Staff Writers
CRICKET
TDCA 2022 has drawn to a close in the Traralgon District Cricket Association. For some clubs, the Christmas break will offer some relief, while those clubs at the top of the ladder will be making sure their good form continues into the New Year. MATCH of the Round lived up to its billing, as the Glengarry vs Yarram District ‘Battle of the Birds’ rivalry continues to grow. The Pelicans batted first and were in trouble early at 2/5. The Pelicans were without regular opening batsman Jack Moore, so Michael Lush was thrust into the number one position alongside Matt Garland, but the two could only muster one run between them. Daniel O’Keefe and Anthony Scott were then charged with getting the innings back on track and did a decent job of it, taking the score to 80 before O’Keefe was dismissed by leg spinning sensation Nathan Allen for a top score of 39. Scott didn’t play his usual innings as he only hit one boundary on his way to 31 from 56 balls before Allen removed him as well with the score on 6/91. Some rear-guard action from Brayden Askew (28) and Joshua Swift (16) kept the score ticking over, but the Pelicans weren’t scoring at their usual rate and ended up 9/160 at compulsory closure. Glengarry continue to show why they are the current premiership favourite, as all their bowlers continue to contribute, but it was Allen who was the best of the lot claiming 4/31 from his 10 overs. Things started poorly for Glengarry, with Al Jenkin out for a duck, but Nat Freitag was joined by Sam Marks and the two experienced batsmen put on 78 before Marks was out for 18. Freitag would make 60 before being dismissed by a Yarram bowling attack that continues to build in confidence and form as the season continues. The Pelicans then took this opportunity and were able to knock over Cam Graham, Allen and Brandon Mayberry in relatively quick time to have a worried Glengarry at 6/118. However, Ben Marks and the ever-improving Gareth Waack-Hawkins in the end got the Magpies home with only a few overs to spare. Scott was at his menacing best, walking away with Yarram’s best figures of 2/21, while a handful of others claimed one wicket each. Glengarry is still undefeated this season, and will now look to go one better in the new year. Yarram know they can match it with the best in the TDCA, and will build nicely into March where finals look to be all but a certainty for a team on the rise. GORMANDALE headed to Toongabbie full of confidence after pushing Ex Students all the way last round. After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Tigers would have been confident taking it right up to the Rams, but disaster quickly struck in the form of Keenan Hughes, who bowled quick and aggressive, which the Gormandale batsmen didn’t like. The Tigers were very loose in their approach, and if Hughes set the tone for the day, it was carried on by the rest of the team, who all contributed to the destruction of the Tigers. Kev Stoddart claimed 3/7, Matt Barry took 2/23 and Sam Moran 1/22. Nat Campbell was the top-scorer for the away team with 11, with the biggest partnership for their innings a paltry 12. Only a Christmas miracle would save Gormandale, but a jolly old elf named Robert Wheildon ensured the Tigers wouldn’t get a look in, and with a wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave his team reason to know they had nothing to dread and he smashed the bowling for 43 not out. The Rams finished the match in just 11 overs for the loss of no wickets. Toongabbie are now sitting comfortably in fourth spot. For Gormandale, the break couldn’t come quick enough and they will need to regroup to salvage something out of the latter half of the season. ROVERS put on a brave face against Ex Students. The young team batted first, making 149 in 44 overs. There were some promising signs for Rovers as import Olly Mason made his highest score for the year and Dougal and Ewan Williams continue to get some good starts, but the loss of wickets in clumps continues to plague the boys in blue. Still, runs on the board can put pressure on and stranger things have happened, but Rovers would need early wickets to have any chance defending their total. It wasn’t to be though, as Rovers claimed just one wicket as the home team chased down the score in 35 overs. Matt Dyke is in great touch, making 36 not out, but the match belonged to Lee Stockdale, who is getting in some serious form before heading to the Australian Country Cricket Championships early next year, he walked away with 79 not out from 89 balls while with the ball he claimed 5/15 from his 10 overs in a superb all-round performance. Ex Students currently sit second on the ladder, while Rovers are second-last and will need to work hard to turn their season around when it starts back up on January 14. IMPERIALS had the bye.
