WGCA other grades

By Ian Ferguson
KOOWEERUP continued its upward surge in B grade when it scored an imposing 8/279 against Merinda Park. Chris O’Hara scored an impressive 89, Matthew Bright added 37 and all-rounder Ben Miller 37. At the same stage last year the Demons suffered an alarming form slump, but their pre-Christmas performances this season have been much more impressive.
B-grade newcomer Nyora, however, was experiencing problems against the lower-ranked Cardinia. The Bulls performed well to score 8/205 against the highly rated Nyora attack, Brad Remy pressing for A-grade reinclusion with his score of 70, while Stuart Williams contributed 67.
Upper Beaconsfield struggled since it was relegated to B-grade ranks at the end of last season, but the reawakened Maroons placed themselves a strong position to gain vital outright points against Emerald on Saturday. The Bombers were blitzed for only 82 and the revitalised Maroons then rattled up 1/109 before stumps were drawn. Upper Beaconsfield’s young captain Scott Pitcher gained the excellent figures of 5/22 from 13 overs, while the two Davids, Taylor and Williams, reached 56 and 40 not out respectively when the visiting team batted.
Clyde struggled to amass 8/136 on the slow Bass ground. Valuable all-rounder Nathan Lillee top-scored with 32, while Kilcunda-Bass spinner James Mahood snared 3/31 from 13.1 overs for the hosts.
Early in the day Tooradin slumped to 3/15 against Cranbourne Meadows, but vital partnerships between Andrew Gray and younger Seagulls enabled the hosts to reach the competitive score of 9/206. Gray scored an excellent 77, while under-16 player Sean Wilson contributed a valuable 58, his highest score in senior cricket.
Born-again Lion Greg Hogben continued his vintage batting form, scoring an excellent 62 against the B-grade team leader Beaconsfield. His experienced teammate Dennis Porter added 35 to help Pakenham compile 9/202, while Brad McIntosh (4/51 from 22 overs) performed well for the Tigers.
Beaconsfield appeared likely to maintain its top position in C grade. The Tigers removed PUT for only 87 and were well placed on 1/47 when stumps were drawn. Matt Keane was the best of the Yabbies, scoring an undefeated 31, while Scott Murdoch continued his fine bowling form by capturing 4/17 from 12 overs. The consistent Jamie Ingham snared 3/14 from 13 overs.
Gembrook suffered a setback in its C-grade clash with Officer when its key bowler Rick Atkinson was sidelined with injury, but John Shipp stepped into the breach magnificently by capturing 5/29 from 20 overs. The Brookers were strongly placed to win this game, as the Bullants only managed to total 162 on the slow Officer ground.
In D grade Andy Syddall, Merinda Park’s wicketkeeper, gloved five catches in an excellent display against Kooweerup. Dan Crowley scored 40 before the Demons were bundled out for 165 and the Cobras made their way to 2/55.
Nyora had secured a first-innings win in a low-scoring encounter with Cranbourne Meadows. The Rebels scored 9/48 and Nyora won with the small total of 55 all out. In its second dig, Cranbourne Meadows was 1/10. Merinda Park’s D. Breen and the Rebels’ D.Waller both captured five wickets for their respective sides.
Promising Beaconsfield junior Madison Andrews top-scored with 30 not out when Beaconsfield compiled 112 against PUT, while Paul Ryan captured 4/26 from 20 overs in a fine bowling display for the Yabbies. In reply, PUT was 1/5 at stumps.
Emerald gained a first-innings result on the opening day against Lang Lang. The Bombers’ Andrew Rolfs captured a frugal 4/16 from 12 overs and the Bombers were a commanding 6/136 at the close of play.
The Pakenham D-grade team also gained a first-innings result. The Lions reached 6/104 in response to Clyde’s 98 and there were three dominant players in the pride. Adrian Bailey and Graham McCraw captured 3/24 and 3/20 in their respective eight-over spells, while Pakenham’s former A-grade premiership player Scott Webster scored 51.
In E grade Cardinia junior Ben Monckton, appearing at number eight in the Bulls’ batting order, scored an excellent undefeated 79 against Merinda Park Red. In the same fixture, young second gamer Bradey Welsh supported Monckton well by scoring 27 not out when the Bulls totalled 9/200.
M. Adams scored 48 when Officer reached 146 against Emerald. The Bombers’ main strike weapon was Eric Glazner, who returned the superb figures of 6/38 from 18 overs. Emerald responded with 2/28 before play ceased.
Gembrook removed Kooweerup for a lowly 119, Greg Caig top-scoring for the Demons with 29. In-form Brooker batsman Anthony Anderson was 21 not out at stumps when the host side reached the total of 1/31.
Chris Brennan top-scored with 45 when Tooradin scored a competitive 194 against PUT, while Yabbie skipper Damien Garth snared 3/44 to be his team’s main wicket-taker.
Brett Vance reached 53 when Devon Meadows reached 165 against Merinda Park White, which was 2/22 at stumps in reply.
The match between Beaconsfield and Pakenham was evenly poised. Wayne Holden top-scored with 22 when the Tigers totalled a moderate 130 and the Lions responded with 0/6 when stumps were drawn.
PUT’s John Bourke was F-grade’s star player on Saturday, The Yabbie veteran reached the retirement score of 50, he collected the handy figures of 2/14 from his allocated six overs and he also brilliantly ran out an old Yabbie foe, Grant Bloomer. The stocky Cobra was run out by a direct hit after the irrepressible Bourke swooped on the ball 40 metres from the wicket.
Merinda Park’s under-16 captain Dustin Peebles celebrated his birthday in style, scoring 50 not out against Kilcunda-Bass. Ryan Wilby from Kooweerup was another under-16 player to perform well. Wilby smashed eight fours and two sixes in his 73 against Clyde.
Tooradin under-16 player Sean Wilson was a model of accuracy against Lang Lang. The rangy all-rounder returned the superb figures of 3/3 from his eight overs, which included six maidens.
PUT under-16 player Greg Shallard also distinguished himself when he “filled in” for the undermanned Officer team. Shallard collected 1/22 from five overs for his adopted team.
Upper Beaconsfield’s under-14 player Tom Jennings enjoyed a memorable game against Emerald Reds. Jennings obtained the outstanding of 5/6 from 2.2 overs and retired from the crease after scoring 28.