FOOTSCRAY Edgewater opener Dean Russ is poised to become the 840th player to represent the Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers in first-class cricket after he was selected in the 12-man squad to face Tasmania in a Bupa Sheffield Shield match at the MCG this week. Russ, who turned 28 on Thursday, has struck 641 runs, at an average of 45.8, in Bartercard Premier Cricket this season while also impressing in the Toyota Futures League, where he is the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 350 runs. Russ is joined in the squad by Peter Handscomb, who amassed 212 in his previous match for St Kilda on February 15. They replace Cameron White and Glenn Maxwell in the side who are both in South Africa with the Australian Twenty20 side. The match will see a return of day/night Sheffield Shield cricket after it was first trialled in the late 1990s. “It is all a little bit surreal at the moment,” Russ said. “It is fantastic. I am looking forward to getting stuck into it all on Monday.”
WEST Newport has survived the cut and will play in the Williamstown and District Cricket Association’s A Turf finals series after easily accounting for Gellibrand on Saturday. Finishing just one point ahead of Melton Centrals to sneak into the top four, West Newport only needed 52 overs to ensure first innings points – making 226 in response to Gellibrand’s 141 from day one. This weekend West Newport is due to play Williamstown Colts, who finished on top of the ladder with nine wins and 60 points. Bellbridge will host Grand United in the other semi-final to be played this Saturday and Sunday. Meanwhile in the WDCA’s A Grade Matting competition, Point Cook’s superior percentage got it across the line over Williamstown Imperials for the final spot in the top four. Both clubs ended the season on 39 points, with Melton Centrals, WLSC Marshalls and Wyndham Vale also making the cut ahead of semi-final weekend.
SPOTSWOOD has missed out on the Victorian Turf Cricket Association’s North Division finals series after failing to get past Laverton on the final day of the home-and-away season on Saturday. On day one of the clash at Laverton Park, the host posted a formidable 250 runs before Spotswood survived three overs out in the middle to go into day two at 0/1. On Saturday the Woodsmen faced another 44 overs but could never really get going with the bat, falling well short of their target on their way to just 134. Spotswood finished fifth on the table, almost 10 points shy of fourth-placed and finals-bound Doutta Stars. Meanwhile in the VTCA’s North A1 Division, Seddon upset Taylors Lakes at home to finish fourth on the table, and will play the Altona Roosters in this weekend’s semi-final. Taylors Lakes and Sunshine Druids will also play for a spot in the grand final.
A BUMPER opening weekend of blockbuster fixtures will kick-start Football Federation Victoria’s brand new National Premier Leagues competition – which is set to begin Thursday week. Melbourne Knights, Green Gully and Werribee City will be the West’s three NPL representatives, while Sunshine George Cross and St Albans will feature in the NPL1 competition. The Knights will start their NPL campaign next Friday night at home to Northcote City – before spending the entire month of April at Knights Stadium – including a round-three battle with Werribee City. The following day Green Gully and the Bees will face each other at the Cavaliers’ Green Gully Reserve for their round one clash. Also in action on the first Saturday of the new season are Sunshine George Cross and St Albans in NPL1. The Georgies will host Brunswick City at Chaplin Reserve, while the Saints will hit the road to take on Springvale White Eagles. The two Brimbank neighbours will meet at Chaplin Reserve in round five.
