YARRA Valley cricket finals kicked off this weekend after a season of intriguing results leading to a much-anticipated finals series.
In all grades, final positions were only decided in the final round, so it was expected that the Semi Finals would be closely fought contests.
In the competition’s premier grade, DJ Strachan Shield, the old adage that form at the right time of the year is vitally important going into finals rang true as reigning premiers Seville face Yarra Junction in the Grand Final.
Both sides have clearly been the best in the business since Christmas and thoroughly deserve their opportunity to take out the ultimate prize.
Seville hosted Woori Yallock and made the most of winning the toss and batting.
With mixed fortunes with the bat in the final two rounds of the home-and- away season, many wondered which Seville would turn up.
Woori Yallock has the bowling attack to challenge the reigning champions and early signs were positive for the Tigers.
The talented opening pairing of Jackson Wright (3/30) and Simon Young (3/70) made some early inroads into the Seville batting line-up and looked to put some early pressure on their inconsistencies.
Scott Rackham (30) battled through the tough period to ensure the Blues were not totally blown away, and it opened the door for a middle order fight back.
Experience always looked to be Seville’s advantage going into this contest and that’s where it stood as Ranga Yasalal (60) and Andy Kay (48) joined forces.
The pair has made many considerable contributions to the Blues batting efforts this season, and not only did they relieve the pressure of the early onslaught, but led their side to a winning total.
A late order fight back from the Tigers kept the total manageable, bowling the home side out for 211.
Early wickets on day two put Woori Yallock right on the back foot.
With the Tigers stumbling to 4/45, and with captain Daniel Mock back in the sheds, one expected the Seville pace barrage to quickly dispose of the visitors middle to lower order.
Ryan Smith (27) and Tim Diggins (32) came together and showed some fight against some probing bowling and had the Tigers right back in the contest at 4/94 when rain forced an early tea interval.
The break proved fatal for the Tigers as upon the resumption of play, the partnership was quickly broken and a glut of wickets proceeded.
Despite some valiant late order batting, the damage had been done and the visitors were cast aside for 137.
Ishara Amerasinghe (4/35) bowled tirelessly, and with the support of pacemen Matt Tilney (3/32) and Matt Hadlum (2/24), the trio confirmed their status as the most dominant bowling combination of the competition – once again sent an ominous warning on the eve of the Grand Final.
In the other Strachan Shield Semi Final, Healesville hosted Yarra Junction and suffered from a recurring finals nightmare.
Twelve months ago, the Bloods were rolled for under 60 when favourites and suffered a similar fate on Saturday against the Eagles.
Batting first in friendly conditions, in-form opener Brian Scanlon (37) did his best to get the ball rolling for the home side and the Bloods looked good at 2/62, but the wheels fell off the Healesville bandwagon dramatically.
Disciplined medium pacers Terry Ottrey (2/7) and Daniel Sharp (2/18) used all their guile to put the pressure on the batsmen with subtle variations of swing combined with disciplined lines and lengths.
But it was Daniel Lever who confirmed his status as the best spinner in the competition with a commanding performance collecting 5/16 to see the home side collapse for 82.
Ash Hamer (3/40), who has struggled to make a significant impact since his return from Croydon, kept his team in the contest taking early wickets to add belief to the Bloods.
However, Yarra Junction was not going to let this golden opportunity slip.
Cam Spaulding (58) showed maturity to add to his abundant batting skills to guide his side to the victory target with five wickets in hand.
He was ably assisted by experienced pair Daniel Lever and Paul Osbourne.
The Bloods battled out until tea in the vain hope of opening the door of an unlikely reverse outright with former captain Stephen James (5/36) leading the way.
However, the ship towards the Grand Final had already well and truly set sail.
In RA Finger Trophy action, Healesville will meet Yarra Junction in an unlikely pairing as most had pencilled in another Healesville/Seville Grand Final battle.
Yarra Junction pulled off the biggest upset of the Semi Final weekend as they stopped the powerful Seville line-up in their tracks – halting the Blues in their quest for a fourth consecutive premiership.
Yarra Junction was able to restrict Seville to 9/170 in a fascinating battle between bat and ball on day one.
