CRICKET
CGCA
MOE will welcome Yallourn North to the Ted Summerton Reserve on Saturday with both sides hungry for a win.
Moe has been a patch-up side in recent weeks, with many first team players unavailable and just one win from three rounds to show for its efforts.
Yallourn North, meanwhile, has had a full strength side each round, yet failed to perform as a unit until last week’s huge win over Morwell.
As ever, captain Andrew Philip is Moe’s key man along with Dale Walshe in the batting department.
Yallourn North’s bowling unit, ably led by Lucas Fry, has been a revelation this year and has twice prevented the opposition from passing three figures.
Moe’s bowling attack last week, by contrast, lacked any big names with Sam Price, John James, both Mathison brothers and Matt Clarke all unavailable.
If Moe is to keep Yallourn North to a chaseable target, its hopes rest on at least two of those five coming back into the team this week.
Morwell v Thorpdale
MORWELL Tigers will look to put their shock defeat to Yallourn North out of their minds when they face Thorpdale at home. After collapsing to 48 all out last week, the Tigers will be determined to improve, but if Thorpdale’s Travis Pickering and captain Boyd Bailey make early inroads panic may set in.
Morwell captain Craig Giddens would have been furious with his side’s defeat last week, so a more cautious approach should be in order.
The Tigers have been good with the ball so far this year, and will look to contain the hitting power of Thorpdale’s international recruits, Henk and Schalk Conradie, who announced themselves in second grade last week with rapid 50s.
Thorpdale has been ordinary with the bat so far this year and some of the youngsters need to put higher prices on their wickets.
Ex-Bulldog Steve Hibbs has first grade experience and the Blues will look to him for leadership out in the middle.
Latrobe v Trafalgar
LATROBE travels to Trafalgar with both sides looking to move up on the ladder.
Trafalgar has been largely a one-man band so far with captain Rhys Holdsworth contributing more than half his team’s runs and wickets.
The Ships will be hoping for an improved showing from their other players, as Latrobe will look to target the prolific skipper.
For the Sharks, Kaushik Aphale’s return to the league with a half century last week was a huge positive, as well as captain Anthony Bloomfield’s return to form with a fine 50 of his own. With Michael Duncan a likely inclusion for this match, the Ships could have a tough time hunting the Sharks.
Under 16
THE Under 16 Cup kicked off on Sunday, with the late withdrawal of Willow Grove meaning Toongabbie had a bye in its first round of the competition.
Mirboo North had a close win over Latrobe, with many Sharks bats getting starts but not going on with the job.
Bailey Nikodemski and Steven Hanning both top-scored with 18 each, while captain Tanner Higgins and young gun Will Kennedy contributed 16 apiece.
Liam Swallow was the standout bowler for the Tigers, with his 5/21 stifling the middle order.
Hudson Kerr hit 39 and Mirboo put on 45 for the first wicket, cruising toward the target before a flurry of wickets put it in danger at 9/93.
The Tigers needed senior players to guide them home after the Sharks’ impressive fightback, which saw Will Kennedy, Brendan Briggs, Harrison Law and Steven Hanning pick up two wickets each.
Moe had a huge win over Hazelwood North, with Ryan Sim (37), Nathan Lee (33), Jeol Mitchell (50*) and Joshua Wilson (35*) powering the Lions to 5/184.
In reply the Razorbacks struggled with only Jacob Hibbert and Tristan Turpin making it into double figures.
Moe then rolled Hazelwood North for 75 all out, with Riley Atkinson, Trent Baldi and Nathan Lee snaring two wickets apiece.
Thorpdale went down to Morwell as the Tigers played two first graders and one second grade senior cricketer in their playing XI.
