Tooradin’s Steve Hamill took five wickets in the Seagulls’ crucial victory against Upper Beaconsfield in round eight. A win over Pakenham Upper-Toomuc this Saturday could see the Seagulls climb into the top four. 75153
By David Nagel
IS UPPER Beaconsfield a contender or pretender?
That question will be answered in the next two weeks when it takes on the top two sides beginning this Saturday when it plays host to second placed Cardinia.
Scott Pitcher and his fourth placed team have all the tools required to challenge for a title but it needs a top-of-the-table scalp to give it the belief to go all the way.
In round five the Maroons had ladder leaders Kooweerup on the ropes before a late order batting collapse cost it a chance of victory.
The Maroons’s latest form is strong, almost hunting down Tooradin’s 278 in the game before Christmas, eventually falling 12 runs short in a performance that did display batting depth.
Tommy Tyrrell (54 not out) and Xavier Gargan (23) gave lower order grunt to a top order that reeks of class.
Shawn Flegler, Daniel Brennan and John Simpson have the weapons to trouble any attack but need that bottom end support on a more regular basis.
Self belief is something Cardinia has in endless supply.
After being beaten by Pakenham in round seven, Cardinia found themselves defending a meagre 131 against the same side in round eight but somehow rolled the Lions for 85.
Dwayne Doig (50 and 4/35) was once again superb for the Bulls and his spin battle with Flegler and Pitcher will be a highlight this week.
Cardinia’s depth and poise under pressure will get it home in a close one.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:PUT v TOORADIN
TOORADIN has been knocking on the finals door all season and look set to finally ascend into a top four position this Saturday when it travels to seventh placed Pakenham Upper-Toomuc. Make no bones about it, the talented Seagulls are a genuine premiership threat this season.
Victories over Pakenham and Upper Beaconsfield prove its competitiveness while losses to Kooweerup and Cardinia were highlighted by the run-out of gun batsman Tom Hussey when he looked set to impose his will on the premiership fancies.
The Yabbies on the other hand have not won a game since beating Officer in round one, but have made serious challenges on several occasions.
Leading all-rounder Chris Smith has been magnificent this season but even a century against Beaconsfield in round eight wasn’t enough to see the Yabbies over the line.
Tooradin has Callum O’Hare to match Smith’s output this Saturday and then seem to have the edge in all other areas.
Hussey, O’Hare and Brad Sauer have all chalked up tons this season while skipper Aaron Avery, despite a quiet start to the season, looms large as a major player in the coming weeks.
Steve Hamill leads the bowling aggregate for the Seagulls and a now fit Lukas Hoogenboom will be looking to build his wicket tally the way he bowls… fast.
The Yabbies are dangerous but inconsistent.
Skipper Darren Warne could make things interesting if he can build a sizeable partnership with Smith but it still won’t be enough.
The Seagulls will swoop once again.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:PAKENHAM v OFFICER
PAKENHAM wasted a golden opportunity to break away from fellow finals aspirants Upper Beaconsfield and Tooradin before Christmas but should bounce back with a vengeance when it plays host to cellar-dwellers Officer this Saturday.
Failing to hunt down Cardinia’s 131 has left the Lions vulnerable in third place on the ladder but the full impact of that loss won’t be felt until beyond this week.
Officer’s poor season turned embarrassing in its last round outright loss to Kooweerup, the true gulf between the top and bottom sides clear for everyone to see. A repeat could be on the cards this week.
Pakenham relish the 40-over version of the game, aggressive batting from Ben Maroney, Sugeesha Dinushan, Mick Torney and the in-form Jason Williams combined with the fast Toomuc Reserve outfield has seen the Lions pass 200 comfortably in two earlier one-day contests.
Officer’s bowling lacks penetration so if Maroney and Co get on top early, it could get ugly.
As has been the case all season the undermanned Bullants will rely on Ollie Brown to lead the way with both bat and ball.
Peter Quinn is another who can fight hard with the bat when the chips are down.
Jason Fisher, Ben Miller and Russell Lehman will be keen to make early inroads into the Bullants’ batting line-up and start the new year with a bag of wickets.
Unless Brown can make a triple figure score this one looks one-sided and the Lions will tune-up for its massive clash with Tooradin next week with a comfortable victory.