Experienced trio Scott Luckhurst (41), Scott Troyhan (33 n.o.) and Garth Woodford (21) ensured the Blues would have a total to defend.
However, the equally experienced Chris Fall (5/40) applied the brakes on the innings to have his Eagles well and truly in the race.
Fall’s teammates did not disappoint and on the back of superb innings from Sachee Bhagya (79) and Matt Robinson (58 n.o.), the Eagles showed great composure to withstand everything the mighty Blues could throw at them to record an impressive seven-wicket victory.
Woori Yallock made the talented Healesville line-up work hard after talented youngster Dermott Fry (51) and Michael Davern (34) gave the Bloods the perfect start with the bat on day one.
Marty White (3/17) and Chris Webb (3/30) led an impressive fight back from the Tigers to restrict the Bloods to 154.
With a strong bowling line-up, and the wide expanses of the Coldstream, one would be brave to tip against the Bloods and they showed all their might in easily disposing the Tigers for 64.
The Bloods were certainly led by their youth in this contest as Riley Howard-Scales (5/36) and Dillon Kerr (3/12) joined Fry as match winners.
In C Grade, Launching Place will meet Wandin in the season decider.
Launching Place secured their place in the Grand Final with a commanding victory over Seville.
Launch scored an impressive 298, on day one, on the back of a superb century by Cam Hoare.
Well supported by Lennie Jenkins (42) and Andy Vandervlugt (46), Hoare had Launch on target for a massive score at 5/265 with 20 overs to play.
A fight back from Craig Rackham (5/63) and Liam McGookin (3/21) ensured Seville did exceptionally well to restrict the score to under 300.
The chase still proved too great for the Blues as run machine Hoare completed a remarkable individual game taking 7/33 and rolling Seville for 89 in the process.
In the other Semi, Wandin completed an impressive victory on the road to Marysville.
Batting first, Dave Marshall (85) and Jamie Oakley (58) continued their brilliant form with the bat leading the Bulldogs to 257.
Marysville have been the in-form team in C Grade all season and one expected the Villains to give the total a shake on home soil.
Leigh Fisher (70) has been a star with the bat all season, and at times in their chase, it looked as though he may drag his side to victory.
His dismissal in sight of another century brought the challenge to an end as Oakley (4/40) and Brent Johnson (3/47) ensured the Bulldogs would feature in Grand Final action – dismissing the Villains for 165.
Like the other grades, many had the top two teams in D Grade, Powelltown and Wandin, well ahead in the race to the Grand Final but after day one of action both semi-finals were well in the balance. Tony Spargo (72) and Lyle Roberts (40) did their best to thwart a formidable Powelltown attack led by Benny Dunne (5/41) and Stuart Thompson (3/44).
Seville’s total of 184 had the game well poised however overnight rain and afternoon showers forced the abandonment of the second day’s play ending Seville’s brave fight for a place in the big dance.
Wandin posted a tricky chase of 225 on day one of their contest against Yarra Junction with Dave Thorne (64) and Michael Haggar (37) leading the way for the Bulldogs.
Youngster Jesse Cook (4/59) and the experienced David Flutter (2/19) kept thing in check with the ball and the value of their efforts became more evident as the second day’s play unfolded.
Matt Mallick (99) fell agonisingly close to a much-deserved century, but with the support of Chris Stanes (41) the Eagles won an entertaining affair with three wickets in hand.
In the One Day Grade, Silvan will play Yarra Glen in the season decider.
Yarra Glen made short work of Wandin, bowling the Bulldogs out for 77 and then cruising to the total with the loss of only two wickets.
Premiership favourites Silvan had a tougher battle against Seville.
Robert Dipietrantonio (52 n.o.) and Chris Murphy (32) were the backbone of the Slug’s total of 9/198, but it was father and son duo of Scott Page (50 n.o.) and Tom Page (24) that nearly stole the show.
Eventually, the Blues were bowled out for 160 cutting short their brave fight for a spot in the Grand Final.
DJ Strachan Shield
Seville 211 (Yasalal 60, Kay 48, Rackham 30, Troyahn 24, Wright 3/30, Young 3/70) d Woori Yallock 137 (Diggins 32, Smith 27, Amarasinghe 4/35, Tilney 3/32).
