Tussle tightens up for finals

Round 14 Week 1
WITH one round remaining, the tight tussle that has been season 2012/13 in DJ Strachan Shield is shaping up for a tight conclusion as Mount Evelyn and Warburton-Millgrove battle it out for the remaining place in this season’s finals.
Warburton-Millgrove v Hoddles Creek
Warburton-Millgrove batted first at Hoddles Creek after succumbing to Coldstream for a paltry 80 last week. With young guns Nick Bark (4/49) and David Chesney (3/45) again leading the charge, the Wombats made some early inroads into the Burras batting lineup. The never ageing Mick Walker ensured that the visitors would reach a defendable total as his masterful 82, combined with Travis Appleton’s disciplined knock of 30, led the team to a score of 191. The Burras would be slightly disappointed that the tail end of their innings fell away and would be ruing a missed opportunity to bat their opposition out of the contest. However, with Hoddles Creek perched at 1/19 overnight, this game could go either way as Warburton-Millgrove look to close off the innings quickly, while the improving Wombats will be keen to finish a tough season on top.
Mount Evelyn v Woori Yallock
Mount Evelyn made a meal of day one in their encounter at Woori Yallock. Batting first, the Rovers toughed out the first two hours of the day to be well set at 1/115 within 10 minutes of the tea adjournment. With Troy Hancock (57), Brad Jones (26) and Chris Anderson (28) leading the way, the visitors looked set for a big total. However, the wicket of Hancock was quickly followed by two others, including that of the explosive Kane Jones, to see the home team share the honours in the first session. After tea, things went from bad to worse for the Rovers as wickets fell quickly against the disciplined non spinning off spin of Simon Young (4/41) and the tearaway quick Jackson Wright (4/26) to see the visitors meekly fold for 159. Like the Warburton-Millgrove versus Hoddles Creek clash, this game is evenly poised as the Tigers sit at 2/38 overnight with plenty of talent in the shed keen to make up for a disappointing season.
Seville v Coldstream
Seville flexed its muscles as it hosted fellow finals aspirant Coldstream as it geared up for another tilt at the title. The Blues have fared moderately with the bat this season, as many around the Association see this as the only weakness to their powerful lineup. With that in mind, the home team saw this game as a chance to dispel any of these myths. After a slight stutter at the beginning of the innings, the experienced Andy Kay (58, his score not his age) set about leading his side to a decent first-innings total as he teamed with captain Dean Troyhan (70) to have the Blues well set against a flagging Crocs attack. The ever reliable Matthew Jonson (5/52) did his best to keep the visitors in the contest, however his efforts were in vain as Matt Tilney (54*) cashed in on the work of his top order, to advance the score to an impressive 8/267. The Crocs have the batting talent to chase the total, however one would think that the might that is the Seville bowling lineup will have enough class to defend the total.
Yarra Junction v Healesville
In the final Round 14 clash, Yarra Junction hosted Healesville in a game with no bearing on finals positions, however with plenty of meaning to it as the Eagles look to get off the bottom of the table, while the Bloods look to tune up for finals action, and perhaps a home final. Healesville has quietly gone about its business this season, and that’s how its day panned out as it batted first on the lush Yarra Junction oval. The Bloods batted for most of the day to post a competitive 219, and although no batsmen went on to score a huge score, significant contributions from Scott Hamer (59), Jason Savage (51) and Geoff Stock (45) would have pleased captain Stephen James no end. Brothers David (4/43) and Daniel Lever (4/88) ensured the Eagles wouldn’t be chasing too much, however with an inconsistent batting performance this season, the Eagles would have to produce their best against a disciplined Bloods bowling attack if they are to get the points in this one.
DJ Strachan Shield
Seville 8/267 (D. Troyhan 70, A. Kay 58, M. Tilney 54*, M. Jonson 5/52) v Coldstream, Mount Evelyn 9/159 (T. Hancock 57, C. Anderson 28, J. Wright 4/26, S. Young 4/41) v Woori Yallock 2/38 (P. Broussard 23*), Yarra Junction v Healesville 219 (S. Hamer 59, J. Savage 51, G. Stock 45, Dave Lever 4/43, Dan Lever 4/88), Warburton-Millgrove 191 (M. Walker 82, T. Appleton 30, N. Bark 4/49, D. Chesney 3/45) v Hoddles Creek 1/19.
