By CHRIS ANDERSON
CRICKET action around the Yarra Valley is increasing in intensity as teams clamber to establish themselves in the upper rungs of the ladder.
After five rounds, there is a log jam of teams hovering around the top four as two-day cricket is throwing up some hotly fought contests.
Woori Yallock continues to impress in their title defence as they made short work of a sizeable chase against Hoddles Creek.
The Wombats would’ve been well pleased with their day one total of 195.
Despite facing a strong Woori Yallock batting line-up, they would’ve felt that if they could take early wickets then they would be right in the hunt.
That proved to be the case as a lack of early wickets enabled the Tigers to control the chase from the beginning.
For the second game in a row, a vital opening partnership between Ryan Smith (72) and Mick Dwyer (51) closed the door on any chances the visitors had of causing an upset.
In the end, the Tigers made short work of the total, cruising to the target with eight wickets in hand, sending an ominous warning to the rest of the competition.
With a top-order in complete control of their game and a bowling line-up that possesses skill and variety, Woori Yallock are now comfortably the team to beat as they now have extended their lead at the top of the ladder.
Next up for the Tigers are Healesville, which have had to bide their time courtesy of a bye, and will be fully aware of the challenge ahead.
Hoddles Creek, on the other hand, need to bounce back against a resurgent Yarra Junction, in full knowledge that they need to find a win to restore confidence and keep themselves entrenched in the four.
Yarra Junction were the big winners of the round, outlasting Warburton-Millgrove in a classic two-day encounter.
On the slow Yarra Junction oval, the home side needed to chase a tricky target of 163 to take the points.
Patient bowling, and a slow outfield, made life tough early for the Eagles openers, but they were up to the challenge in the knowledge that a solid start to the innings would set up a successful chase.
Marcus Hottes rarely gets much kudos for his batting, but over recent seasons he has been the rock of the Yarra Junction top order and adds the grit to a powerful and fast-scoring top order.
His innings of 58 was the foundation to an opening stand of 56, while he was good support for the fast-scoring Quinton Hodgkinson (45) and Cam Spaulding (26) in building a dominant, albeit patient, position the home side had put themselves in.
Just when they were about to close the book on this contest, Burra star all-rounder David Lever (5/50) turned the game on its ear with an inspiring spell which saw the Eagles lose 5/23 and put a tremor among the faithful.
Unfortunately for the visitors, this is where the challenge ended, and gritty fight from the remaining batsmen saw Yarra Junction get home with three wickets in hand, and seven overs from stumps.
The win sees Yarra Junction on the march after a disappointing start to the season.
The Eagles will relish the opportunity to take on a stumbling Hoddles Creek, and a win would have them right in the mix heading towards the Christmas break.
Warburton-Millgrove on the other hand need to bounce back against a desperate Mount Evelyn as they seek some consistency to their up and down start to the season.
Mount Evelyn finds themselves entrenched at the bottom of the ladder after a disappointing showing against Seville.
Seville batted patiently on day one to post a score of 171, and one would’ve thought that the Mount Evelyn batting line-up would’ve taken some lessons on putting together a patient innings on the slow outfield.
From the outset, the scoring rate wasn’t going to be the issue, as the Rovers found enough ways to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Three early wickets to Matt Hadlum had the visitors on the back foot, but a pair of quickfire and significant partnerships from Gareth Fraser with brother Daniel, and then Brad Jones had the Rovers on top at 4/116 within sight of the tea interval.
In a stroke of desperation, and good management, Hadlum was tossed the ball for a second spell, and in combination with Ron Sandfort the pair made a mockery of the chase.
Hadlum zeroed in on the stumps to claim masterful figures of 7/48, while Sandfort feasted on some poor Mount Evelyn batting to secure 3/28.
In the end what looked to be a promising chase quickly turned into a disaster as the visitors were dismissed 40 runs short of their target.
Mount Evelyn now have to quickly turn things around if they are to stay in touch with the competition, and will have to do so against a Warburton-Millgrove side that could serve up anything.
Meanwhile, buoyed by the win, Seville now have a couple of weeks off, courtesy of the bye, to plan their attack towards Christmas with hope that a couple of wins before the break could see them putting their hands up for finals action.
