By Ian Ferguson
KOOWEERUP had the upper hand against Beaconsfield in the clash between the two leading B-grade teams. The Demons scored an imposing 235 on its home ground, Steve Johnson (61), Mick Glasscock (60) and captain Matt Davey (28) all scoring valuable runs. The 15-year-old Troy McDermott continued to impress in senior ranks by capturing 4/54 from 13 overs, while Nathan Tiberi snared 3/55 from 167 overs for the Tigers. The visitors lost a vital wicket in the final six overs of play and will resume on the shaky total of 1/13.
In an amazing and bowler-dominated day at Upper Beaconsfield 21 wickets fell. The Maroons crashed for 53 when they batted first, Mark Shelton (5/21 from eight overs), Mark Merigan (3/8 from nine overs) and Eddie Duiker (2/14 from 12 overs) sharing the spoils.
Pakenham fared only marginally, being dismissed for 56. Darren Crawford top-scored with a defiant 28 while E. Ileri (5/6 from seven overs) and skipper Scott Pitcher (3/23 off nine overs), gained the bowling honours. Upper Beaconsfield had conceded first-innings points, but a reverse outright result is a distinct possibility now that they have reached 1/17 in their second dig.
Nyora enjoyed another run feast, amassing 7/289 against Clyde. Nathan Smith clouted two sixes in his blazing innings of 77, Brendan Hackett scored 68 and Troy Brokenshire a useful 63 not out. A. Jones gained 4/67 from 16 overs for the Cougars, whose cause was not helped by seven chances being spilled. At stumps Clyde was 1/18 in reply.
Kilcunda-Bass amassed 7/200 against the Emerald B-grade team. The Sharks only advanced to a score of 2/63 at tea on the slow Bass ground, but savaged 109 runs in the final 20 overs of play to reach their formidable total. Assistant coach Paul Mohacsy scored a patient 61 for the combine, while Cameron Williams gained the excellent bowling figures of 6/62 for the Bombers.
Tooradin started promisingly, gliding to 0/42, before losing quick wickets to fall to 5/68 against Merinda Park. The Seagulls’ final total of 7/199 was finally a good effort, thanks largely to Jaymes Leahy, who scored 70.
Cranbourne Meadows’ B-grade side showed greatly improved batting form, scoring a commendable 9/263 against Cardinia. Captain Shane White led the way, scoring a fine 88, while Adam Thornton reached 51. Chris Remy was excellent for the Bulls, capturing 6/82.
In C grade Lang Lang reached the competitive score of 153 against PUT. Alan Jenkins and Brian Christensen both scored resourceful 24s, which rescued the Swamp tigers from the perilous position of 7/85. Chris Buckland and John Fleming both captured two wickets for the Yabbies.
A determined innings of 49 from Tigers veteran Mick McMahon enabled Beaconsfield to tally 148 at Gembrook. Matthew Failla and Grant Whytcross both collected three wickets for the Brookers, who were 2/28 in reply.
Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll held a commanding position against Upper Beaconsfield. The Maroons were bundled out for 105 thanks to some excellent bowling from Chris King (4/25 from 11 overs) and Scott Musgrove (4/16 off seven overs). The Goon advanced to 2/79 by stumps, Alan Downes being undefeated on 38.
Catani had the upper hand against Kilcunda-Bass, savaging the Sharks for a total of 107. Greg Moore produced a stubborn innings of 47 to aid the visitors’ cause, but few others coped with the bowling of Rob Coupe, who snared 4/23 from 17 overs.
Merinda Park scored 126 against Devon Meadows. The Panthers’ Matthew Boswell gained the superb figures of 6/19 from 19 overs, while Luke Wishart snared 3/34 from 11 overs. In reply the Cobras slid to 2/27.
The Lyndhurst Vikings, despite a valuable 52 from Michael Davies, only managed 134 against the Officer C-grade team. Chris Savage enjoyed his unaccustomed role as a bowler, snaring 3/28 from 13 overs.
In D grade evergreen performer Chris McConnell scored a fine 100 and Rick Light an electrifying 74 not out when Kooweerup easily seized first-innings points from Catani. The Blues were earlier obliterated for 71 by the Demons’ attack, Paul Bailey (41) being the only scorer of note for the Blues. McConnell and Brett Hobson both snared three wickets for Kooweerup.