RA Finger Trophy
Healesville 9/253 (B. Slater 88, B. Horner 76, J. Juzwin 3/60, M. Richards 2/38) v Yarra Junction, Coldstream 9/139 (B. Fritsch 43, J. Sedgman 25, T. Petterd 19, G. Woodford 6/45, R. Oates 2/11) v Seville, Warburton Millgrove 2/27 v Hoddles Creek 102 (S. Tipping 23, L. Darwall 4/35), Woori Yallock 5/35 (A. Fergusson 15, M. Hodgetts 4/19) and 2/155 (S. Kennedy 49, C. Jentch 29, N. Hodgetts 1/12) v Gruyere District 1/163 (R. Prouse 74*, N. Hunter 60*, T. Smith 1/29).
C Grade
Healesville 180 (J. Braemar 58, L. Daly 33, R. Boxell 5/52, S. Flutter 3/47) v Yarra Junction, Yarra Glen 235 (A. Cowan 82, T. Davey 55, C. Orren 30, M. McConnell 3/22, L. Winter-Annette 3/41) v Launching Place United, Mount Evelyn 0/51 (S. Kogleman 35*) v Wandin 144 (E. Buckley 31, D. Steele 27, R. Shepherd 3/26, J. Lee 3/33, A. Giblin 2/37).
D Grade
Seville v Coldstream 158 (P. Batchelor 29, R. Culwick 3/37), Launching Place 86 (B. Cole 5/44) v Hoddles Creek 4/202 (J. Pobke 120, M. Jones 61*), Mount Evelyn 317 (T. Schneider 92, D. Westaway 71, A. Vandervlugt 4/123, S. Spaulding 3/49) v Gruyere District, Yarra Junction v Healesville 140 (J. Szabo 34, B. Binion 25, R. Nolan 23, S. Perera 4/26, A. Hewitt 3/56, G. LeBrocq 2/29).
One Day Grade
Seville 2/117 (M. Forshaw 40*, R. Braidner 30*, E. Horgan 1) d Warburton-Millgrove 115 (T. Heywood 46, R. Pearse 3/12, O. Kroeger 3/14), Powelltown 5/103 (D. Marshall 2/20, S. Thompson 30*) d Wandin 96 (J. Rowe 26, S. Sanders 3/19), Silvan 5/155 (J. Rowe 44*, S. Rowe 29, P. Glassborow 23, P. Walsh 2/22, L. Rice 2/39) d Coldstream 9/152 (S. Pegg 41*, P. Murphy 20, N. Simon 17, J. Rowe 2/19, W. Ferguson 2/22), Healesville 7/110 (L. Zanatta 40*, A. Adamson 4/4, A. Smith 2/13) d Yarra Glen 100 (A. Smith 20*, S. Crawford 16, Z. Faudry 3/7).
Under 16
Healesville Blue 16 (J. Hellary 4, J. Mcintosh 5/2, J. Nelson 4/6) v Warburton-Millgrove, Seville v Healesville White 9/192 (D. Senior 53*, C. McGrath 45, T. Mullins 2/19, D. Pinch 1/9), Healesville Red 5/112 (R. Skewes 36, L. Daly 16, R. O’Keefe 12*, D. Kerr 10*) d Coldstream 7/40 (B. Fritsch 19, D. Kerr 3/14, L. Zanetta 2/10, J. Edmunds 1/1), Yarra Junction 8/125 v Hoddles Creek 3/19.
Under 14A
Healesville 9/101 (M. Minney 16, N. Darkin 15, B. Archer 2/9, J. Clare 2/11) v Yarra Glen, Seville 8/206 (R. Say 35, L. Corbett 35, J. Dyason 21, N. McDonald 2/9, A. Marsham 1/10, D. Bailey 1/12 ) v Warburton Millgrove, Coldstream v Launching Place United.
Under 14B
Mount Evelyn 1/47 (A. Whiting 39*) v Yarra Junction 8/101 (J. Cook 38, J. Irwin 12, J. Williams 2/4), Yarra Glen 9/150 (P. Moors 32*, J. Coulson 31, A. Robertson 2/20) v Woori Yallock/Hoddles Creek, Coldstream v Launching Place United.
Under 12
Healesville White v Healesville Red 3/262 (D. Howard-Scales 43*, H. Keeling 40*, L. Chandler 32*, N. Hellary 2/15), Yarra Junction 8/40 (O. Hall 4, M. Farr 3/5, J. Read 2/2) v Warburton 0/92 (N. Andueza 33*, D. Tauber 14*), Marysville v Launching Place United.