DJ Strachan Shield
Yarra Junction 7/163 (M. Hottes 58, Q. Hodgkinson 45, C. Spaulding 26, David Lever 5/50) d Warburton-Millgrove 9/162 (M. Walker 48, David Lever 30, A. Humphrey 29no, T. Ottrey 3/18, C. Spaulding 2/48). Seville 171 (A. Kay 48, A. DiPietro 38, L. McGookin 32, C, Anderson 4/38) d Mount Evelyn 131 (G. Fraser 48, M. Hadlum 7/48, R. Sandfort 3/28), Woori Yallock 2/196 (R. Smith 72, M. Dwyer 51, L. Smith 37no, McLaughlan 1/10, B. Derix 1/34) d Hoddles Creek 195 (M. Robinson 57, B. Derix 51, B. Hayes 3/36, S. Young 3/42). Healesville v bye
RA Finger Trophy
Wandin 224 (T. Thorne 83, L. Painter 42, T. Williams 4/59, A. Whiting 3/21) d Mount Evelyn 148 (D. Westaway 35, A. Whiting 35no, C. Usman 4/32, T. Thorne 2/5, J. Oakley 2/26). Coldstream 9/121 dec (B. Walsh 38, K. D’Atri 25, Doc Chesney 3/16, J. Pobke 2/29) d Hoddles Creek 120 (J. Pobke 54, M. Palmer 3/27, D. Whelan 3/29) and 3/45 (M. Jones 33no, D. Whelan 3/12). Healesville 189 (B. Damrow 55, C. Burridge 29 B. Nightingale 3/18, D Chaproniere 3/73) d Yarra Junction 90 (M. Hammond 17, M. Richards, 12 M. Peck 4/14 C. Burridge 4/44), Seville 8/275 (R. Oates 69, J. Mullins 72, B. Thorneycroft 5/59, J. Jufferman 1/31) d Warburton-Millgrove 169 (S. Watson 53, T. Appleton 52 J. Mullins 2/22, L. Johnson 3/17). Gruyere 7/210 dec (L. Aitkins 100no, R. Prouse 23, M. Arnold 3/58, M. White 2/47) d Woori Yallock 83 (R. Prouse 4/15, G. Sweetten 3/38) and 2/156 (D. Worlley 101no, P. Broussard 34no, G. Sweetten 2/17)
C Grade
Healesville 175 (S. Fawdry 36, T. Cavill 34, R. Hodgins 4/41, B. Stewart 3/34) v Marysville (no day 2 scores), Yarra Glen 10/161 (T. Davey 45 C. Hoare 5/41) def Launching Place 10/128 (C. Hoare 36, B. Taeuber 31, P. Moors 3/11, J. Orren 3/11, T. Spencer 2/4), Yarra Junction v bye
D Grade
Yarra Glen 9/50 (L. Coulson 27, B. Young 5/24) & 2/73 (J. Evans 42*, J. Peters 14*, B. Young 2/12) def by Gruyere 9/156 dec (B. Young 41, S. Lowe 18, J. Evans 5/18), Mt Evelyn 9/284 (M. Darvell 111, M. Rustichelli 30, G. Haken 22, M. Oakley 4/47, M. Lamont 3/44) def by Wandin 4/304 (B. McKenzie 88, T. Ward 56*, B. Hands 49), Coldstream 9/204 (N. Taylor 112 A. Cummins 27 M. Young 3/30 M. Bradley 2/6) def Launching Place 10/127 (A. Cope 33, B. Bradley 25, D. Annette 24, L. Mitchell 6/22, A. Cummins 3/27), Healesville 10/24 (L. Barclay 8, L. Hellary 5, P. Blight 7/15, S. Thompson 3/7) and 10/97 (S. Neilson 25, L. Barkley 23, S. Thompson 4/14 D. Sharp 2/10 ) def by Powelltown 6/140 dec (P. Blight 48, D. Anderl 25, P. Rallis 3/44, L. Hellary 2/17)
One Day Grade
