Sport
2 March, 2023
A reserve finals race sorted — now it’s time to work out who finishes where
The top four is done and dusted for season 2022/23. Now it’s just a matter of who finishes where as the season heads towards the business end. Clunes V Avoca Avoca’s last chance to make the finals fizzled out when rain stopped their game with...
The top four is done and dusted for season 2022/23. Now it’s just a matter of who finishes where as the season heads towards the business end.
Clunes V Avoca
Avoca’s last chance to make the finals fizzled out when rain stopped their game with just 25 overs played.
Although just nine points behind Talbot on the ladder, both teams will be set to have a forfeit across the next two weeks, meaning it is mathematically impossible for the Bulldogs to catch the Yabbies.
It wasn’t for a lack of trying that the Bulldogs were eliminated. With Jason Hunt on fire in the early stages, Clunes were reduced to 4/41, with Hunt taking 3/17 off his eight overs.
Rajitha Perera was able to steady the ship for the Magpies and provide a calming influence, scoring 52 runs before the game was called off, with Clunes sitting on 5/111 off 25 overs.
Colts Phelans V MKM
Colts Phelans remain on top of the ladder, with some brilliant tail-end batting allowing them to take a 111-run victory over MKM.
The Mill were in excellent shape early, restricting Colts to 6/54, with David Coomber and Jayden McDonald starting strongly — Coomber eventually finishing with 3/22 off seven overs, with McDonald took 2/31 off seven.
But Kane Shepherd’s 47, along with Ethan Chaplin’s 36, helped turn the tide for Colts, and they would eventually finish on 175 off 36.4 overs.
In response, Colts dominated with the ball.
Their tight bowling meant that the Mill couldn’t score at a solid rate, finishing on 9/64 off their 40 overs, with Craig Horner the only one to show some genuine resistance, finishing on 24.
Beau Govan bowled well for his 3/15 off eight overs, while Grant Rogers finished with figures of 2/13.
Carisbrook V Maryborough
Carisbrook remained in touch with Colts thanks to a 133-run win over a weakened Maryborough.
Although the result was straight-forward, the result was notable for seeing four father-son combinations take part in the game, with the Ross, Jardine, Nalder and Mark families all involved.
Dean Nalder fired the most significant blow of the game, scoring 72 runs and taking 2/5 with the ball.
Behind him, there were solid contributions from Leigh Koop (58), Cooper Mark (19), William Coutts (15) and Brian Knight (15), while Jarryd Coghlan was dominant with the ball, taking 5/19 from eight overs.
Blair Ross was Maryborough’s best performer with the ball, finishing on 3/33 off eight overs, while brother Sam finished with 2/39.
Talbot V Beaufort
Talbot secured a finals spot in style, needing just 14 overs to dispose of Beaufort.
The Yabbies’ decision to send the Crows in first paid dividends, restricting the Crows to 5/38 before eventually bowling them out for 81, with Malcolm Woolley providing the most resistance, top-scoring with 33.
With the ball, Jack Kenden continued his outstanding season with 4/20, and now sits inside the top five in the competition with both bat and ball, while Anton Roche also had a good time, finishing with 4/24.
In response, Talbot recovered well after a shaky start, with Andrew Grant up and about with two early wickets to help leave the Yabbies teetering on 3/24.
But an unbeaten 58-run partnership between Leigh Griffiths, who top scored with 44, and Jye Kenden, who finished unbeaten on 20, ensured that the Yabbies would seal victory early.
Round 14
With finals spots all sorted for the season, it’s now a matter of sorting out who will finish where.
Sixth-placed Natte Yallock will host eighth-placed MKM, with the Mill desperate to avoid dropping down to ninth, having suffered some big losses in recent weeks.
The battle for third will intensify as Talbot hosts Clunes. A win for the Yabbies will see them overtake the Magpies, who are, themselves, still a slim chance of finishing as minor premiers.
Colts Phelans will be looking to maintain top spot on the ladder when they host the local derby against Maryborough, who are now playing for pride, having been knocked out last week.
Carisbrook will be looking for a repeat of their round three result when they play Beaufort. While Beaufort were bowled out for 15 last time these two teams met, the Crows have improved vastly throughout the season, and will be looking for a competitive showing.
With Laanecoorie Dunolly out, Avoca will have the bye and six premiership points.
