By Keith Thompson
Predicted poor weather stayed away, allowing flannels to come out and the cricket season to get underway in the top four YVCA grades.
In the D J Strachan Shield last season’s premiers, Wandin, hosted runners-up Mt Evelyn on what turned out to be a poor-quality surface.
Wandin made 8/207 with new captain-coach John Aumann showing the way with a fine 83. He was well supported by Scott Hassan with 51. Kane Jones bowled well to take 3/63.
Mt Evelyn was all out for 201 despite opening stalwart Andrew Giblin scoring the first century of the season – 113.
Jackson Wright and Paul Grayling both took three wickets, for 56 and 44 respectively, for a fine win to open the season by Wandin.
At Woori Yallock on a sandy venue the home side was all out for 192 with Michael King (44), Andrew Sharp (41) and Tim Diggins (38) the main contributors.
For Gruyere District Matt Tilney began the season well with 4/30 but his team was dismissed for just 97 with R Steggles doing the damage with 4/16.
Seville, last in season 08-09, hosted Hoddles Creek and was keen to start wiping that from it memory bank.
Seville made 4/129, with recruit John Pignataro starting well with 46 not out. New club president Richard Dicello got 21 and returning from overseas batsman/keeper Tim Dwyer got 19 not out. Jeff Crew took 2/10.
Hoddles Creek struggled to 9/95 with Jeremy Derix making 32. Stephen Morgan bowled well to take 4/19.
Coldstream at home to Yarra Junction made 8/145cc with Liam Doughty (52) and new captain-coach Colin Rice (28) the best. Daniel Lever (4/28) was the leading bowler for the visitors while Nathan Fall chipped in with 2/32.
Yarra Junction with 9/136 fell short by nine runs as Nathan Fall (34) completed a good double assisted by Ben Lever (31) and Stephen Flutter (27). L. Lambert (3/24) Chirs Dobson (3/8) and Liam Doughty (2/23) brought the victory to Coldstream.
Warburton/Millgrove was 8/158 with Luke Darwall (61) topscoring for the Burras and Daniel Rogers the lead bowler for Healesville with 4/43. Healesville made 9/107, Scott James 27. Luke Darwall’s 4/16 gave him “man of the match” and Warburton the points.
In the R A Finger Trophy Healesville turned the result around with 4/168 with Michael Davern on 48, Paul Smola 31 not out and Collins 51 not out. Alan Ireland took 2/31.
Warburton Millgrove was dismissed for just 77 with C.Burridge 4/26 and Alan Pearce, steady as ever, 2/7 off his 10 overs.
Mt Evelyn – 139 (Ian Llewellyn 67 not out, Peter Kerr 28, J. Coombs 4/19, J. Williams 3/28 – lost to Woori Yallock’s 6/157 with Julian Smith 55, Cal Ferguson 49, R Wilson 2/6 and Kerr 2/29.
Yarra Glen, into this comp for the first time in a few seasons, got off to a winning start by defeating Wandin in the match that was transferred to Healesville because of the Yarra River flooding at the Yarra Glen reserve.
Yarra Glen reached 8/105 (John Orren 24 Richard Thurkle 23 not out, Luke Campbell-Drury 4/28) but Wandin made only 77 (S. Hills 20, Jon Woods 4/16, J. Bourke 3/24).
Yarra Junction was all out for 110 (Cameron Spaulding 29, Glenn Thompson 21 not out , Paul Dicello 4/29), not enough to beat Seville’s 9/125 (Phil Smith 42, Andrew DiPietro15, Glenn Thompson 3/18, Toby Pilton 3/24).
The YVCA junior cricket will start this coming Saturday morning for all grades from under-12s to under-16s. All clubs will welcome new players and club contacts can be found on the YVCA website at yarravalley.cricketvictoria.com.au or by calling the juniors secretary on 0411 417 253.
