By Steve Brown
EILDON Park star and dual Feaver medallist Shane Cosstick showed newcomer Footballers why he is regarded as one of the best batsmen in the FTGDCA when he peeled off a fine 111 of his team’s 181 at Pickett Reserve in the season opener of the Knox Tavern Cup.
The highly fancied Footballers line-up struggled to end their allotted 45 overs 52 runs short, with Matt Hepburn almost batting through the innings for 48 runs.
Upper Gully had a scare at Belgrave, with the home side setting the visitors 237.
But Dean Roberts (73) and Paul Veltri (67), returning from Hawthorn Monash, timed it perfectly, pinching the lead with an over to spare.
New Belgrave skipper Daniel Polson from Frankston Heat started the season well with 71 and two wickets, but it was the Upper Gully Kings who got the chocolates. Monbulk was satisfied with its 191 against Rowville on the back of Aaron Walter’s 63, only to be undone by Joe Morsello with 66 to steer the Rowville Hawks to victory with two balls to spare. Walter also added 3/30 to his day’s work in a losing side.
Essex player Aaron West, 19, displayed a classy innings of 93 for Johnson Park in its 17-run win over The Basin at Fairpark.
West’s performance was the difference between the two sides. The Huntsmen needed 26 runs from the last over with two wickets in hand but were dismissed. Wayne Koster topscored with 44.
Upwey coasted to an easy win over Ferntree Gully chasing a modest 126. Former Richmond teammates Matt Mulcahy and Sam Taylor secured the win, registering half centuries with the loss of only one wicket.
In De Coite Shield action, Knoxfield Knights opener Matt Train blasted an unbeaten 150, thrashing Lysterfield despite a ton from Jarrod Moody.
Knox Gardens held South Belgrave at bay winning by 28 runs. St Johns Tecoma defeated Mountain Gate by four runs with Saints captain Corey Walters leading the way with 61.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:KNOX TAVERN CUP
Upper Gully 6/240 (D. Roberts 73, Duff 34, Veltri 67, Henry 40*) d Belgrave 7/237 (Windross 56, Polson 71, Carnell 36).
Rowville 9/194 (Morsello 66, A. Walter 3/30) d Monbulk 6/191 (A.Walter 63, Archer 43*).
Eildon Park 6/181 (S. Cosstick 111*, McNally 30, Dignan 3/38) d Footballers 9/136 (Hepburn 48, Brittain 32).
Johnson Park 9/205 (West 93, Gstrein 35, Heskes 3/68) d The Basin 188 (Lee 32, Koster 44, Gottliebsen 3/40).
Upwey 1/131 (Mulcahy 59*, Taylor 59*) d Ferntree Gully 8/129 (Gannell 3/19).
@BT Sport Sub Mail:DE COITE SHIELD
Knox Gardens 7/179 (McInerney 39, Mackinnon 33, Gregory 30*) d South Belgrave 151 (A. Hart 30, Fedley 48, Young 4/47, Dancey 3/26).
Knoxfield 3/260 (Train 150*, Fredericks 52) d Lysterfield 8/168 (Moody 102*, Morris 3/14).
St Johns Tecoma 4/141 (Walters 61) d Mountain Gate 137 (Neilson 74, A. Smith 4/11).
@BT Sport Sub Mail:DIVISION 3
Eildon Park 9/193 (N. Hicks 115*, Pascoe 3/31) d Footballers 121 (Davis 32).
Upper Gully 7/188 (Smith 34, D. Beyer 83) d Belgrave 126 (R. Beyer 3/32).
Rowville 144 (Logan 44, Lennon 44, Heppell 3/22) d Monbulk 128.
Ferntree Gully 156 (Salan 56, Lizza 3/44) d Upwey 138 (Wills 45).
@BT Sport Sub Mail:DIVISION 4
Knox Gardens 6/107 (Jones 3/30) d Mountain Gate 105 (Vernon 5/14, Vanlith 3/22).
St Johns Tecoma 192 (Arnett 64, Timmers 36, Newage-Remesh 3/26) d Auravale 160 (Harman 41, Arnett 3/24).
Knoxfield 8/147 (H. Burley 41, Manning 3/30) d Lysterfield 135 (Peluso 58, M. Burley 3/21, Scanlan 4/35).
