Finals are GO thanks to J-Ho, J-To, Willco and Jacko
The final round of the home-and-away season was one of heroism and heartbreak. The Men’s 1s missed out on finals by a whisker, but the Women’s 1s and the Men’s 2s, 3s, 4s and 5s are through to the semis. Five out of eight open-age sides in finals is a great effort by the club and, although the Men’s 1s will not there, the future looks very bright at the Hill.
MEN’S 1ST XI - MISSED IT BY THAT MUCH
Needing a win to make the top four, the 1s were not on track, then we were on track, then we were not on track, then we were back on track, before we finally veered off track at the last minute.
Bowling first, we were up against it when top side Trinity Willison were 2/74 but Stinger Barrett (3/15 off 8) and Malty LynaS (4/32 off 8) turned that around completely as TW slumped to 9/94. Unfortunately we couldn’t knock over the 10th wicket and TW finished on 9/146.
The chase did not begin well with heart throb T-Rob bowled for a duck and, despite good efforts from Ben Cap(tain) who made 21, and Miles Nelson (20), we slipped to 5/86. Then Stinger and Hugh Ingham set about rebuilding. Stinger made 25 before sacrificing his wicket run out in search of needed runs. Hugh (45 no) and Dan O’Connor almost got us home but we fell an agonising one run short of a win and another finals campaign.
CHICKEN: It’s definitely an Ingham chicken this week — a great effort from Hugh to almost pull the match out of the fire when we looked long gone.
WOMEN’S 1ST XI - BACK TO SCHOOL — OR UNI — NEXT WEEK! (Match report by Bek Drake)
Our last game of the regular season saw us take on Melbourne Uni at Rammo. Although new captain Rex lost the toss, we started as we prefer, in the field.
Melbourne Uni began with a bang and were 0/45 off 10. The lack of wickets didn’t discourage our bowlers, and after consistent effort Handsy got the breakthrough in the 15th over. After Rex got their in-form opener out in the 20th over, we restricted them for the remainder of the match. The highlight of the fielding innings was Rex’s caught and bowled, where she caught the rocket that came back, with one hand of course! After some strong bowling and fielding, Melbourne Uni finished on 113.
Great bowling figures (as always): Handsy 2/20 off 9 (3 maidens), Junior 0/9 off 3, Dagger 0/33 off 9, Rex 3/20 off 7, Bobbie 0/17 off 6, Izzy 0/14 off 2.
The outcome of this match could have changed the finals fixture. Lose and we definitely face Melbourne Uni next week. Win and we may have Ballarat (with the ghost of all out for 40 haunting us). So we will be cheeky and say that we definitely had that in the back of our minds for the batting innings. To put it nicely, it didn’t go well. We never really got going and seemed to lose cheap wickets consistently. It didn’t help that Nan left early (she had to go to Canberra, she is very important), so we were one batter short. The two highlights were Merc, who played her most confident innings of the season, and Mega who came in as the final batter and played with freedom, managing to top score for the team with 12! We unfortunately were all out for 66, leaving us to take on Melbourne Uni in next week’s semi final.
CHICKEN: Our virtual chicken was drawn for the week - Rex for her sensational work with the ball and in the field, and Farnsy (Mega) who keeps coming out of retirement and seems to be getting better!
SEMI FINAL? ✅
WOMEN’S 2ND XI - (Match report by Sarah Catterwell)
The Women’s 2s report has not yet landed in my inbox. Stay tuned!
MEN’S 2ND XI — FINALS ARE “GO”!
Burstin’s Bravehearts headed out to Hartwell to take on STC South Camberwell, who won the toss and batted. That was their first mistake, and they made plenty more afterwards, especially with the bat. STC were blasted out for just 59, thanks to the good bowling of Sam Asdagi (4/26 off 8), Riley “Gigs Taught Him Everything He Knows” Willcox (2/6 off 5.2), Wardi (1/3 off 6) and Lanno (1/3 off 5).
Wortho then proceeded to do some blasting of his own — with the bat — and he made 32 in about 32 seconds before going out, leaving Farnesy (James Allen 19 not out) and Jake (12 not out) to run down the target in just 6.5 overs!
CHICKEN — He might be an anagram of I AM SAD GAS but SAM ASDAGI should be blowing plenty of hot air as he happily brags about his four wicket haul. He gets the chicken.
SEMI FINAL? ✅
MEN’S 3RD XI — FINALS ARE “GO”!