Hoddles Creek 6/265 (A. Randall 41no, D. Rowe 40no, T. Broadway 39no, M. Goffi 35, M. Smith 31, A. Steele 2/39) d Coldstream 125 (S. Kollosche 40, B. Horsefield 3/18, A. Edmonds 2/5, M. Goff 2/18). Powelltown 4/197 (G. McRorie 40no, B. Simpson 40no, B. Mackey 2/20, D. Ebbels 1/14) d Healsville 107 (S. Dennett 29, J. Plunkett 20, P. Dunne 3/13, A. Nettlefold 2/11), Wandin 7/181 (D. Trembath 42, D. Alderman 40no, H. Lubeck 2/18) lost to Yarra Junction 7/193 (J. Dicker 44no, K. Dark 41no, N. Dowdell 41no, L. Long 26, M. Lanham 2/11), Mount Evelyn 9/123 (J. Taylor 29, A. Cannata 2/5) d Silvan 9/119 (J Dietzel 35, T Hancock 1/1). Seville 5/89 (S. Hudson 42no) d Warburton-Millgrove 81 (J. Macintosh 25, P. Dall 2/2, L. Durwood 2/14)
Under 16s
Warburton-Millgrove 8/142 (F. Surine 29, F. De Varga 24, B. Thomas 3/28) def Yarra Junction 64 (B. Thomas 13, T. Reed 12, T. Walker 2/3, M. Newell 3/4), Yarra Glen 5/170 (L. Crawford 50no, L. Coulson 22, N. Hellary 2/17, N. Darkin 2/21) d Healesville 152 (N Darkin 55, D. H-Scales 21, L. Coulson 3/4, A. Beath 3/25). Mount Evelyn 3/119, (A. Brisbane Flynn 50no, B. Westaway 27no, J. Coutts 13, C. Hirst 3/11) d Seville 115 (T. Bissells 50no, C. Hirst 19, H. Thompson 3/6, A. Brisbane-Flynn 2/16, L. Walker 1/0), Launching Place-Wandin v bye
Under 14s
Yarra Junction 7/130 (D. Rowe 47, J. Ketelaar 26, D. Pezzimenti 2/7, S. O’Connor 1/5) Yarra Glen 76 (D. Pezzimenti 17, B. Kellett 9, N. Johnson-Shortis 4no, L. O’Dea 3/5), Healesville White 6/140 (F Lever 40no, N Hilderbrand 31no, A. Nelson 3/9, J. Bourke 1/9) d Warburton-Millgrove 119 (A. Nelson 35, R. Nyko 18, S. North 3/35, T. Fraser 2/8), Wandin/Launching Place 142 (J. Birnie 37, C. Winter-Annette 18, S.Gebert 3/11, M.Hall 2/14) d Healesville Red (H. Keeling 28no, T. Darkin 21, D. Hummer 5/19, J. Birnie 1/4), Seville v bye
Under 12A
Warburton/Millgrove 3/134 (B. Humphrey 16no, J. Sharp 13no, A. Hall 1/5) d Hoddles Creek 8/91 (O. Simpson 24no, L. Payne 13no, J. Fritzlaff 12, P. Hunyh 3/2, P. Wilson 1/7). Mount Evelyn 113 (P. Murphy 21no, D. Finch 18no, H. Fleming 2/5, L. Timony 2/20) d Seville 87 (D. Briggs 27, L. Sheppard 3/4). Healesville White 6/140 (C. Anderson 25, J. Hammond 19no, R. Wison 2/18, D. Birtchnell 2/18) d Marysville 8/76 (E. Oaten 12, P. Birchnell 11no, C. Frazzetto 2/2, C. Dennis 2/6)
Under 12B
Yarra Glen 9/136 (C. Adamson 26no, A. Thompson 24, R. Vassallo 2/9, K. Dight 2/28) d Gruyere 8/133 (L. Rogers 29, T. Noar 16no, C. Adamson 3/8, J. Fricke 2/16), Yarra Junction 7/114 (R. Bomford 19no, R. Foley 18 ,T. Elliott 2/7, N. Smith 2/9) d Coldstream 74 (B. Kollosche 9no, R. Foley 3/8). Launching Place 144 (L. Anderson 17, L. Parker 8no, A. Darkin 2/16, R. Brendish 2/2) d Healesville Blue 4/125 (Lily Darkin 18no, E. Prentice 10no, O. Powell 1/13)
Under 10s
Coldstream 5/36 (Harvey 17, Keisha 8, Thomas 8, Malaki 4/5) played Hoddles Creek 3/33 (Ezra 12, Malaki 8), Launching Place (1) 4/69 (L. Parker 18, D. Smith 10) d Launching Place (2) 7/32 (Ellen Bradley 11, Chantelle Hermansen 10), Woori Yallock 2/52 (Caleb 9, Jack 9, Rylie 9, Coby 1/, Ethan 1/) d Warburton-Millgrove 7/16 (Lachie 7, Mitchell 7, Coby 7, Brock 2/, Noah 2/, Baylin 1/).
Under 13 Girls – Association Game
RDCA 4/132 d Yarra Valley 6/107.
