Howe good was that

By Ian Harley
UPWEY president Dain Howe was the architect of his club’s win over Johnson Park at Fairpark in the FTGDCA fourth round.
Howe presided over the innings with a commanding 132 not out as the Tigers sealed their fourth win of the season to move to second on the ladder.
He hit seven sixes and 12 fours while Brenton Hurst compiled 43 in support. This was a strong showing for the Tigers who won comfortably with five overs remaining. With no wicket takers of note the Johnson Park attack was left searching for answers.
Ferntree Gully ensured it held on to top spot with a solid win over The Basin. Matt Black, returning to the form that saw him win a Feaver medal, topped the Blues’ scorers with 90 and Jayden Bradbury added 31.
For the Huntsmen Matthew Heskes snared three wickets as the reigning premiers rolled on.
Rowville took the points over Eildon Park at Seebeck oval. Having restricted last year’s runners-up to 203 last week, the Hawks went about their business with Matt Blackman and Tate Bergman leading the way.
Steven Pimm battled hard for the Panthers with six wickets.
Jason Simmons (111) and Blake Walter (77) got Monbulk’s season back on track with a win over Lysterfield, moving the team to fourth spot at the top of the logjam of teams with two wins.
Belgrave made Knox Gardens bat again and the Magpies completed an easy first innings win.
Hill with four wickets was the main destroyer for Belgrave. St Johns Tecoma was made to suffer the same fate at the hand of Upper Ferntree Gully, thanks in main to Jay Colee’s four wickets with Alistair Lord grabbing three.
The Kings now sit in third spot, one game clear.
In Decoite Footballers inflicted an outright loss on Auravale, Knoxfield outplayed South Belgrave and Knox emerged from the wreckage of a bizarre game with the six points.
Knox held its nerve and routed Mountain Gate in the first innings before a late charge from the ’Gators saw them run out of time 13 runs short of a reverse outright.