By Ian Harley
THE opening round of Knox Tavern Cup saw Upper Ferntree Gully, backed by the steady hand of Adam Reeves, grab the six points against Belgrave.
The Magpies were 8/140 after their allotted overs, with Doug Oaten top scoring and wickets shared around by the Kings.
Reeves (88) opened the batting, managing eight 4s and five 6s as Upper Ferntree Gully cantered to the win.
Shane Collee made 36 n.o.
Johnson Park easily accounted for last season’s premiers Monbulk in their game at Fairpark.
The Sharks batted through their allotted overs to set a target of 165 for the Hawks, with Peter Dunlop making 42.
Monbulk was missing six of its premiership players from last season and their only highlight for the day was three wickets to Steve Utting.
Johnson Park wrapped up the game dismissing Monbulk for 69 in the 30th over, with Liarne deSilva the pick of the bowlers.
At Lakesfield Reserve, the Beavers opened their account against Mountain Gate.
Batting first, Lysterfield posted a score of 8/146 with Ken Utting medalist Jarrod Moody (38) and last years Lomax Medalist Kyle Snyman (36) the top scorers.
Brendan Heath celebrated his return to the ‘Gators line-up taking four wickets.
In reply Mountain Gate was dismissed for 121, with Chris Hill the leading wicket taker with 4/23.
Eildon Park set the bar too high for Rowville with the Cosstick brothers contributing with bat and ball.
Batting first the Panthers put 5/158 on the board with Nathan Hicks (42) aiding the Shane Cosstick’s 52 and brother Cameron’s 45.
In reply Rowville was 9/124 at the close of the day’s play.
Perennial performer Mathew Blackman made 48 for the Hawks with Cameron Cosstick taking three wickets.
In their game at Upwey Recreation Reserve, The Basin got off to a strong start scoring 8/186 against the Upwey Tecoma Tigers.
The Huntsmen had several contributors with Koster (44), Turncinovic (38), and Whalan (31) the best.
Chasing the target, Upwey was dismissed for 151 with Michael Hewitt providing 61 batting lower down the order at number seven.
Shane Underhill took three wickets for the Basin.
Shane Richardson will be happy with Ferntree Gully’s first hit for the season, posting a score close to his target against St Johns Tecoma.
While it wasn’t a personally satisfying innings for the captain, the form of Mark Teofilo (46) and Luke Bowyer (38) saw the Blues amass 161.
Bert Andrews was the best of the Saints bowlers with three wickets.
In reply St Johns Tecoma was dismissed for 103.
Matt Johnson (42) was the best performed bat for the Saints, with evergreen Graham Salan (3/24), Ryan Handley 3/30 and Josh Chamberlain 3/11 all grabbing wickets for Ferntree Gully.
In Decoite Shield, Aura Vale posted the highest score of the day (4/266), with Nathan Phillips making the first century of the season.
The Lakers easily accounted for Ferntree Gully rolling them out for 88.
Footballers (6/200) got their season off to a flying start defeating Lysterfield (4/144).
Johnson Park defended 137 against Knox, while Knox Gardens was too strong for South Belgrave.
Knoxfield started its climb back to Knox Tavern Cup against Eildon Park and a strong Basin side was too good for Upwey.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Knox Tavern
Upper Ferntree Gully 3/143 (A Reeves 88, S Collee 36 n.o.) d Belgrave 8/140 (D Oaten 35 n.o.)
Johnson Park 8/164 (P Dunlop 42, S Utting 3/27) d Monbulk 69.
