By Jarrod Potter
SUB-DISTRICT Division has become a two-horse race, with Clyde and Lang Lang looking certain to face each other for the right of promotion to District.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:CLYDE
Following a round one defeat to Lang Lang, Clyde has gone undefeated since and look every part the championship contender to beat.
They’ve only lost 43 wickets for the year and to back that up, they’ve taken 69. Dean Williams (18 wickets at 8.89), Adrian Buller (13 at 11.46) and Nick Miles (13 at 11.54) have done the damage for the Cougars with the ball, while David Denton (169 runs at 28.17), Gavin Adams (129 at 21.5) and Noel O’Brien (114 at 19) are forging the runs. If they’re not playing in the final, they have greatly underachieved going down the stretch. They face Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll, Tooradin and Cardinia in the upcoming one dayers.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:LANG LANG
Lang Lang epitomise efficiency this season, leading the league for wickets taken (77 wickets) and lowest runs conceded (789 runs). Bodie Brown (23 wickets at 8.52) is the main architect of this success, striking almost at will to give the Swamp Tigers small targets to chase.
Ricky Caddell (11 wickets at 11.73) has also be miserly for Lang Lang with the ball. Lang Lang also has four batsmen with over 100 runs for the season, a mark of a unified order. Gareth Andrews (188 runs), Ross Douglas (148), Caddell (139) and Kurt Nestor (131) have pushed Lang Lang within striking distance of the championship. They should play in the final barring a complete meltdown. Tooradin, Upper Beaconsfield and Gembrook are their one day tasks ahead.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:UPPER BEACONSFIELD
Upper Beaconsfield is in the running for division championship, but they have done so without particularly achieving any great statistics in the meantime. Their top scorer is Craig Haw (81 runs at 13.88) and Shawn Hassall (11 wickets at 7.09) has taken the most wickets. These numbers aren’t particularly striking, but they’ve managed to compile enough runs and take enough wickets solely as a team.
They have nine batsmen with scores over 30 instead to show the load has been spread evenly among all Maroons. They’ll be a semi-final participant, but to overthrow Clyde or Lang Lang will require a big effort. Upper Beaconsfield face Gembrook, Lang Lang and Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll in the upcoming one dayers.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:NAR NAR GOON/MARYKNOLL
Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll went into the holiday break in emphatic style, thumping Gembrook by an innings and 61 runs. Ash Bailey (16 wickets at 5.38) and Sean Somers (13 at 6.15) have been responsible for the Marygoons’ good fortunes. With the bat the load has been spread evenly, with the Marygoons leading the Division for runs scored but Josh Lownds (133 at 22.17) their only batsman over 100 for the season. The one dayers ahead aren’t easy by any stretch, with Clyde, Cardinia and Upper Beaconsfield the prospects at hand. Two wins will be par for them if they want to hold fourth spot or climb higher.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:TOORADIN
Tooradin will scrap it out with Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll for that last coveted finals spot in Sub-District Division. Kane Latham (149 at 74.5) and Justin Hinkley (140 runs at 23.33) lead the run chart for the Seagulls, while Sam Clarke (12 wickets at 8.83) has been miserly with the ball. They face Lang Lang, Clyde and Cranbourne Meadows through the upcoming one-dayers and if they can snag two wins out of the three, it will push them into contention.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:CRANBOURNE MEADOWS
Cranbourne Meadows is struggling to take wickets at present. Their batting is solid, with the Murdochs Brent (291 runs at 41.57) and Lee (192 at 48) leading the division for runs scored, but their bowlers have been unable to bowl out the opposition when required. Jason Poole (12 wickets at 14.75), Adrian Savage (10 wickets at 17.2) are the best bowlers for the Rebels. Cardinia, Gembrook and Tooradin are the three one-day tasks ahead of them over the next few weeks.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:CARDINIA
While not completely out of the running, the work ahead for Cardinia to make the finals is stretching the realms of possibility. They have batted well throughout the season, but have failed to make targets and post enough runs at critical moments.
Ricky Campbell (167 runs at 27.83) and Brad Remy (153 at 21.86) lead the run chart for the Bulls, while Mark Weeding (10 at 14.7) and Bayden Browne (10 at 18.9) are the stat leaders in the wicket column. Facing Cranbourne Meadows, Gembrook then ladder leaders Clyde over the three weeks, Cardinia will need all wins from here onwards to make the finals.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:GEMBROOK
The Brookers are having a diabolical year in Sub-District and they’re odds on favourite to drop even lower next season. Nothing has gone right for Gembrook, evident by the unevenness of runs scored in their matches – 658 for themselves and 1314 against by opposition.
Timmy Gray (135 runs at 19.29, eight wickets at 29.25) has been left to shoulder the burden for Gembrook, scoring their only half century for the year. Gray and William Davis (12 wickets at 14.5) have done the work others in the side seem incapable of doing. Gembrook’s fixture at this point is all uphill and they won’t return to Sub-District Division next season.
