By CHRIS ANDERSON
THE race for finals action has certainly hit a hot point in the Yarra Valley’s premier competition, DJ Strachan Shield, as a couple of unlikely teams threw their hats into the ring with stirring victories over the weekend.
At the Christmas break, few would’ve given Mount Evelyn and Seville a chance of featuring in the final sprint to the line as both teams battled the inconsistencies of youth.
However, both now find themselves firmly in the mix for finals action as they sit either side of the finals line.
Mount Evelyn were sitting stone cold last at the break; and despite not playing bad cricket in the first half of the season, they found their best just didn’t stack up.
Facing Healesville at home, the Rovers knocked off their second top-four victim in as many rounds to continue their unbeaten run in the New Year, and claim an unlikely position in the top four.
After bumbling their way through the first week with a spritely, yet wasteful 191 the first week, the visitors needed to up the ante with the ball to claim victory.
After two early wickets the previous week, day two became a dogged battle between bat and ball.
Unheralded Brandon D’Amore did his best to anchor the chase; and despite some probing bowling from all the Mount Evelyn bowlers, he was able to ride the bumps, courtesy of some dour partnerships.
Unfortunately for the Bloods, this resistance wasn’t accompanied with any great movement on the scoreboard; and when Mount Evelyn were able to break through the wall, the home side quickly found themselves teetering at 7/55 close to tea.
Unperturbed, Healesville continued their progress after tea; and with Chance Burridge (34) and Dale Senior (26) finding little difficulty with some disciplined batting, the score and overs continued to tick over.
The Bloods did find themselves within touching distance of victory, but with the required run rate ballooning out and limited wickets in hand.
The Mout Evelyn spinners got their reward in polishing off the last few wickets to close the Healesville innings at 123.
The Mount Evelyn bowling effort was truly a team display, but most pleasing for the visitors would’ve been the form of their two young spinners, Jed Thompson (2/19) and Jon Williams (2/13), who fearlessly put the finishing touches on the innings after Healesville threatened.
Seville were the other big winners of the weekend as their victory against Hoddles Creek have them equal fourth on wins with Mount Evelyn.
Seville have battled to take it up to their opponents this season with their young squad, but they have made progress, and collected some wins along the way.
They were able to post 219 on day one, and would’ve entered day two with great expectations.
Standing in their way was a Hoddles Creek line-up, which themselves would’ve seen the chase as their best chance to push for finals action in the top flight.
So with the day well set, the Hoddles Creek innings panned out as a fascinating battle between bat and ball.
With Seville’s young quicks unable to make significant early inroads, Seville captain Andy Kay threw the ball to new recruit Daneth Lanka; and the young Sri Lankan and with great skill he slowly turned the game in Seville’s favour.
Hoddles Creek found some resistance once again courtesy of their mainstays, Jeremy (47) and Brenton Derix (40); and for a good period of time the pair looked as if they would put their team in a winning position.
Meanwhile, at the other end, Lanka continued to toil with his off-spin; and once he finally wore the Derix brothers down, the door opened for the Blues to surge to victory.
Courtesy of Lanka’s 7/64, the visitors were able to close out the valiant Wombats for 165 to record an important win.
Meanwhile, at Yarra Junction, the Woori Yallock juggernaut continued to roll on with little fuss or fanfare.
After scraping their way through to 210, courtesy of some runs from their lower order, the Tigers would have a challenge on their hands against Yarra Junction, which sensed the Sharks circling, ready to displace them inside the top four.
Unfortunately for the home side, their finals aspirations took a dent as they were unable to compete against a wonderful Woori Yallock attack.
Despite doing their best to see off the inform Woori Yallock opening pair, and in the process giving themselves a footing from which they could challenge the total, the Eagles were unable to counter the guile of Dan Mock.
Mock proved his value is not just limited to the bat as his wily mix of swingers netted him masterful figures of 6/16 and reduced the Yarra Junction chase to a crawl, as he helped the visitors to an impressive 111-run victory, bowling out their hosts for 99.
So the stage is set for an intriguing Round 12 as the finals run heats up.
Hoddles Creek have been drawn the bye; and now know if they are to have any chance of squeaking into the top four, they need to win the final two games of the season.
DJ Strachan Shield
Woori Yallock 210 (D. Worlley 77, R. Smith 25, M. King 24, S. Young 24, K. Bomford 4/59, N. Bark 3/52, Q. Hodgkinson 3/46) d Yarra Junction 99 (M. Scott 27, M. Robinson 17, D.Mock 6/16), Mt Evelyn 191 (G. Fraser 53, D. Cupido 40, C. Burridge 3/57) d Healesville 123 (C. Burridge 34, D. Senior 26, K. Jones 3/27, B. Jones 2/13, J. Williams 2/13); Seville 219 (M. Sondergeld 46, J. McInnes 44, M. Batten 3/14, Dave Chesney 1/29) d Hoddles Creek 9/165 (J. Derix 47, B. Derix 40, D. Lanka 7/64). Warburton-Millgrove v bye
RA Finger Trophy
Healesville 6/172 dec. (A. Hamer 73no, M. Minney 30, R. Williams 3/59 R. Wilson 2/42) d Mount Evelyn 107 (R. Rawson 38, G. Shellard 4/23, B. Binion 2/21) and 0/87 (D. Westaway 40no, R. Rawson 40no). Gruyere 227 (J. Carroll 80, A. Waixel 27, J. Cook 4/48, D. Chaproniere 2/35) d Yarra Junction 125 (J. Jenkinson 32, T. Bickley 25, M. Tilney 4/24, B. Young 2/17). Woori Yallock 8/257 (P. Broussard 123, M. Arnold 50, D. Chesney 3/47, B. Furness 2/17) d Hoddles Creek 115 (B. Bountain 23, M. Jones 23, S. Morgan 4/32, C. Ferguson 2/7) and 4/67 (M. Jones 26, C. Ferguson 2/0), Warburton-Millgrove 199 (I. Andueza 104, T. McKail 34, D. Whelan 4/61, B. Walsh 4/48) d Coldstream 191 (B. Walsh 75, H. Bean 28, C. Morgan 6/62, N. Andueza 2/25), Wandin 185 (T. Thorne 41, L. Sinnott 35, J. Oakley 29no, M. Proctor 5/48) d Seville 153 (A. Dipietro 44, R. Oates 16, L. Roberts 16, C. Uzman 6/40).