Harro’s Heroes were at home to Glen Waverley who we will play again in next week’s semi. Harro won the toss and batted and J-Ho (64) and Lenny Dean (60) set up the match with a brilliant opening stand of 131. With Zac Wilson (46) adding a bit of icing to the cake, we finished on 4/219.
AJ (Anthony Johnson 4/32 off 8), Nails (Jesse Parlane 3/3 off 4) and Tulky (2/3 off 2) then ripped through GW to dismiss them for just 79. We’ll face Glen Waverley again next week in the semi final at their home ground. Hopefully we’ll be able to repeat this result.
CHICKEN - The Norwegian Jærhøne goes to Anthony Johnson for his 4 for 32.
SEMI FINAL? ✅
MEN’S 4TH XI — FINALS ARE “GO”!
Gazza’s Gladiators headed out to the convolutedly-named Trinity Grammar Playing Fields (Hughes No.3) to take on Bulleen. With a place in the finals on the line, Gaz won the toss and batted. Led by Rhino (Luke Ryan, 50 retired) and El Presidenté (Adam Lewis, 35) we compiled a competitive score of 5/150.
In a tight encounter we then held Bulleen to 9/141, with the Tough Man (3/17 off 8) once again leading the way with the ball. He was well supported by Jack Barrett (2/32 off 8), The Girv (0/24 off 8), Empty (0/20 off 8) and Roadie (1/27 off 6).
CHICKEN - The Rhode Island Red goes to Rhino for his half century, which set up the win.
SEMI FINAL? ✅
MEN’S 5TH XI - FINALS ARE “GO”!
Simon’s Superstars play in the E Synthetic division, and their Round 14 opponents take that to the next level. Mazenod’s home ground is synthetic grass from boundary to boundary. Mazenod won the toss and batted, and we bounced out of the blocks on a bouncy field with two early wickets. Mazenod then put on 36 before their third wicket triggered a collapse and they were all out for 97. The superstar bowlers were Stan Kroenert (3/3 off 4.2), Daylon Seakins 3/19 off 6 and Lloyd “Gigs Taught Him Everything He Knows” Skinner (2/17 off 7). Jesse Viney (1/19 off 5) also continued his fine form.
We ran down the total comfortably, with the usual suspects among the runs — Jonesy (31), Jacko (39 no) and Stan (24 no).
CHICKEN - The Derbyshire Redcap goes to Daylon for his excellent bowling spell.
SEMI FINAL? ✅
MEN’S 6TH XI — THE SEASON IN MICROCOSM
This game summed up the 6s season in many ways. Some great performances, lots of energy and plenty of fun, but we fell just short of the mark.
I lost the toss and bowled first and managed to snag a wicket in my first over. At the other end, Jimmy Marasco-Liddell in his first outing as an opening bowler also took an early wicket and we had the third-placed Glen Waverley Cougars on the back foot. Unfortunately it was a while before we got another wicket and GWC eventually compiled 181, a very gettable target on Fairlea East.
For the chase we opened up with run machine Jim Entwisle and Lou McGlade, who opened in his last outing with the 6s and made a retired 50 not out. Proving it was no flash in the pan, Pablo did it again, as did Jim, and we were well on the way to victory. Unfortunately we lost Jason King and Busty Chiroiu cheaply, but Craig Mawdsley (34) took us to the cusp of victory before falling in search of late runs.
Ultimately we fell just three runs short, the second time this season we have lost by three runs or fewer.
We should have won at least a couple more games this year, but I’m, proud to have captained a hastily put together 6ths side that was competitive or better in almost every match.
CHICKEN - An Ermellinata di Rovigo for Entwisle and a Mericanel della Brianza for McGlade in recognition of two great half centuries.
NEXT WEEK
A big weekend awaits with the Women’s 2s and Men’s 2s, 3s, 4s and 5s all in semis. Good luck to all players and if you’re not playing get along to at least one of the games if you can, and support the others. The details are:
SATURDAY:
Men’s 2nds v Victorian Cavaliers at Fregon Reserve in Clayton
Men’s 3rds v Glen Waverley at Lum Reserve (Main Oval — West Oval) in Wheeler’s Hill
Men’s 4ths v Marcellin at Marcellin College (Oval 3) in Bulleen
Men’s 5ths v Glen Waverley Cougars at Freeway Reserve (North Oval) in Mulgrave
SUNDAY:
Women’s 1sts v Melbourne Uni at Princes Park (Turf Oval 3)
HODGEY’S FLYING!!
A fine 64 from Jesse Hodge helped set up victory for the 3rds. J-Ho gets this week’s TOM BELLIS AWARD!