Uphill and no one could down Dale

Catani G-Grade opener Peter Adams forces through the off side during the Blues’ run-chase against Merinda Park. Adams made 21 in the Blues’ score of 212. 130758 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

By DAVID NAGEL

WGCA LOWER GRADES
REVIEW – ROUND 5 (Day 2)

ONLY two teams, Merinda Park B Grade and Officer F Grade remain unbeaten in the WGCA lower grades this season after an action-packed Round 5 started to sort the men from the boys.
A blazing G-Grade century to Emerald’s Dale Street (124 not out) and a 10-wicket romp in D Grade, by Catani’s Owen Fitzpatrick (6/26 and 4/24), were the individual highlights on a day when WGCA cricketers just beat home the rain.
Here’s a recap of all the lower grades action.
B GRADE
THE serious nature of Merinda Park’s (9/201) premiership assault was highlighted at Rutter Park, where the Cobras’ top-order glistened in a quality run-chase against Tooradin (184).
Peter Jessop’s (65) first half century for the season, and the continued run-scoring power of Gagandeep Sharma (47), were the calming influences in what was always going to be a serious challenge from the Seagulls. Sharma backed up his Round-3 half-century against Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll with another steady knock that has made him one of the key factors in the Cobras’ rise to the top of the table.
Owen Johnstone (3/25) and Adam Richmond (3/32) could, quite simply, do no more for their skipper Daniel Quinn.
Beaconsfield (164) can thank its three bowling musketeers in Mitch Johnson (4/37), Geoff Bliss (3/19) and Brendan Boon (2/39) for its unlikely victory over Devon Meadows (151) at Perc Alison Oval.
The Panthers had 22 runs already locked in the bank heading into day two, but couldn’t back up their win against Tooradin in Round 4, succumbing to the precision you’d expect from a third-placed team. Bliss has now taken 11 wickets and made 135 runs for the season becoming one of the early stars of the division.
Gembrook (8/183) has savoured its first taste of success since Round 1 after a brilliant lower-order revival got the job done against the previously undefeated Kooweerup (177).
What a battle this was at Lakeside Oval, with Demons’ opener Nathan Voss (6/81) going head to head with the Scott boys, Geordie (39) and Ryan (31), in an entertaining pre-tea session. Voss looked to have gained the upper hand for the Demons, the Brookers struggling to 7/125, before Jeremy Everett (37 not out) and Josh Newman (19) put on a match-winning 58-run stand for the eighth wicket… to keep the Brookers’ finals’ hopes alive.
Home side Upper Beaconsfield (180) has sent Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (59 and 5/70) rolling down the hill after a dominant bowling display on Saturday.
Paul Matthews claimed four first innings wickets for the Maroons, who were never really challenged by the defensive minded Goon. Chad McDonald claimed three scalps in the second dig, the Goon avoiding outright defeat mainly due to the effort and determination of Jack Salan (26).
C GRADE
OFFICER (205) thoroughly deserves its title as early-season flag favourite after the Bullants proved too good for Merinda Park (144) in their top of the table clash at Starling Road.
The Bullants grew as the afternoon unfolded, seeing off a great start from Grant Mills (45) and co, eventually finding the serum to vaccinate against the Cobras’ potent batting line up. The star of the show for Officer was Daniel Irvine (4/42), who backed up his 41 not out from last week with another vintage display with the pill, doing most of the damage as the Cobras slumped from 1/72.
Irvine received great support from Andy Reid (3/36) – who removed Mills – while James Quinn (2/28) claimed the wicket of Luke Bee-Hugo (40) to finish off the contest.
Pakenham (239) has once again strangled its opposition, with its miserly bowling attack in a typically mean mood against Tooradin (104) at Toomuc Reserve.
The Lions’ trundlers have been in red-hot form of late, rolling Lyndhurst Vikings (61) and Cardinia (31 and 105) in their most recent outings, before suffocating the Seagulls on the weekend. Once again, bowling honours went to Jack Melbourne (4/35) and Terry ‘Twinkle Toes’ Smith (3/8), while Rod Berry (1/39) was once again the unlucky bowler.
Berry has only taken five wickets for the season, but his 43 overs have cost just 70 runs, which underlines his importance to the side.
Adam Splatt (28) and Matt Driscoll (22) were best of the beaten brigade.
Another bowler to dominate was Pakenham Upper/Toomuc’s (203) Blake McGrath (5/23), who used his guile and control to nullify Cardinia (98 and 7/169cc) at his home ground.
McGrath doesn’t bowl quickly, but his 18 overs included 11 maidens which gives an indication of how hard he is to get away. Matt Southall (2/8) and talented young leggy Mason Warne (2/15) were others to capture the spotlight.
It may have fallen 179 runs short of its target, but Cranbourne Meadows (170 and 0/58) did show some fight against Lyndhurst Vikings (9/349cc) at Lawson Poole Reserve.
Let’s be honest, the Rebels were never going to win this one, but the efforts of Dave Waller (53), Andy Clappers (32) and Kaine Bundy (29) did show some spirit is left in the Rebels’ cause. Rohan St Clair (4/10) was damaging for the Vikings, while skipper Brendan McCarthy (3/47) locked away three votes after his fine knock of 95 from last week.
D GRADE
KNOWN for his goal-kicking talents during winter, Catani’s (150 and 2/86dec) Owen Fitzpatrick (6/26, 4/24 and 41 not out) had a day in whites he won’t forget against Clyde (55 and 175) at Catani Reserve on Saturday.
Whether with bat or ball, big Owie dominated proceedings on day two, leading the Blues to outright victory and a 14-point gap at the top of the table.
