By Russell Bennett
WGCA PREMIER DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 13
Two of the four finals-bound sides in the Premier division have some work to do with the willow with just one round to come before the business end of the 2019/20 season gets underway.
The fourth-placed Clyde, in particular, has some soul-searching to do when it comes to its batting after capitulating for just 85 on Saturday at Toomuc Reserve against reigning premier, Pakenham.
The Cougars’ display was made all the more startling, given the Lions’ tearaway left-armer Jack Ryan could only manage five deliveries in his first over before succumbing to a side strain.
The bulk of the damage for Pakenham was done by the spin of young Mitch Tielen, and super-experienced all-rounder Jason Williams (2/18).
Tielen, in particular, reaped the rewards from the hard work done over his season to date – finishing with the return of 5/23 from a shade under eight overs, taking his season tally in the Premier grade to 10 scalps at just 21.9.
Pakenham star Chris Smith was also particularly impressive with ball-in-hand, continuing a stellar run of form in a campaign that only began in Round 6, while the medium pace of Sean Gramc (1/22) and Dale Tormey (1/8) also asked real questions of the Cougars.
But ultimately, when it came down to it, it must be said that the Clyde batsmen did themselves no favours. There were seven catches taken during the Cougars’ innings – most of those in front of the wicket – as they were rolled for 85 inside 34 overs.
No batsmen reached 20, with Joel Avard and John Simpson top-scoring with 18 and 17 respectively.
While it took Pakenham just over 29 overs to chase the Cougars’ total down, the Lions were clearly under little pressure and seemed to use the opportunity to relish some time out in the middle – in the wake of the recent patchy weather.
Reigning Terry Stephenson medallist Tormey once again led the way with an unbeaten 48.
Tooradin, meanwhile, remains in the top two with a round left to play – and the Gulls know they have the potential to match it with, or beat, the best. They’ve just got to do it right when it counts most.
In their rain-shortened Round 13 clash they stood a very real chance of toppling the Demons at their Denhams Road fortress until a steady stream of wickets fell at inopportune times.
Clearly, the Gulls aren’t at full strength at the moment – with both Matt Cox and Aaron Avery trying to fight their way back from injury in time for the finals.
Still, Neil Peake, who has made a huge impression in his first season at Tooradin, almost led the side to victory on Saturday.
His play, particularly square of the wicket, caused the Demons real headaches in his sparkling 83, but when he fell at 2/128 with the Gulls chasing 228, the visitors lost their next eight wickets for just 73 runs to be all out for 201 in 38 overs.
Kooweerup captain-coach Mark Cooper praised Tooradin’s start with the willow, but acknowledged he addressed “a couple of mindset things” at drinks during the second innings that seemed to have a real impact.
“And we probably just tightened things up a little bit with our bowling, and in the field,” he said.
“We were really able to bowl in partnerships for key stretches there.”
The Demons knew what was on the line – the potential to host two home finals, should they finish on top of the ladder.
But Cooper said that wasn’t really in their conscious mind while they were out in the middle.
Still, the Demons – much like the Lions – are the hunted, and they know they have to be on their game each time they stride out to the middle.
And therein lies one of their biggest strengths so far their season – the improved, consistent form of one of their favourite sons, Chris ‘Wombat’ Bright.
The keeper-batsman has always been hugely capable with the willow – as evidenced by the number of 350 to 450-run seasons to his name.
But this campaign is different. This time, he’s taking his opportunities with both hands and making opposition sides look, frankly, helpless at times.
Of Bright’s improvement, Cooper said “it’s hard to put into words” just how significant it’s been.
The two have worked together closely in the years since Cooper signed on at the club, and Bright has been able to evolve his game from ‘powerful hitter’ to genuine, high-class batsman.
The numbers prove it, too. So far this Premier season he has 648 runs to his name at 54, and – significantly – he’s scored big against every other finals-bound side, as well as the Demons’ old arch rivals from Cardinia.
He’s got two near hundreds (99 and 86) to his name against Pakenham, a huge 142 against Cardinia, and – as of Saturday – another ton, 107 in a match-winning knock against Tooradin.
He played the starring role for the Demons on Saturday, with Cooper and Tyler Clark adding the next highest individual totals with 28 and 31 respectively.
Cooper said Bright had really bought-in to the expectations placed on him as a Premier-grade player.
“We’ve had our ups and downs, but I’m just so rapt with the end product and what we’re getting now,” Cooper said.
