a sensational spell of 3/70.
However, the Bloods reached 159, an overall lead of 198 with 29 overs remaining.
Alex Roberts got the Bears off with 12 off nine balls and Dave Hampton 34.
The introduction of Goodes and Rowan Nancarrow as pinch hitters didn’t come off for the Bears, but continued to surge along at the required rate.
Henry once again helped Berwick out of a compromising spot with and hardhitting 75 off just 60 balls.
Berwick needed 22 off the last two overs, however when Henry was removed in the last over, all hope was gone, the Bears falling painfully short and left to lament a chance gone begging.
C GRADE
Berwick went into its grandfinal clash with a full head of steam after a brilliant finish to the season and continued it with an excellent team performance that started with rolling their opponents Hallam for 104 in the first innings.
Dean Holden took the first three wickets, thanks to great catches from teammates.
Nick Shannon took three of the next four to fall, finishing his 12 overs with 3/22 and Wayne Viney took two as Hallam was bundled out.
Holden ended with 4/38 to put Berwick in control.
The Bears started their run chase shakily losing two quick wickets, but Matt O’Donoghue steadied the ship with 44.
Geoff Wilcock and Andy Peters both disappointingly went out in the teens, as did Tim Renwick, but Berwick managed to move onto 100 before the loss of the seventh wicket.
The experienced pair of Will Chapman and Viney were at the crease when the winning runs were knocked up just before the close of play on the first day.
However, there was plenty of cricket left and with Berwick posting a lead of just 24, the game was set up for a fourinnings result.
The Hallam batsmen came out all guns blazing having 100 on the board inside 16 overs.
They continued on for a further 11 overs with their number four in pursuit of a grandfinal century, a delay that could have cost them the game.
Wayne Viney toiled hard with a further two wickets to his name and Holden, Shannon and Simon Craig each claimed one.
Hallam declared with a lead of 171 with 50 overs remaining.
Andy Young made a gamesaving 50 and Will Chapman added 46 to eat up some valuable time for the Bears.
When he was out, the score was 5/102, but when two more quick wickets fell, the shakes went through the Berwick camp and Hallam got a sniff.
Thankfully Viney and Holden once again put their hands up to hang on for the Bears, a muchdeserved premiership cup their reward.
UNDER 13 (3)
The only other Berwick team remaining in the grandfinal playoff did itself proud with a narrow 28run loss against Hampton Park.
The bowlers starred with Nathan Smith taking three wickets and Ryan Williamson and Lachlan McCeagh both taking two to have Hampton Park all out for 142.
On day two, Berwick looked in control at 5/94 with Ryan Williamson and Nathan Smith backing up their efforts with the ball with 25 and 19 respectively.
Tanner Stanton retired and returned to be run out for 34, the last wicket bringing an end to a great season from this promising bunch of Bears.
CLUB NOTES
A reminder to all players, family and friends of the junior presentation night this Friday at the club social rooms.
The senior event will be held on Saturday, 14 April at Melaleuca Lodge.
