GARFIELD A-grade division-two skipper James Brown has sent a strong message that Garfield is determined to claim back its place in the top flight.
Brown scored an outstanding century that led his side to victory over Iona.
Garfield lost Joel Ferguson early for 24 and Brown’s patient batting held the innings together as Will Grbic tore through the Garfield top order and bagged 5/48 off 28 overs.
Alistair Bliss and Peter Harper didn’t put many runs on the board but supported Brown for an extended period to ensure Garfield surpassed their opponents’ score.
Brad Warner scored a quick 31 but the day was all the skipper’s. He remained unbeaten on 138, showing the fighting spirit and determination which could well lead Garfield back into the top division at the end of the season. Garfield finished the day 8/268.
In other results Drouin took on Longwarry and went down by just 10 runs and Bunyip pulled off a remarkable victory over Western Park in one of the tightest matches this season.
Drouin’s opening pair of Steve Austen and Brad Aitkin got the side off to a great start and Aitkin took the attack right up to the Longwarry bowlers, belting 67 in the 87-run opening stand.
Austen then took control, scoring 80 and keeping a cool head as wickets fell and batsmen struggled around him. His dismissal at 187 brought Longwarry back into the match.
Mick Caddy did his best to guide Drouin towards victory, scoring a crucial 29, but the middle order failures proved costly and Drouin was bowled out for 239.
Luke Serong played a key role with the ball for Longwarry, bagging 4/28 off 15 overs in a brilliant spell of bowling, Aaron Thomas, who copped plenty of punishment early, bounced back to claim 3/76 and Glenn Pask took 2/45, including the wicket to wrap up the match keeping Longwarry in second place on the table.
A GRADE (1)
Buln Buln’s misery continued this weekend after it was comprehensively beaten by an in-form Drouin.
Corey Jagoe batted for a large part of the innings and top-scored with 59 and opener Jeremy Jagoe was the only other player who managed double figures, scoring a solid 21. Buln Buln was steamrolled for 113.
Blair Weller was the chief destroyer for Drouin, snaring 4/36 off 18 overs in a top spell of fast bowling. His opening partner Daniel Butler also had a successful day, claiming 3/30, Ben Thomson supported the pair well claiming two wickets in a strong performance by the Drouin bowlers.
Yarragon found itself just one point away from the top four after a good win over Western Park, while Ellinbank’s move into the top division looked as though it could be short after it was easily swept aside by Warragul.
Hallora looked to be an imposing force in cruising to victory against Trafalgar.
OTHER GRADES
Highlights of the lower divisions at the weekend included Drouin’s good win over Buln Buln and Longwarry’s domination of Yarragon in B grade division one. There was a thrilling victory to Bunyip over Western Park in B grade division two. Iona’s poor season continued when it was comprehensively crushed by Garfield.
In C grade Longwarry recorded its first win of the season over cellar-dwellers Neerim District, while Iona came close to spoiling what should have been a simple victory over Drouin but scraped home in the end.
