DROUIN’S David Sharpe scored his second century for the season in an easy win over Ellinbank in top grade at the weekend.
A GRADE (1)
Ellinbank batted first, managing 7/154. The opening combination of Michael Masterson and Brad Glover added 58 runs for the first wicket before a collapse of 3/0.
John Reid battled hard for 23, while Rick Gray punched a handy 24.
Ryan Radford finished with 2/20, Clinton Proctor 2/26 and Dale Weller 2/30.
Drouin then took up the chase and was untroubled. Sharpe cracked a stunning 100 and Weller an impressive 80 at the top of the order, the pair adding 190 for the first wicket and sealing victory comfortably.
Toby Wallace (2/30) was the only bowler to make an impact and Drouin finished 2/229.
Warragul all but secured a place in the top four with a convincing win over Yarragon.
Warragul batted first and set a good total of 9/213 from its 40 overs. Opener Kale Watkins played a superb knock of 66. The Yarragon attack lacked its usual potency.
Yarragon’s top order of Nick Mazza (20) and Doug Kelly (24) and number three Brad Wright (31) took the total to 116. John Allsop scored 28 in the middle order but Warragul held off the spirited challenge, bowling Yarragon out for 173. Matt Corstorphin (4/29) went through the lower order.
Hallora’s McMahon brothers dominated proceedings against Buln Buln.
Buln Buln batted first and Jeremy Jagoe (40) and Brenton Lewien (61) added 109 for the first wicket. But the innings then fell apart and Buln Buln finished 8/155.
Three excellent run outs were the highlights in a good tight bowling and fielding performance by Hallora.
Tim McMahon then played a sparkling innings of 111 not out, including 15 boundaries.
James McMahon wasted little time on his way to 51 and Hallora finished 4/237.
Trafalgar (157) went down to Western Park (4/212).
For Trafalgar Neville Dyt scored 54, but Brett Thompson ripped through the rest of the order to bag 5/41 before Matt Wakefield led the way to victory with 64.
A GRADE (2)
Garfield continued its stunning form with a comprehensive victory over Western Park.
Garfield batted first and scored 8/220 off their 40 overs. Bernie Marson (76) was in cracking form and Paul Tribe (57) steadied the innings.
Rod Breeden (3/46) and Scott Jeffery (3/22) did well.
Garfield’s bowlers then got stuck into the Western Park batting and bowled the Parkers out for 135. Marson (3/18) and Joel Ferguson (3/29) caused plenty of problems with the new ball.
Longwarry defeated Iona and maintained its grip on top spot.
Iona batted first and was bowled all out for just 100 in the 24th over. Craig Byrnes scored 43.
Luke Serong, Scott Madden and Ashley Smith each took three wickets.
Jason Lieshout (32) and Dale Serong (37) each made valuable contributions at the top of the order and young gun Luke Serong completed a 50. Longwarry finished 9/197.
Luke Ferguson snared 3/34 and Shaun Taylor 3/44.
Drouin (6/208) moved into third position after a strong victory over Jindivick, Brett Wilson scoring an unbeaten 83.
Then Mark Jackson kept the pressure on Jindivick throughout, claiming 6/28. Jindivick was bowled out for 100.
An undermanned Bunyip kept its finals chances alive by beating Neerim District.
Bunyip batted first and was bowled all out for 147. Michael Ross was in superb form and topscored with 52. Bruce Freeman snared 3/34.
But Neerim District struggled in the chase and was bowled out for 124. Ian McConnell did most damage for Bunyip with 3/11.
B GRADE (1)
Drouin moved to second position after an excellent victory over Ellinbank.
Drouin batted first and finished 4/232 from their 40 overs. Jason Voumard (80) and Steve Nottage (75) added 164 for the opening stand.
Ellinbank slumped quickly to 2/8 and was bowled out for 159. Youngster Simon Gardiner proved a handful for Ellinbank, bagging 4/42.
Trafalgar’s charge towards the finals continued with a defeat of Longwarry.
Longwarry posted 182 from its 40 overs, Glenn Browney topscoring with 54 not out and A. Bertuola on debut scored 41.
Murray Jones 3/33 and Mark Wynne 3/28 continued their great form with the ball for Trafalgar; Wynne in particular was impressive claiming three of the top four batsmen.
The run chase started poorly for Trafalgar at 4/39 before Cohan Lee (54) led the way to victory.
Warragul was victor over Yarragon after posting 166. Warragul’s batsmen all managed starts but only Steve Ward (46) went on. C. Blackberry bagged 4/43.
Yarragon started its chase well but after a middleorder collapse was left struggling at 6/78.
