FOOTSCRAY United went into Saturday’s North Division Turf Cricket clash with PEGS as a heavy underdog, and by game’s end the inevitable eventuated. It was a one-day clash that pitted top versus bottom, with United choosing to send PEGS in to bat first at Scovell Reserve. For a while that decision by United skipper Damian Grainger looked a winner, as Keilor Park-based PEGS faltered through the early portions of its innings and was in some trouble at 3/23 before Srinand Yalamanchili (57) and Adam Dudderidge (49) combined for 110 to restore balance in PEGS’s favour. An unbeaten 41 from Suranjith Silva late in the piece ensured PEGS a strong finish, setting Footscray United a formidable 214 for victory with three wickets in hand after 40 overs. Despite a solid 49 from Dadimuni Geeth Silva, United could only last 30 overs before losing all 10 wickets, making only 102 in the process.
SUNSHINE United knocked off Point Cook in a top-of-the-table clash at Saltwater Reserve in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association’s West B1 competition on Saturday. After being sent in on the road, United posted a healthy 8/167 in its 40-over dig. In response Point Cook was poor, faltering to a measly all-out 91 from just 30 overs. Chris Kavanagh was the only Point Cook batsman to hit double figures, making 38 before getting bowled. In other results from the division, Newport-Digman was far too good for Deer Park Ardeer at John McLeod Reserve on Saturday. After being sent in, Newport Digman posted a very healthy 5/202, before restricting Deer Park Ardeer to 113 in 36.2 overs. Meanwhile, Sunshine Heights remains in the top four after easily getting past Wyndham Vale at Ainsworth Reserve. Heights could only reach 160 in the first innings, but managed to restrict Wyndham Vale to 72, bowling them out in 25.4 overs.
GRAND United has finally succumbed – its first loss of the summer – going down to West Newport in the Williamstown and District Cricket Association’s A Turf competition on Saturday. Choosing to bat first at West Newport’s Loft Reserve, Grand United recovered from a dicey start to reach 7/186 in the one-day clash. At 2/2 the visitors were in serious trouble, but a very solid showing from the middle order ensured Grand United a respectable final total. West Newport then made much better use of the wicket, with opener Ross Cassidy setting the tone from start to finish, scoring an unbeaten 63. With the support of skipper Trent Jones (50) batting at number four, West Newport reached its target in 35 overs, ending the game at 4/187. Other winners in the A Turf competition on Saturday were Williamstown Imperials, Williamstown Colts, Melton Centrals and Bellbridge.
FOLLOWING the appointment of senior interleague head coach Brett Jacobs the Western Region Football League has announced two new members to join the coaching committee, with league great Steve Thom appointed as chairman of selectors and Altona Vikings reserves coach Aaron Freeland as assistant coach. With nearly 60 years of experience in the WRFL between the three men, the league is in good hands when it comes up against the Southern Football League in the 2014 AFL Victoria Metro Championships held on March 29 at Visy Park. With over 1500 senior players registered in the WRFL in 2013, the selection process for the final representative squad will not be an easy task. “Obviously there are a lot of great players in the league, but what we’re looking for are players who are 100 per cent committed to the team and who share the belief that it is a privilege to wear the WRFL jumper and represent football in the West,” Thom said.