Clyde was hopeful as it resumed its first innings at 1/21, but a devastating spell from Fitzpatrick soon had those hopes put on ice. Owie went bang, bang, bang… and then bang again, to leave the Cougars middle order in tatters and their first innings finished at just 55.
Asked to bat again, Jack Hazendonk (81) and Jeremy Jakupi (52) were outstanding in a 137-union that appeared to snuff out the Blues’ outright hopes.
But Fitzpatrick struck again, ruining the Cougars (175) for a second time, and then, along with Brad McDonald (24 not out), bludgeoned the Blues to maximum points with a rapid-fire 41 not out. Officer (261) has withstood a monumental challenge from Emerald (234) at Worrell Reserve.
The Bullants, who would have been pretty pleased with themselves after day one, had the smiles wiped from their face as Geoff Worrell (98) and Derek Scott (36) led a mid-order charge. Worrell was desperately unlucky not to reach a well-deserved century, losing his wicket to John Armstrong (3/52) late in the day, while Matt Robinson (3/47) and Billy Carlyle (3/51) were other Bullants to walk away taking a deep sigh of relief.
Pakenham Upper/Toomuc (165) defeated Brett Armitage (86)… sorry… Merinda Park (148) at Lyndhurst Secondary College.
Armitage had his best support from extras (31), with no other Cobra reaching double figures in a performance that cost the now sixth-placed side, third place on the ladder.
Jake Abel (4/13) and the bustling Rohan Burns (3/61) were keys for the Yabbies, who escaped after the Cobras reached 5/130 in their chase.
The extreme generosity of SFX Old Collegians (168) has helped Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (7/174) to its first win of the season at the College.
The X-Men contributed 49 extras, 18 more than Tom Medwin (31), who top scored for the Goon, with Russ Jackson (20) and Simon Rogers (20) also in good knick. Leigh Lighten (5/31 off 18) bowled seven maidens in a spell that should have been match-defining for the X-Men.
E GRADE
WITH Devon Meadows resting up after last week’s outright win over Nyora, it was left to second-placed Officer (261) to make the day’s biggest statement against Beaconsfield (57 and 1/77) at Starling Road.
The Bullants crashed through the Tigers with reckless abandon, Lachie Porter (4/11) backing up his maiden century from last week with another polished display, while Jack Langley (3/14) and Greg Henderson (2/11) also proved too hot to handle.
Wayne Holden (33 not out) and Declan McDermott (26 not out) recovered to thwart the Bullants’ push for outright points.
Is Pakenham (4/256) spearhead Dave Nobels (6/39) the most important player in E Grade? You’d have to think so after the spearhead made a stunning return from injury against Kooweerup (146) on Saturday.
Nobels played in Rounds 1 and 2, and the Lions won, but his Round 3 and 4 exoduses with a knee injury saw his side fall to two-straight defeats.
He backed up his Round 2, six-wicket haul, with another, backed up by Jackson Hillard (2/21) and Andy Clarke (2/0) who found James Cottrell (41) as their main stumbling block.
Gembrook (4/199dec) has wedged itself nicely into third position on the ladder after Alan Cook (4/32) and Dean ‘Milo’ McPherson (4/34) finally got the better of a brave Lang Lang (161).
Tim Miller (74) and Max De Longville (22) had the Swampies in contention until the Cook-McPherson duo rose to the challenge. The Brookers put their third place on the line when they host Pakenham this week.
F GRADE
LYNDHURST Vikings (240) has survived a batting clinic from one of the greats in WGCA history to down Pakenham (233) at Singleton Reserve.
Master craftsmen Eddie Lewis (70 not out), a man who has taken on international opposition in the past, remained unbeaten, his Lions falling just eight-runs short of victory in a match that went down to the wire. Lewis took the reins from Rod Downes (62), who held the Lions’ top-order together, in a triumphant fight to the end with Don Francis (4/42), Matt Bennie (2/42) and Paul Van Den Broek (2/45).
Officer (1/284dec) has jumped Pakenham, into top spot, after crushing Pakenham Upper/Toomuc (35 and 36) to claim outright points at Syme Road.
The Bullants needed just 30 overs, with Dean Perrow (3/11) and Gavin George (2/3) in full flight, to end the Yabbies resistance.
Merinda Park (236) has had to settle for first-innings points after Tooradin (40 and 8/196) turned up to play on day two at Warneet Reserve.
First innings points were assured for the Cobras, who had the Seagulls 5/18 overnight, after John Cuthbertson (5/7) made short work of the tail. Cuthbertson (4/47) then made it nine for the match, eventually claiming Joel Mitchell (61), who saved the Seagulls from the embarrassment of outright defeat.
G GRADE
EMERALD (8/280dec) continued its day-one dominance over Pakenham (128 and 119), a brilliant century to Dale Street (124 not out) the highlight of the Bombers’ outright victory over the Lions at Toomuc Reserve.
The Bombers began day two at 6/125, needing just four runs to secure first-innings points. Street and Matt Livermore (56) made short work of that equation before setting out on a 125-run journey for the seventh wicket.
Arshdeep Sodhi (52) and Rob Newell (25) battled hard for the Lions in their second dig, but Livermore (3/32) and Nick Jansen (2/32) had the final say.
Clyde (231) was never in danger against Lyndhurst Vikings (82), with Jordan Maus (3/7), Gareth Tucker (2/19) and Mick King (2/21) leading the Cougars to victory, while Merinda Park (319) had far too many runs on the board for Catani (212).
Nick Phillips (5/54) and Kobe Boswell (3/17) were terrific for the Cobras, while Brayden Hall (35), Matt Hibbert (29) and Liam Adams (28) had good days at the crease for the Blues.