Glenn Walker (51 not out) did his best, but Yarragon was bowled out for 138 in the final over.
Hallora maintained top position with a strong win over Buln Buln.
Hallora batted first and, thanks to lusty late hitting, managed 8/238.
Opener Derek Warwick (60) batted superbly and Andrew Riddell (42) and Daniel Pratt (48) made short work of the bowlers late in the innings, adding a quick stand of 71 for the seventh wicket.
John Rowe (60) guided Buln Buln past the hundred mark, but the remaining batsmen weren’t up to the task and the Lyrebirds were bowled out for 152. Matthew Woolley (4/23) picked up late wickets.
B GRADE (2)
Longwarry has proved far too strong for Iona completing an overwhelming victory over its opponents.
Longwarry batted first and smashed the Iona bowlers to finish with 5/312.
Ben Unstead belted a quick 98 off just 14 overs, rattling Iona’s attack. Fellow opener Matt Heeps contributed a solid 42, Ken Towt a dashing 45 and Stu McDonald (52).
Iona was bowled out in the 33rd over for 145. Oscar Braaksma made 46.
Warragul slipped to an unexpected defeat by Jindivick.
Jindivick batted first and scored 188. B. Beechey cracked 59 not out in the lower order to help the total along.
Then Warragul’s batting stumbled to 83 all out, only three bats reaching double figures.
Jindivick skipper Rod Mikkelsen snared 4/25 and J. Stoddart 3/10.
Neerim District made short work of Bunyip for a muchneeded victory.
Neerim batted first and scored 5/199. Mick Fusinato (53) was in superb touch and led the charge to 1/102 before remaining batsmen made handy contributions.
Bunyip’s run chase was disastrous after Dave Ward (4/7) ripped through the top order and Bunyip was bowled out for 58.
C GRADE
Hallora cemented top spot by knocking over the struggling Iona.
Hallora batted first and set 185 from its 40 overs. Barry Heywood (55) wasted little time at the crease.
Scott Francis was the best of Iona’s bowlers, bagging 4/18, and Shaun McCormack pitched in with two wickets.
Iona started promisingly, opener Nathan Vistarini (28) and first drop Scott Francis (25) each making decent starts.
But the rest of the batsmen were unable to go on and Iona was bowled out for 104.
Wayne English cleaned up the tail to claim 3/5, P. Bruce was effective in snaring 3/20 and Andrew Pratt took two scalps.
Ellinbank was also on the finals trail after an impressive display against Longwarry.
Ellinbank batted first and slumped to 4/31 before Peter Felstead came to the party, smashing 53. Stewart Notman (77) and J. Miller (62) then took the attack up to the Longwarry bowlers in adding 142 for the eighth wicket to take Ellinbank to 255.
Michael Camilleri (4/37) and Matthew Thorne (4/46) were in top form with the ball but the remaining Longwarry bowlers struggled to make an impact.
Darren Bourke did his best with 31, Michael Bourke scored a quick 25 and Michael Camilleri belted three sixes in his 22 but Longwarry was bowled out for 160. Notman capped off a superb day by snaring 4/14.
Drouin Maroon took on Drouin Gold, batted first and struggled throughout, managing only 113. Mitchell Goodwin topscored with 26 in the lower order, Daniel Voumard (3/12) and Kingsley Hill (3/24) caused plenty of problems for the top and middle order.
The chase proved relatively easy for Drouin Gold. Brendan Butler (50) wasted no time at the crease, Lucas Kelly (45 not out) was in great form and the Golds finished 7/170.
Alex ButterworthBoord and Nick Harper were the only bowlers able to make an impact, claiming 2/25 and 2/14 respectively.
Defending champion Trafalgar may be back in finals contention after a good performance to defeat Neerim District.
Trafalgar batted first and scored a total of 7/185 from 30 overs. Brett Smart (57) was in fine touch at the top of the order and Dale Roberts scored 41, the pair adding 82 for the third wicket.
David Leach was the most impressive of the bowlers, snaring 3/19.
Craig Fricke (42) and David Leach (38) were both in great touch, but Neerim District fell short with 133.
Taneon Jones took 2/30, Heath Grimshaw 2/16 and Dale Roberts 2/8.
Buln Buln has moved into the top four after claiming victory over Yarragon. Buln Buln batted first and was bowled out for 170. J. Fleming (58) was in cracking form.
Yarragon’s B. Allman bagged 5/21, including a hattrick, in an impressive performance while Carlo Ierfone 2/21 and Louis Borsato 2/17 also did well.
Yarragon found the chase tough, being bowled out for 142. Matt Gooden found some form with the ball, taking 3/22.