“It’s a real joy to watch him bat now – he’s not just that aggressive hitter.”
Cooper said Bright had evolved his mental, physical, and even tactical game over recent years, which has allowed him to score in a number of different avenues, as well as lead the side by example.
There’s no doubt about it, Bright’s individual campaign has been one of the biggest talking points to come out of this season so far.
Make no mistake – Cardinia’s proud run of consecutive Premier grade seasons had been jeopardised this season, and on Saturday the Bulls were again staring down the barrel against a rebuilding Devon Meadows in a battle to stave off relegation back to District.
But, right when they had to, two Bulls at opposing stages of their Premier grade careers stood right up to be counted.
Cardinia was seemingly sitting pretty at 2/53 at stumps on day one – a day heavily impacted by wet weather throughout the region.
But before long on day two on Saturday, the Bulls’ situation had become much more precarious as they stumped to 5/70.
But from there, Matt Welsh – the younger brother of Cardinia captain-coach Bradey – and Justin Berry, who needs absolutely no introduction to south east sporting circles, set about a partnership that not only swung the momentum their side’s way, but delivered a commanding win.
Ultimately they put on 215 for the sixth wicket before Welsh was finally stumped for 127 – his maiden Premier ton.
When the Bulls passed the Panthers’ 140-run total Welsh was on 65, but from the time he was on 70 and Berry 12, the latter commanded the bulk of the strike.
Welsh, in fact, faced just 12 deliveries in the next 11 overs as Berry stormed his way to 60 through a series of imposing strikes.
With just a couple of minutes left before the tea break, Welsh was unbeaten on 85. But when the sides walked off for the day two interval, he’d made his way to 114 – courtesy of 29 off one over, with a number of fielders already set back towards the rope.
Welsh started his innings cautiously, with wickets falling all around him, but still reached his ton at better than a run a ball.
Berry was even more watchful to begin with, and had scored just 12 off his first 63 deliveries before thumping his way to 107 not out – a knock that included five maximums.
Welsh smacked eight sixes, to go along with his 13 fours.
To put the game’s swings and roundabouts into perspective, the Panthers – courtesy of Kyle Salerno (25) and Lucas Carroll (24) – were 0/58 at drinks on day one, before stumbling to 5/75 at tea, and then ultimately being dismissed for 140.
In summing up the contest, Bradey Welsh spoke with genuine pride in his side’s performance – which has cemented their place in the Premier tier for at least another season.
“Both clubs knew what was at stake and I’m pretty proud of the boys,” he said.
“It was a pretty significant day for the club – we’re pretty proud of the fact that, since entering the top tier of the WGCA, we’ve never been relegated.
“We set out to make sure that was still the case, but early on a few contentious calls put the game on a knife’s edge, and – to Devon Meadows’ credit – they attacked early, which they had to do, and they created their chances.
“At 5/70 the game could have easily gone the other way, but when Matt and Bez came together their concentration and focus was clear pretty early on.
“Bez, who is a naturally aggressive player, faced out six or seven maidens, while at the other end Matt started to find the middle.
“What happened after that was pretty special to watch, given the stakes. Neither of them missed a beat.”
Welsh described his younger brother’s knock as “a pretty special innings from a player who is taking control of his game, and fast learning how to get the best out of himself”.
Welsh also spoke of how happy he, and the rest of his team mates, were for Berry as he brought up triple figures of his own.
“To see Bez get his first century for the club, one he set out for at the start of the year, was fantastic,” he said.
“It looks like he will be playing again next year, which is great – we love having him. Bez has great leadership skills and he showed them on Saturday. It was a really mature innings and part of a 215-run partnership that won’t be forgotten at the club.
“In such a big game, to have two blokes make their maiden centuries – and Travis Wheller take his first six-wicket haul – showed the character they possess when it mattered.”
In the remaining contest of the Round, Merinda Park made light work of a particularly disappointing Cranbourne Meadows.
Batting first, the Rebels could only muster 99 in a shade under 37 overs with the Cobras’ attack – minus the injured Jarrod Armitage – led by the likes of Luke Dinger (1/11), Sasindu Perera (1/19), Mat Campbell (2/19), and, significantly, Paul Stockdale (4/21).
As he so often does, star top-order batsman Daniel McCalman led the charge in the Cobras’ reply – top-scoring with an unbeaten 38 as Merinda Park calmly reached 3/100 in the 35th over.