Yarra Junction 9/134 (Spaulding 58, Lever 20, James 5/36, Hamer 3/40, Chandler 1/19) d Healesville 82 (Scanlon 37, Hamer 13, Lever 5/16, Ottrey 2/7, Sharp 2/18).
RA Finger Trophy
Yarra Junction 3/178 (Bhagya 79, Robinson 58 n.o., Troyahn 2/45) d Seville 9/170 (Luckhurst 41, Troyahn 33 n.o., Woodford 21, Fall 5/40). Healesville 154 (Fry 51, Davern 34, White 3/17, Webb 3/30) d Woori Yallock 64 (Dwyer 15, Howard-Scales 5/36, Kerr 3/12).
C Grade
Wandin 257 (Marshall 85, Oakley 58, Cummins 4/42, Mathews 3/51) v Marysville165 (Fisher 70, Matthews 32, Oakley 4/40, Johnson 3/47).
Launching Place 298 (Hoare 134, Jenkins 42, Vanderlaught 46, Rackham 5/63, McGookin 3/21) d Seville 89 (McGookin 32, Hoare 7/33). D Grade
Yarra Junction 7/226 (Staines 41, Mallick 99, Mckenzie 2/32, Dobson 2/39) d Wandin 225 (Thorne 64, Haggar 37, Cook 4/59, Flutter 2/19).
Seville 184 (Spargo 72, Roberts 40, Dunne 5/41, Thompson 3/44) vs Powelltown (game washed out, Powelltown progress to the Grand Final due to a higher ladder position).
One Day Grade
Yarra Glen Gold 2/85 (Beath 40 n.o., Foster 25 n.o., Sinnott 1/0) d Wandin 77 (Sinnott 17 n.o., Alderman 17, Davey 3/8, Whelan 2/10, Thurkle 2/12).
Silvan 9/198 (Dipietrantonio 52 n.o., Murphy 32, Pearse 3/19, Wilson 2/17) d Seville 160 (Page 50 n.o., Pearse 36, Lamonica 2/5). Under 16
Seville Gold 5/96 (Page 31, Byrne 34 n.o.) d Healesville Red 92 (Daly 51 n.o., Page 3/25, Mullins 2/2, Kear 2/16).
Seville Blue 210 (Smith 53, Garner 52 n.o., Dyason 35, Fry 2/27) d Healesville White 130 (Mimi 35, McGrath 26, Garner 3/24, Dall 2/9, Arnold 2/15).
Under 14A
Warburton-Millgrove 6/208 (McDonald 42 n.o., de Varga 41 n.o., Saurine 26, Taeuber 23, Coutts 3/26, Brisbane-Flynn 1/16, Schelfout 1/28) d Mount Evelyn 10/65 (Lee-Archer 12 n.o., Nelson 3/11, McDonald 2/0, Taeuber 1/2).
Seville 7/182 (Spargo 39 n.o., Garner 36, Bissells 26, Massoud 2/26, Lusk 2/22) d Yarra Glen 80 (Cummins 22, Lusk 13 n.o., Fern 4/8).
Under 14B
Yarra Junction 6/157 (Thompson 38, Mead 20 n.o., Foley 15 n.o., ) d Wandin 83 (Alderman 19, Burzzese 15, Thompson 6/12, Mead 2/20).
Launching Place/Woori Yallock 5/229 (Colling 42 n.o., Rogers 41 n.o., Leslie 1/1) d Coldstream 7/45 (Steele 13, Rogers 2/0, Parker 2/7).
Under 12
Seville 8/215 (Frankovic 32 n.o., Proctor 31 n.o., Leeds 30 n.o., Birnie 2/15, Weir 2/18, Cooper 1/13) d Hoddles Creek 10/185 (Birnie 30 n.o., Anderson 31 n.o., Kay 3/16, Fern2/13).
Yarra Glen Gold 5/202 (Humphrey 31 n.o., Hall 30 n.o., Flynn-Steel 1/18, North 1/27) d Healesville White 141 (O’Brien 18, English 14, Fullerton 3/23, Hall 2/5, Phelan 2/7).
