KEILOR turned heads in the final game of its season, smashing VTCA giant Yarraville Club for first innings points before nearly snaring outright honours on Saturday. Despite having no chance of clinching a finals berth, the Blues rolled the reigning premier for 104 with the help of a five-wicket haul from Matt Willmott before handy bowling all-rounder Jody Hutchinson’s 45 from nine in the order steered a response of 163 to claim first innings points. He then followed that knock with five wickets of his own as the Clubbers’ batting line-up again capitulated, this time bowled out for 127 in 55 overs. In nine overs the Blues needed just 69 runs to claim their second outright win of the summer, but fell agonisingly short at 5/61 when stumps were called. The Blues finished seventh with just four wins among their 11 games played for the summer, while Yarraville Club sunk to fourth.
SYDENHAM Hillside will be hoping for a better showing this weekend after going down in their final home-and-away game of the summer away to Pascoe Vale Central on Saturday. The Storm clung onto fourth spot despite the loss, and will again have to face their final round nemesis at the same venue this weekend for a spot in the NWMCA’s George Luscombe Shield grand final. A win would have been handy for the visitors with other clubs breathing down their necks with a claim to the final spot in the top four, but the Storm were saved by Strathmore Heights, who knocked over Gladstone Park by just 10 runs. A disappointing showing with the bat seven days earlier only netted 153 for the Storm despite lasting most of the day and only losing their final wicket with three overs to come. However the bowling attack could do little as the ladder leaders responded in style on their home deck at Oak Park. The chase lasted 49 overs and only came at the expense of a single wicket, as Pascoe Vale Central opener Cameron Hare smashed his way to an even, and ultimately unbeaten 100. A form line that reads 2-3 since the New Year has shown Sydenham Hillside’s touch has slipped after an impressive start to the summer, but coach John Thrush remains confident his side can turn things around against the form team of the last four weeks. “Internally we’re very confident,” he said. “We’ve been on top (of the ladder) in certain stages throughout the year, we won the one day final and I know our blokes can play a lot better than they did last Saturday.” Kealba Green Gully will host the other semi-final against Buckley Park this weekend after beating Aberfeldie St John’s by five wickets.
THE Footscray Cycling Club was at the Victoria University circuit in Hoppers Crossing for the second-last week of summer criteriums before the road season on Saturday and mother nature ensured it would be a tough day at the office. A strong field of regular A Grade riders were treated to a few spectacular breakaways, with both Miles DaCosta and Leigh Kelly utilising their impressive late-season form to escape the bunch and each made a try at a solo breakaway. But with conditions certainly favouring the many over the few, these gallant efforts went unrewarded. Eventual winner, Williamstown resident and noted sprinter Shaun Gatter knew what he wanted. “I just kept rolling through and hoping for a bunch sprint, and that’s how it went,” he said. The 35-year-old was a cut above the rest when it came to the sprint, crossing comfortably clear of the DaCosta/Kelly juggernaut. Gatter, whose work has kept him away from quite a few races this year, was happy to take his second win in a row. “It is good to get two wins late in the season,” he said. “Life has been quite busy and demanding so I haven’t had much time for training.”