C Grade
Yarra Glen 7/186 (G. Braden 89, J. Orren 36, J. Holden 3/63, G. LeBrocq 2/5) d o/r Yarra Junction 71 (S. Thomas 27, G. LeBrocq 12, J. Woods 4/16, G. Braden 4/20) and 100 (S. Thomas 24, H. Lubeck 23, J. Woods 2/9, G. Braden 2/9), Launching Place 9/189 (B. Toaeuber 67, M. Mconnell 34, B. Dunne 4/23, S. Thompson 2/57) d Powelltown 8/104 (D. Sharpe 29, B. Dunne 20, D. Colling 2/20, C. Hore 2/32) and 7/71(J. Waters 20, B. Dunne 19, D. Colling 4/21, L. Winter Annette 2/15). Marysville v Healesville
D Grade (split innings)
Yarra Junction 9/279 (D. Robertson 83, C. Long 69no, B. Clarke 31, L. Long 26, S. Lowe 4/58) d o/r Gruyere 9/135 (F. Young 23, M. Bluett 23, N. Dowdell 3/30, L. Long 2/33, A. Clark 2/34) and 8/115 (F. Young 36, B. Clark 2/2, D. Odea 1/1, C. Neil 1/8), Coldstream 135 (C. Dikschei 42, N. Taylor 24 H. Thompson 3/20) d Mount Evelyn 23 (M. Pezzimenti 6/2 (including hat-trick), A. Cummins 2/5) and 46 (D. Taylor 4/4, C. Steele 3/10), Wandin 7/ 294 (B. McKenzie 124, B. Sinnott 97, A. Dalm 2/9, J. McKenna 2/38) d o/r Seville 125 (R. Culwick 32, S. Mundie 23, M. Sinnott 2/8, M. Oakley 3/0, B. Sherwell 2/14) and 120 (R. Culwick 42, Z. Greenfell 34, B. McKenzie 2/2, B. Sinnott 3/9), Launching Place d Yarra Glen (forfeit)
One day grade
Hoddles Creek 9/180 (J. Lawrence 41no, M. Porter 32no, A. Randall 21, J. Nelson 3/7, J. McIntosh 2/7) d Warburton Millgrove 171 (J. Nelson 46, J. McIntosh 42, F. Saurine 19). Coldstream 1/120 (KQP 37, S. Kollosche 31, J. Betts 1/19) d Healesville 113 (S. Gamble 45, R. Nolan 32, D. Pezzimenti 4/21), Healesville-Toolangi 6/160 (J. North 42no, D. Plunkett 40no, R. Dipietrantonio 1/9) d Silvan 77 (T. Martin 22, S. Dennett 4/13), Mount Evelyn 0/172 (T. Hancock 43no, H. Tindley-Roe 43no, A. Taylor 42no) d Wandin 9/165 (M. Alderman 27, D. Alderman 26, D. Trembath 26, T. Hancock 2/14, M. Duke 2/6), Seville 4/137 (R. Pearse 41no, A. Knight 40no) d Powelltown 127 (B. Simpson 51no, A Knight 3/16)
Under 16
Warburton-Millgrove 0/8 v Yarra Glen 8/112 (P. Moores 51, J. Lusk 25, F. de Varga 3/13, N. Andueza 2/14), Mount Evelyn 4/184 (A. Brisbane-Flynn 50no, T. Cromie 50no, K. Yeoman 1/19, B. Thomas 1/22) v Yarra Junction, Healesville v Launching Place/Wandin 3/155 (L . Sinnott 44, M. Pezzimenti 41no, B. Nielson 2/21), Seville v bye
Under 14
Wandin/Launching Place 9/161 (J. Birnie 33no, M. Bradly 28no, F. Lever 3/25 T. Cooney 2/13) v Healesville White, Yarra Glen v Warburton Millgrove 4/134 (A. Nelson 27no, D. Cerveri 26no, L. Nettlefold 1/11, A. Pinder 1/7), Seville v Yarra Junction/Hoddles Creek 149 (E. Leeds 40no., H Basset 23no., C. Frankovic 23. L O’Dea 4/14), Healesville Red v bye
Under 12A
Warburton Millgrove v Healesville Red (no play), Healesville White v Hoddles creek 8/110 (O. Simpson 29no, A. Hall 8, J. Hammond 4/4), Marysville 7/7 (P. Birtchnell 4, T. Ungerbok 3/0, D. Finch 2/1, F. Lea 1/1, L. Sheppard 1/1) v Mount Evelyn 5/94 (T. Ungerbok 16no, L. Shepperd 15no, B. Jones 11no, P. Birtchnell 2/10), Seville v bye
Under 12B
Coldstream 4/151 (H. Wheeler 17no, E. Smith 16no, Chantelle Hermansen 1/12, Katrina Taeuber 1/13) v Launching Place, Yarra Glen 7/168 (A. Thompson 25no, C. Adamson 22no, R. Humphreys 2/16) v Yarra Junction, Gruyere v Healesville Blue
