By Steve Brown and Russell Bennett
THE first game back after the Christmas break saw Footballers at home to Monbulk in a clash they had to win to stay within reach of the top four.
Their tough task was not made any easier when the visitors posted a healthy 8/221, courtesy of opener Steve Bohun (61) and 41 from Blake Walter.
Highly decorated batsman Chris Brittain, a devastating player when on song, entered the contest on the back of two failures in his previous two matches.
But the new year delivered some lost form and he plundered the Monbulk attack to all parts en route to a fine 86.
With Brittain’s departure, the Hawks fought back through tight bowling from Aaron Walter and Chris Martin and had the Ballers in trouble at 8/180 before Ben Rawlings saw them home with just one wicket to spare.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Johnson Park v Belgrave
Playing at Chandler Park for the first time, Johnson Park produced a steady 7/137 from 45 overs on a slow outfield against Belgrave.
Parkers skipper Andrew Devenish collected a stylish 50 and received valuable support from Bryn Gaunt (40 not out). Michael Litterbach took 3/20 from nine overs.
After the tea interval, four good overs from opening bowlers Usman Arif and Troy Gstrein ended any hope of a Belgrave victory as they slumped to 4/2.
Amazingly, Belgrave’s top four bats failed to trouble the scorers. Their side limped to 86 before Arif took his fifth wicket, finishing with 5/19.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Ferntree Gully v The Basin
Ferntree Gully never recovered from a disastrous 7/40 start at The Basin and was rolled for just 80.
Danny Rundle and Jayden Turcinovic starred with the pill for The Basin, snaring three wickets apiece.
The Huntsmen had little trouble in their chase, with Rundle finishing 36 not out as his side clinched a six wicket victory.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Upper Ferntree Gully v Upwey Tecoma
At Kings Park, Upper Gully’s 8/140 was no match for Upwey Tecoma as the visitors reached the target with 11 overs to spare and five wickets in the bank. Old timers Mick Hewitt (36) and Brendan Heath (31 not out) made a return to the first eleven and had the game in control in the absence of skipper Matt Mulchay, who was playing in the Australian Country Championships in Geelong.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Results
Round 7
Knox Tavern Cup
Footballers 9/229 (Brittain 86, Rawlings 32*, A. Walter 4/34, Martin 4/30) d Monbulk 8/221 (Bohun 62, B. Walter 41, Rawlings 3/34).
Upwey 5/141 (Hewitt 36, Heath 31*) d Upper Gully 8/140 (McDonald 29).
Johnson Park 7/137 (A. Devenish 50, Gaunt 40*, Litterbach 3/20) d Belgrave 86 (Arif 5/19).
The Basin 4/81 (Rundle 36*, Heath 31) d Ferntree Gully 80 (Turcinovic 3/10, Rundle 3/14).
Knoxfield v Eildon Park (no scores provided).
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Decoite Shield
Knox Gardens 5/168 (McInerney 85, Atkinson 3/24) d South Belgrave 7/160 (Barry 66, Tyzzer 31, Small 4/17).
Lysterfield 5/220 (Snyman 69, Peatling 54) d Rowville 77 (Chivers 3/3).
Mountain Gate 3/95 (Nielsen 45*) d St Johns Tecoma 86 (Wheeler 6/18).
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Division 3
Monbulk 7/153 (Williams 46, Castledine 3/29) d Footballers 8/151 (Richardson 66*, McKay 3/18).
Upwey 4/181 (Lizza 65, Hurst 58) d Upper Gully 169 (Lord 39, Roleff 33, J. Roberts 32, Buck 5/35).
Johnson Park 3/253 (Graffen 114*, Halse 56, Rickard 50) d Belgrave 150 (Brown 36, Fenalon 3/35).
The Basin 0/197 (Cook 120*, Porch 59*) d Ferntree Gully 193 (Millard 61, Hodgson 47, Betka 3/35).
Eildon Park v Knoxfield (no scores provided).
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Division 4
Knox Gardens 5/144 (McLean 39, Van Lith 59*, Burden 3/22) d Lysterfield 134 (Morris 59, Metherell 3/10).
Auravale 3/183 (Boyle 85*, Lucas 55) d Rowville 137 (Rapapaske 42).
Knox Boronia Churches 9/205 (Jones 3/27) d Mountain Gate 133 (Rodriquez 56).
South Belgrave 4/256 (Johnston 84*, Ray 74, Fedley 47) d St Johns Tecoma 8/256 (Doyle 94, Johnson 64, Ray 3/35).
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Representative competition
Under 12 (Mitchell Shield)
Moorabbin 7/180 (H. Blackburn 2/18, M. Perry 2/16, B. Bredin 2/12) d FTGDCA 75 (C. Edwards 29, T. DeSilva 22).
FTGDCA 4/138 (L. Dunning 40*, T. DeSilva 24, A. Jongen 28, J. Curnow 22) d Southern Districts 111 (L. Dunning 2/7).
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Under 12 (J. Browne Plate)
West Gippsland 2/148 d FTGDCA 5/123 (L. Myszka 24).
Moorabbin 9/148 (T. Byrne 2/18, A. Gilmore 2/22, T. Keyhoe 2/19, L. Smith 2/11) d FTGDCA 7/116 (D. Pollard 26).
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Under 16 (Beitzel Shield – turf)
FTGDCA 7/209 (L. McComb 51, A. Campbell 36, R. McComb 31*, D. Claughton 26) d Moorabbin 5/202 (H. Brown 2/25).
FTGDCA 5/176 (R. McComb 40*, A. Campbell 39*, C. Craigie 25, H. Brown 20) d Ringwood 157 (A. Campbell 4/28).
Southern Districts 8/140 (H. Brown 2/9, N. Slaughter 2/17, R. McComb 2/28) d FTGDCA 130 (D. Kelly 41, C. Craigie 24).
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Under 16 McKay Shield
FTGDCA 155 (P. Cole 72, T. Carrington 27, M. Brearley 22) d Yarra Valley 141 (B. Sidhu 4/9, T. Perera 2/18, P. Cole 2/18).
Ringwood 7/170 (M. Brearley 3/38) d FTGDCA 140 (K. Croxford 28).
Box Hill Reporter 2/129 (H. Walshe 2/23) d FTGDCA 126 (D. Maling 26, P. Turner 26).