Fine bowling by Julian Powell (6/36 from 18 overs) enabled Emerald to remove Clyde for 128. However the Bombers fared little better, crashing to 6/61 in this bowler-dominated game, Nicholas Miles enjoying the fine figures of 5/19 from 12 overs.
The Saints will come marching in at Nyora, where the local team scored 197 and had the visitors a disastrous 2/1 in reply. Bill Hessels scored a fine 58 for the Saints, while Kevin Toogood enjoyed the almost unbelievable figures of 2/0 from his one over.
The Tiger cubs impressed when Beaconsfield scored 9/181 against Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll. Gus Patti scored an undefeated 49, while Sam Benbow added 24.
An even contest has emerged between neighbouring rivals Pakenham and PUT. The Yabbies only managed 99, despite a fighting hand of 31 from Luke Gunton, while Lions veteran Dennis Porter captured 4/14 from 12 overs. Pakenham was 0/7 in reply.
Cranbourne Meadows had gained first-innings points against the Lang Lang D-grade team. The Swamp Tigers were ambushed for 79 by the marauding Rebels, who advanced to 4/138 in reply. D. Waller (4/22 from 9.2 overs) and Jay Viney (3/19 off 11 overs) took the bowling honours for the Rebels, while teammate Josh Paxton-White scored 41.
In E grade Tooradin soared to 9/262 against Cardinia. Glenn McKay scored an impressive 78, Adam Galea 48 and Kane Latham 48, while the Bulls’ Chris Lemmon snared 3/42 from 18 overs.
Beaconsfield’s Richard Cousins continued his good batting form, scoring 84 against Emerald, when the Tigers totalled 187. The Bombers’ Kane Ely snared 3/15.
Gembrook had gained first-innings points against Officer. The Bullants managed a moderate total of 157, thanks to a half-century from Graeme Cooper, but a blazing 74 not out in just 17 overs by Andrew Shipp enabled the Brookers to charge to 1/141 by stumps. Three sixes were included in Shipp’s robust knock.
Kooweerup reached 167 against Devon Meadows, which was 1/17 in reply, Kieron Harrison top-scored with 60 for the Demons, while Justin Mentiplay snared 3/37 for the Panthers.
Pakenham scored a commanding 201 opposed to PUT. Andrew Coe top-scored with 57, while Nick Sleep reached 47. Dave Merrigan (4/33) and Damien Garth (4/51) were the best Yabbie bowlers.
Merinda Park Red scored an imposing 236 against the Merinda Park White. Tim Inglis scored 81 in this historic intra-club E-grade clash.
There were many high scores in F grade on Saturday. Steve Vansteensel (Kilcunda-Bass), Leigh Noonan, Robert Allen and Chris Smith (all of Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll), Phil Keirnan (Merinda Park), Paul Halfpenny (Upper Beaconsfield), Eddie Lewis and Simon North (both of Pakenham), Michael Wright and Peter Reid (both from PUT) and Joseph Hackett, Craig Fitzpatrick and S. Brown (all of Catani) reached the retirement score of 50.
Duane DeRozario from Clyde (4/20 from six overs), obtained the best bowling figures in F- grade matches.
Top junior score of the day was Austin Van Strijp’s 95 not out for Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll in the under-16 match against Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll.
Two outstanding bowling performances were noted in the under-16 clash between the Beaconsfield Bandits and Officer. The Bandit opening pair of Brad Pitcher and Troy McDermott stole the show with their superb, respective figures of 6/6 from 7.5 overs, and 4/12 from seven overs, while their teammate Madison Andrews also performed well, scoring 47 not out.
PUT Gold under-14 player Aiden Nooy scored a fine 36 against the Beacy Tigers, while Kooweerup’s Ben Ahern scored an undefeated 30 opposed to Kooweerup.
Luke Howard from Devon Meadows White under 14s demonstrated his consistency with the bat on Saturday. For the fifth time in a row, Howard reached a retirement score.
In the same fixture, opposed to PUT, Jarryd Harley and Nathan Worsteling both achieved their highest scores when each reached 15 not out.