By CHRIS ANDERSON
SATURDAY had cricketers wondering when summer was going to arrive as cool, drizzly conditions greeted the men in white across the Yarra Valley.
Fortunately, the rain only affected one game, allowing the senior cricketers a chance to continue their push towards finals action, and the junior cricketers an opportunity to restart their season as the school holidays came to a close.
For the DJ Strachan Shield game, only one game was left in the balance after week one, and games played out as expected as Warburton-Millgrove and Mount Evelyn got the job done and enhanced their finals positions, while Hoddles Creek showed they have the determination and grit to win games, it’s just that sometimes they don’t quite have the skill and depth to deliver.
In the top-of-the-table clash at Seville, Warburton-Millgrove all but won the game on day one, needing a mere 12 runs to take first innings points.
The big question was would they push for outright points to emphatically claim flag favouritism in the run home.
The Burras knocked off the target with relative ease, then pushed to build a sizable first innings lead.
With Dan Lever (34) leading the way, the visitors declared on 7/185, a lead of one hundred.
Experienced campaigners Dean Troyhan (3/43) and Matt Tilney (3/54) ensured things didn’t get carried away; however, the door was open for an outright victory.
Stung by the events of last week, Seville quickly shut the door on any thoughts of a second collapse.
The Blues knocked off the deficit with the loss of only one wicket when both captains decided to pull stumps.
The highlight of the second day was the emergence of talented Seville youngster Mitch Dall, who looked at ease compiling a masterful 68 not out under immense pressure to protect the rest of his batting line-up from collapse.
Warburton-Millgrove now assumes complete control at the top of the ladder and will take some beating in the run home.
They will relish a match-up against third-placed Woori Yallock to continue to put the pressure on their challengers.
On the other hand, Seville now come off two losses in a row and find themselves in a battle to secure a home final, and if things get worse, perhaps their place in the top four.
One would think a trip to Hoddles Creek will give them an ideal opportunity to reverse their fortunes.
Mount Evelyn gave themselves some breathing space in the top four, accounting for a dogged Yarra Junction.
Well in control of the contest after day one, with 55 runs to score with eight wickets in hand, the Rovers made a slow, but steady start to the day as opener Dan Fraser (55) made the runs at one end, while youngster Jon Williams held firm at the other against some good, probing bowling from the Eagles.
A rain break gave the Eagles a chance to re-group, and plan their final assault, and it must’ve worked, as they finally broke the stubborn partnership, and with a couple of wickets to follow there was an air of nervousness that suddenly arrived for the visitors.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, their total just wasn’t enough to have Mount Evelyn under consistent pressure, and a series of boundaries from the bat of Luke Jones (34) quickly closed the gap, and ensured victory for the Rovers.
Mount Evelyn now find themselves a game and a half inside the top, but with a tough run home, they know that victory against Healesville next round is a must, as a loss will have them back in a dog fight.
Meanwhile, Yarra Junction has a couple of weeks off to gear itself for a must-win pair of games if they are to feature in finals action.
In the final game of the round, Hoddles Creek gained some much-deserved rewards for their toils this season, as they edged passed Healesville in a clash for pride for both sides.
Healesville posted a challenging total of 173 on the first day, and all was set for an intriguing second day of action.
Although it took 71 overs to get there, the Wombats always looked in control of the chase as their most experienced, and talented, batsmen gritted their teeth against a steady Healesville attack.
Captain and opener Michael Batten ensured the visitors made the best possible start, compiling 58, but with his wicket and a couple others a long way from the target, one thought the Bloods could capitalise on some weaknesses.
However, Hoddles Creek blue bloods, Brenton and Jeremy Derix, made sure their beloved Wombats wouldn’t cough up this one, and their masterful, well-paced unbeaten partnership led their team to a well-deserved seven-wicket victory.
Hoddles Creek will now set task for the run home with their sights on more victories and removing themselves from the bottom of the ladder.
A game against Seville will be a tough place to start, however, with the Blues stumbling, the door is open.
For Healesville on the other hand, they need some much-needed success to make something of a wretched season.
DJ Strachan Shield
Hoddles Creek 3/174 (M. Batten 58, B. Derix 43no, J. Derix 32no, L. Zanatta 2/20) d Healesville 173 (S. Hamer 65, A. Hamer 41, Dave Chesney 4/56, N. Bark 2/24, B. Derix 2/38); Mount Evelyn 8/118 (D. Fraser 55, L. Jones 34, C. Spaulding 4/10, P. Ford 3/34) d Yarra Junction 104 (H. Wilson 27, M. Hottes 20, C. Anderson 3/12 and J. Thompson 3/15); Warburton-Millgrove 7/185 dec. (Dave Lever 54, Dan Lever 34, D. Troyahn 3/43, M. Tilney 3/54) d Seville 85 (B. Caldwell 21no, M. Dall 15, Dan Lever 3/21) and 1/106 (M. Dall 68no).