Lysterfield 8/146 (J. Moody 38, K. Snyman 36, B. Heath 4/34) d Mountain Gate 121 (Samaraseekera 30, C.Hill 4/23)
Eildon Park 5/158 (S Cosstick 52, C Cosstick 45, N Hicks 42) d Rowville 9/124 (M Blackman 48 C Cosstick 3/27)
The Basin 8/186 (Koster 44, Turncinovic 38, Whalan 31) d Upwey 151(Hewitt 61, Underhill 3/40)
Ferntree Gully 7/161 (M.Teofilo 46, L. Bowyer 38, B.Andrews 3/20) d St Johns Tecoma 103 (M. Johnson 42, G. Salan 3/24, R. Handley 3/30, J. Chamberlain 3/11)
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Decoite Shield
Footballers 6/200 (T Pruysers 52, R Bedford 42, S Hart 42 n.o., Manning 3/57) d Lysterfield 4/144 (S Whitty 64 n.o., I Marriot 3/22)
Johnson Park 137(Rickard 32, Hoban 4/30) d Knox 103 (A. Rattle 3/32)
Knox Gardens 154 (J. Butcher 64, L. Doorakkers 3/27, C. Smith 4/36) d South Belgrave 114 (M. Young 4/23)
Auravale 4/266 (N. Phillips 101, D.Silva 46, B. Harman 33) d Ferntree Gully 83 (McDonald 3/6)
Knoxfield 3/106 (L. Scanlan 47 n.o.) d Eildon Park 8/100 (T Schofield 3/15).
The Basin 6/148 (Rawnsley 58 n.o., Cross 3/24) d Upwey 102 (C Betka 3/22, P Betka 4/22)
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Division 3
Footballers 1/84 (A. Gale 38, P.Murray 37 n.o.) d Rovwille 10/74 (A Pascoe 4/13, J Wilson 3/14)
Knoxfield 158 (B Lewis 42) d Monbulk 9/93 (S Briggs 38, N Richards 4/9, J Scanlan 4/11)
Knox Gardens 8/169 (Jarrod Thorpe 44, M.Gregory 34 n.o.) d Eildon Park 8/97 (R.Taylor 3/12)
Upper Ferntree Gully 6/147 (D.Beyer 44 n.o.) d Belgrave 6/144 (D.Ayre 47, M.Wood 38 n.o.)
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Division 4
The Basin 9/117 (M. Baker 4/11) d South Belgrave 9/104 (N. Pavia 3/11, C. Aaltonen 3/11)
Johnson Park 4/182 (D.Maclachlan 83, M.Simm 65) def St John’s Tecoma 9/177 (C.Manning 32, M.Mitchell 43, N. Parlby 31, D. Seymour 3/37)
Knoxfield 7/148 (R.Harris 80, K.Wimassayara 3/17) d Mountain Gate 7/142 (S. Burridge 40, M.Burridge 59, A.Larcombe 3/23)
Upwey-Tecoma 5/97 (K. Hayward 60 n.o., B. Kennedy 3/9) d Ferntree Gully 10/93
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Division 5
Knox Gardens 5/139 (B. Hoggett 52) d Aura Vale 6/137 (C. Webb 49 n.o., G.Beanham 33, G.Crook 3/12)
Rowville 5/108 d Knox 106 (Rickerby 40 A.Walker 5/26)
Eildon Park 142 (T.Carter 3/23) d Lysterfield 86 (T. Mackenzie 3/10)
Belgrave 7/198 (D.Argoon 77 n.o.) d Upper FTG 9/85 (McPherson 3/1, Collie 3/26)
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Division 6
The Basin 125 (D.Gill 49, P. Hare 5/3) d Lysterfield 66 (R.Clarke 3/14)
Johnson Park 4/180 (M.Owasia 30, J.Hall 79) d Mountain Gate 4/114
Upper Ferntree Gully 4/104 (A.Rollings 34) d Ferntree Gully 103 (A.Clarkson 3/16, P.Dawson 3/17)
Knoxfield d Monbulk (forfeit)
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Division 7
Footballers 8/190 (N Trask 62, M.Sheldon 3/29) d Lysterfield 9/35 (M Heath 3/5, S Miller 3/6)
South Belgrave 7/191 (P. Viney 64, G. Arnett 52, J. Brewster 31, Dale Eagle 3/38) d St John’s Tecoma 10/120 (Dan Eagle 52, M. Sheridan 3/12)
Knox Gardens 5/95(M.Powell 30) d Mountain Gate 10/81 (R. Coon 30, M.Powell 4/6)
Eildon Park 4/128 (S Machfud 36, S Visca 36 n.o.) d Belgrave 8/118 (M Levell 32, A Kokke 30)
