By Tyler Lewis
The queries surrounding the strength of Frankston Peninsula will remain in place for another week, after a disappointing – yet not telling – defeat at the hands of Northcote at Bill Lawry Oval on Saturday.
As somewhat expected, a heavily reliance upon boom-recruit James Nanopoulos and young-gun Brodie Symons with the ball at the top was and is the key for Frankston – a key which Northcote played brilliantly in the first innings after the Dragons won the toss and elected to bat.
Nanopoulos and Symons were seen off by Northcote openers, Mark Phelan and Jonty Rushton, before the pair set the platform to attack the Heats’ second tier bowlers.
Phelan grinded his way to 58 off 106 balls, before Jack Lalor and Max O’Sullivan were able to capitalise with a set platform on a deck that had flattened out after a couple hours of sunshine.
While the openers saw off Nanopoulos and Symons, O’Sullivan and Lalor took to the duo of right-armers, leaving Nanopoulos going at a rare ten an over in his second spell with Symons also being on the receiving end of some relentless hitting.
Lalor finished with 77 from 90 balls, while O’Sullivan dispatched 56 from 34, with five boundaries and three maximums.
Chasing 240 for its first win of the season, the Heat got off to a decent start, but lost star batter Ryan Hammel with 38 on the board for just 10.
Symons (31), Nanopoulos (27) and Ghandi (28) were all able to get starts when the game was there to be won, but were unable to go on with a big knock to make inroads on the large total.
Heat coach Paul Boraston would be pleased with the cameo of 31 from 43 from star gloveman Jacques Augustin, but unfortunately for his side, the target was just too high.
Dragon’s all-rounder Jack Lalor was able to re-affirm his chances of collecting the full votes come Jack Ryder Medal night, by also claiming a startling 5/22 to go with his unbeaten 77.
While Frankston are tipped to be a side to push for the finals this year – after the addition of such talent in the off-season – it’s start to the season is looked upon with a shade of rose gold glasses, as a side with such fresh-faces will take some time to gel and find its feet as an outfit.
