The 2nd Grade and 3rd Grade competitions now move to finals, with 4th Grade to play one final round before their grand final. Here’s a wrap up of how teams fared on Saturday, for some their final match of the season.
2nd Grade
Centrals claimed the remaining place in the 2nd grade finals following victory in their do-or-die clash with Orange CYMS. CYMS won the toss and batted in the Steph Sandford Memorial Day clash at Jack Brabham 4. The Centrals opening bowlers, Aaron Chaseling (1/16 off 8) and Rowan Dray (3/11 off 8) made early inroads into the CYMS batting lineup to have the green and golds at 4/21 after 10 overs. CYMS were never able to recover from there, all out for 87 inside 32 overs. Jackson Rodwell top scored with 15, while Barney Davis and Sean Kelly picked up 2 wickets for Centrals.
An opening partnership of 62 between Damien Caughlan (36) and Graeme Judge (35 no) had Centrals well on their way to victory. When Joel Blashki removed Caughlan and then Angus Norton in the same over, CYMS could see a glimmer of hope, but Judge ensured the red and blacks got home with 7 wickets to spare to secure their place in the finals. Joel Blashki returned figures of 2/9 off his 6 overs to be the best of the CYMS bowlers.
Kinross wrapped up another low scoring match at Kinross Main Oval with a 5 wicket win over Cavaliers, pushing Cavaliers to third place on the table. Cavaliers were in awful trouble at 6/35 before a run-a-ball 26 from Nick Duffy helped them to 88. Liam McKenzie with 3/12 off 7 overs was the best of the Kinross bowlers, while Charlie Miller and Jack Harding picked up 2 wickets each.
Kinross too lost early wickets in their innings, being 3/23 at one stage before Jamie Anderson (21 no) steadied the ship to take the students past Cavaliers total in the 32nd over.
Orange City finished their second grade season on a high, following their 100-run win over Wanderers at Riawena Oval. City made the most of their decision to bat first, piling on 5/213 from their 40 overs. D’Arcy Hamling top scored with 86 not out, while Harry McDonald (40) and Jye Southcombe (40) also made useful contributions with the willow. Gareth Faul was the best of the Wanderers bowlers, picking up 2/26 from his 8 overs.
In reply, Wanderers could only manage 113, with Daryl Kennewell making 47. Wickets were shared among the City bowlers, with Jye Southcombe, Lawson Hamling, Glenn Robinson and Nate Lee each picking up 2.
Centrals will play Cavaliers in next Saturday’s semi final, with the winner progressing to the grand final the following Saturday against Kinross. Both matches are being played at Riawena Oval.
3rd Grade
Spring Hill secured the minor premiership and direct qualification to the Grand Final with a comprehensive victory over Cavaliers at Anzac Park. Cavaliers batted first and struggled to put together meaningful partnerships, making only 110. Ryan Palmer (26) and Carter Aplin (21) were their best. Rorey Jaye picked up 3/5 for Spring Hill, while Lachlan Randall and Mitch Parker also grabbed a couple of wickets for themselves. After losing a wicket in their second over, the Wood Ducks proceeded to make light work of the chase, securing the victory inside 15 overs. Dallas Marsh (77 no) and Rorey Jaye (28 no) scored the runs required.
In a low scoring affair at Brendan Sturgeon Oval, Gladstone fended off the challenge from Orange City, defeating their opponents by 17 runs. Going into the match, City needed a bonus point win, and then hope that was enough to make their net run rate superior to that of Gladstone to force their way past their opponents on the points table. Charlie Warren (38) top scored for City in a match that last just over 40 overs. Will McKeown (4/38), Matt Pearson (3/28) and Sam Proudfoot (2/32) were the multiple wicket takers for the Warriors.
Orange CYMS head into the finals with winning form courtesy of their 67 run result over Centrals at Jack Brabham 3. CYMS posted 7/238 from their 40 overs with Mick Curran (66), Angus Gorman (52), Cooper Biddle (38 no) and Dom Ferguson (31) all contributing. Hunter Hobbs picked up 3/19 for Centrals.
In reply Centrals were dismissed for 178, with Tristan Moon (53) and Riley Davis (50) both posting half centuries. Cooper Biddle picked up 3/38 with the ball and George Eleftheriou 2/26.
Unfinancial Gladstone ruled out of the finals
In a late development today, the ODCA has confirmed that Gladstone has been ruled out of this season's finals due to outstanding accounts that remain unpaid. In a statement from the Association, the President Mark Frecklington has said, "Our By-Laws require each club to have its team registration fees paid by the Monday prior to the start of the finals unless other arrangements have been made with the Association. Gladstone has been sent numerous reminders and again as late as last week and they remain unfinancial. It is just simply not fair to the other clubs that have done the right thing and paid what is due."
The semi-final to be played this Saturday at Bloomfield (Country Club) Oval will therefore be between Orange CYMS and fourth placed Orange City. The winner of that match will progress to the following Saturday’s grand final against Spring Hill, again to be played at Bloomfield Oval.
4th Grade (Centenary Cup)
The grand finalists for this season’s 4-team Centenary Cup competition have already been decided with 1 round of the competition to play.
CYMS helped to ensure Kinross couldn’t catch the top 2 teams after they defeated the students by 6 wickets at Bloomfield Oval on Saturday. Batting first, Kinross made 120 with Archie Fergusson top scoring with 32. For CYMS, McCallum Cole picked up 4/13 from his 7 overs, while Al Dhatt also picked up 3/11. Harry Harry (35) top scored in the CYMS chase as they reached their target in 26 overs.
Orange City firmed up their place in the top 2 with a comprehensive win over Centrals in their match at Max Stewart Park. City made 3/152 from their 35 overs with Lewis Hannan (89 no) and Thomas Frecklington (51) making the bulk of the runs. Brock Anderson took 2/10 for Centrals. The Centrals batting order had a day to forget, dismissed for 34, which also provided a bonus point to Orange City. Zavier Felice (3/8), William Bowden (3/9) and Thomas Frecklington (2/7) were the chief destroyers for the Warriors.