RA Finger Trophy
Woori Yallock 176 (T. Diggins 37, A. Rowe 35, C. Dikshei 4/48, B. Walsh 2/13) d Coldstream 112 (S. Phillips 32, B. Walsh 31, S. Morgan 5/43, B. Johnson 3/26); Hoddles Creek 5/259 (L. Rowe 89, J. Pobke 60, P. Jones 50, D. Kerr 3/76) drew with Healesville 7/482, Yarra Junction 9/227 (J. Jenkinson 79, J. Lawrence 65, I. Hawkey 5/54, D. Fraser 2/45) d Mount Evelyn 160 (I. Hawkey 50, M. Whitehead 35, D. Chaproniere 4/14, R. Boxell 3/43), Warburton-Millgrove vs Seville (no scores).
C Grade
Wandin 7/306 (L. Painter 155, R. Smith 43, L. Winter-Annette 6/114) d Launching Place 183 (D. Colling 41, L. Winter-Annette 36, L. Thomas 27, D. Thorne 3/36, R. Aitken 2/29); Yarra Glen 160 (A. Cowan 75, S. Neilson 5/27) d Healesville 144 (J. Braemar 65, B. Spencer 3/22, D. Whelan 3/37); Gruyere 5/203 (A. Waixel 110, M. Leeds 3/32) d Seville 120 (L. Corbett 35, L. Roberts 23, J. Harding 8/31); Yarra Junction 9/205 (G. Thompson 42, J. Holden 33, E. Buckley 31, K. Bomford 26, B. Norman 4/34) d Marysville 204 (C. Franklyn 61, L. Fisher 34, L. Roland 32, S. Elliott 25, K. Bomford 6/66, D. Flutter 2/25).
D Grade
Coldstream 155 (L. Creedy 38, A. Cummins 32, T. Spencer 4/34) d Yarra Glen 110 (P. Moors 30, L. Creedy 5/12, N. Simon 4/24); Wandin 4/224 (T. Doolan 105) d Launching Place 200 (A. Cope 66, T. Doolan 3/25); Seville 258 (A. Spargo 86, C. Hirst 42, N. Waixel 3/27, B. Young 2/44) d Gruyere 9/158 (B. Young 50, S. Lowe 48, M. Proctor 4/33, T. Mullins 3/5). Powelltown vs Yarra Junction (no scores), Mount Evelyn vs Bye
One Day Grade
Seville 167 (R. Pearse 58no, C. Tanner 35, B. Darcy 3/14) d Healesville White 82 (J. Kay 23, A. Bottrell 4/2, D. Bakken 2/19); Mount Evelyn 1/112 (T. Hancock 40no) d Yarra Junction 101 (S. Thomas 40no, B. Guest 33, R. Hancock 4/8); Silvan 115 (R. Dipietrantonio 50, S. Wynd 3/20, C Darwall 2/2) d Warburton 103 (T. Heyward 41, M. King 2/15), Woori Yallock vs Hoddles Creek (no scores), Healesville Red vs Bye.
Under 16
Yarra Glen 5/272 (D. Whealn 52no, A. Adamason 52no, L. Evans 51no, J. Clare) vs Launching Place; Warburton Millgrove 0/13 vs Seville 134 (C Gall 66, L Corbett 18, J Buller 12*, M Arnold 4/28, J Neale 2/26), Mt Evelyn vs Yarra Junction (no scores), Coldstream/Wandin 4/13 vs Healesville 8/101
Under 14
Healesville Red 125 (M. Hall 24, H. Keeling 22no, J. Read 2/9, N. Andueza 2/11) vs Warburton Millgrove, Healesville/Launching Place vs Seville 8/229 (T. Bissells 55no, C. Frankovic 42no, T. Garner 40no, T. Spargo 40no, Z. Kennedy 2/11, D. Tauber 2/12, J. Garth 2/15), Yarra Junction 9/93 (T. Reed 33, E. Tazzyman 18, P. Heaphy 2/7, C. Mole 2/10, B. Griffiths 2/11) vs Mount Evelyn, Yarra Glen 118 (K. McDonald 25, N. Evans 20, A. Steele 2/15, M. Sinnott 1/3, L. Sinnott 1/3) vs Wandin/Coldstream 1/10.
Under 12A
Seville vs Healesville White 8/125 (T. Fraser 18no, F. Lever 18no, E. Van Beek 1/4), Hoddles Creek 9/218 (O. Simpson 33no, D. Ward 31no, C. Winter-Annette 3/26 R. Hampton 2/13) v Launching Place.
Under 12B
Healesville Blue vs Healesville Red 7/160 (H. Fry 31no, A. Boyle 18, C. Agnew 2/7 M. Hirst 2/17), Mount Evelyn 6/181 (P. Murphy 32no, B. Jones 25no, L. Shepard 20no, D. Finch 19no, E. Oaten 3/11) vs Marysville.
