By Callum Ludwig
The RDCA 2021/22 cricket season is winding to a close but teams all over the Upper Yarra still have a chance to win it all in the remaining finals.
In the Stuart Newey Plate, Seville’s 1st XI are playing South Warrandyte in a do-or-die preliminary final on Saturday 12 March, with the winner facing Kilsyth in the grand final the following weekend. Seville scraped into the finals at the expense of Woori Yallock’s 1st XI, with two wins in the home and away season the difference between the sides. Seville beat Croydon Ranges in the elimination final.
Wandin’s 1st XI had a tough season in the Steve Pascoe Shield, finishing last with only two wins and two draws for the season. Yarra Junction’s 1st XI fared much better, finishing third and setting up an elimination final with Heathwood. They went on to win, and play Ainslie Park in the preliminary final, and the winner will face Montrose.
Three Upper Yarra teams competed in the David Beatty Shield this season, with Yarra Junction’s 2nd XI finishing last with only one win and two draws, while Seville and Woori Yallock’s 2nd XI’s finished 2nd and fourth respectively.
Unfortunately, both sides were knocked out in their semi-final clashes, Woori Yallock falling to Montrose, while Seville was defeated by Ainslie Park.
Hoddles Creek’s 1st XI put up a good showing finishing third in the Don Smith Shield but was defeated by Coldstream in the semi-final.
Seville’s 3rd XI and Launching Place’s 1st XI were strong competition in the Ann Pascoe Shield, with Seville finishing as minor premiers and Launching Place securing a spot in the finals in fourth, setting up a local clash in the semi-final. Seville came out on top and will play Yarra Glen in the Grand Final.
Powelltown’s 1st XI found the going tough in the first four rounds of the John Spriggett Shield before relocating to the Greg Mitchell Shield where they proved to be more successful.
In the D.J Strachan Shield, Yarra Junction’s 3rd XI missed out on finals in seventh place, while Seville’s 4th XI finished third, but was beaten by Norwood in their semi-final.
Wandin’s 2nd XI were top of the pops in the Adrian Hammond Shield, while Woori Yallock’s 3rd XI were only able to manage two fins, finishing eighth. Wandin defeated St Andrews to set up a tie with Wantirna in the Grand Final.
Powelltown, Hoddles Creek, Launching Place, Yarra Junction, and Seville (5th and 6th XI’s) all had teams who competed in the modified competitions, which allow 13 players on a team and split-innings games. Powelltown’s 1st XI are the only side who were able to make it to a Grand Final, playing Healesville for the Greg Mitchell Shield.
Yarra Valley teams also competed in a T20 competition sporadically against each other throughout the season on weekdays, where Seville finished second, Yarra Junction third, Woori Yallock fourth and Wandin last in seventh.
