SUB-DISTRICT HASTINGS has won the last ever MPCA Sub District Grand Final, humiliating Frankston YCW by more than 100 runs. And for the township of Hastings, it was more about adding a cricket pennant to the footy pennant it won last season. The Blues bowled out the Stonecats for just 99 on Sunday after posting a score of 214. The game was looking to be an intriguing battle at the end of the first day’s play on Saturday night. In a see-sawing opening day which saw both sides have their purple patches, Hastings were 7/189 at the close of play.…
Author: IT Gully
PROVINCIAL BAXTER will host Mt Eliza in the MPCA Provincial grand final this weekend after both teams recorded commanding semi-final victories on Saturday. While the MPCA played its cards close to its chest in relation to announcing grand final venues, it was widely tipped on Sunday night that no other ground than Mornington’s Alexandra Park should be the venue for a Provincial grand final. While Baxter went into its semi-final against Langwarrin as unbackable favourites, the same couldn’t be said for Mt Eliza over Peninsula Old Boys. Mt Eliza did beat POB before Christmas, however, the Old Boys have been…
DISTRICT RED Hill were comfortably the best team in MPCA District cricket this season and again proved why against Flinders in the semi-final. The Hillmen cruised into the grand final after smashing the Sharks at RM Hooper Reserve. An early Red Hill Show shifted the Hillmen from their home ground advantage, however, it made little difference to the end result. Flinders won the toss and batted first, however, things turned pear-shaped early for the Sharks losing 3/0 to be 3/3 early in the match. Glenn Collett was at his vintage best and removed Andrew Power for a duck, before Simon…
SUB-DISTRICT HASTINGS will play Frankston YCW in the Sub District Grand Final this weekend after both claiming strong semi-final victories on Saturday. However, despite their strong wins, things could quite easily have of gone the other way for the Blues and Stonecats. Despite Hastings finishing with 235, they were in some early trouble against Tootgarook before Luke and Jake Hewitt came together at the crease. At 4/50, the Hewitt brothers were able to steady the ship and get to tea in a reasonable position at 4/99. At that stage Luke was on 25 and Jake was on 15. AJ King,…
SUB-DISTRICT TOOTGAROOK will play Hastings for the second week in succession after comfortably booking its place in the MPCA Sub District finals on Saturday. The Frogs needed to win its final match of the season against the ladder leaders to assure themselves a place in the finals. The teams will meet again in the semi-final this Saturday and Sunday, while in the other semi-final, Ballam Park and Frankston YCW will go head-to-head. Whilst Hastings would have liked to have won its last home and away game, the prize for a win was much, much bigger for the home side. Tootgarook…
DISTRICT FLINDERS has snatched the final place in the MPCA District top four after knocking over Heatherhill in the final home and away game of the season. Mt Martha held onto fourth place going into the final round, while both Heatherhill and Flinders sat outside waiting to pounce. The Reds couldn’t get the job done against Delacombe Park, giving the Hills and the Sharks the opportunity to grab the final spot. It went down to the wire but the Sharks got there in the end with nine balls to spare. Heatherhill batted first at BA Cairns Reserve and didn’t get…
PROVINCIAL LONG Island has avoided relegation to District grade after pulling off a memorable victory over Pines on Saturday in MPCA Provincial cricket. The Islanders came into the final match of the season a game clear of the Ducs and its percentage was just a smidge better. Whilst it was unlikely that Moorooduc would beat Mornington at Alexandra Park, the Islanders still needed to win to guarantee them of preventing relegation. As it turned out, the Ducs thumped the Doggies, which made the Islanders’ win crucial. At the other end of the table, Mt Eliza belted Somerville and stamped its…
PROVINCIAL LANGWARRIN is equal top of the MPCA Provincial ladder after coming from the bleachers to knock over Mornington in the final two-day game of the home and away season. Chasing 211 for victory at Alexandra Park, the Kangas resumed at 2/10, chasing the Doggies’ total of 210. Things become worse very quickly for the Kangas at the beginning of day two when Mitch Bromley was removed after just five runs were added to the overnight total (3/15). Matt Prosser and skipper Trav Campbell steadied things down and got the score to 93 before Mornington quick Michael Heib struck again.…
DISTRICT IT’S crunch time ahead of the final home and away match of the MPCA District season this Saturday. It has been an incredibly tight division from round one and things haven’t changed over the course of the season. With just a one-day match to play this Saturday, there are still six teams fighting for three places on the ladder. Red Hill, which sits on top of the ladder, is the only team assured of a finals place as we head into the final round. Main Ridge is in second place (86 points and a percentage of 1.35), Delacombe Park…
SUB-DISTRICT BALNARRING is a real chance to seal a place in the MPCA Sub District finals after knocking over Tyabb on Saturday. The Saints are currently in sixth place on the ladder, equal on 54 points with fifth-placed Tyabb and just a game behind Tootgarook (66 points), which holds fourth place. Hastings is sitting pretty at the top of the table on 110 points and will host a home final, regardless of the result of its final game. Ballam Park (84 points), despite being smashed by Hastings on Saturday, will definitely hold its place in the top four, while Frankston…
SUB-DISTRICT HASTINGS are sure to finish on top of the MPCA Sub Distrct ladder after smashing 9/318 against second place Ballam Park on Saturday. The Blues’ brothers Luke and Jake Hewitt dominated, Luke falling short of triple figures by just one run after running out of overs. Luke finished on 99 after 80 overs while younger brother Jake hit eight fours in his total of 64. Rob Hearn contributed 45 and Ash Cole hit 48 to help the Blues well over 300. Knights’ skipper Stuart Plunkett bowled 40 overs for a return of 2/121, while David Cross bowled 25 overs…
DISTRICT MT MARTHA has some enormous work to do to maintain its position in the top four after the first day of play in MPCA District cricket. In the final two-day game of the season against Seaford, the Reds will be chasing 277 for victory after Seaford had a day out with the bat on day one of the match. The Reds’ chances of claiming victory have been made that much harder by the fact that Alex Mason is already back in the sheds after the visitors faced the final 13 overs of the day. A massive 154 from Ryan…
PROVINCIAL MORNINGTON has the upper hand in its crucial match against Langwarrin after the opening day of Round 10 in MPCA Provincial cricket. Coming into the match in fourth place on the ladder and 12 points behind the Kangas, the Doggies need to win to ensure it is in the best possible position going into the final match of the season, a one-dayer. Mt Eliza is breathing down the neck of the Dogs, just eight points behind in fifth place. The Mounties are locked in a tough struggle against Sorrento and were 4/174 before rain stopped play after 68 overs.…
SUB-DISTRICT THE season and run to the finals in MPCA Sub District cricket is still wide open and well and truly on with just two rounds remaining. As has been the case for the most part this season, Hastings (98 points) and Ballam Park (84 points) are locks for a top two finish. However, the real interest lies in the sub-battle of the next seven sides, all of which are just a game outside the top three. Tyabb is on 54 points and is currently in third position. Carrum Downs is second bottom, yet, only one game behind the Yabbies…
DISTRICT RYE has once again defied the odds and given itself every opportunity of maintaining its place in MPCA District ranks after a wonderful fighting performance against Delacombe Park on Saturday. After the opening rounds of the season, Rye was the laughing stock of the competition. Opposition teams were just rolling up to matches with the expectation of recording an outright victory. However, after a horror start, the Rye has now won a couple of games and remains clear of bottom place and relegation. After the opening day of its match against Delacombe Park, it looked as though it was…
PROVINCIAL THE Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association Provincial season is set for an exciting finish with only five teams now a realistic chance to play finals. Baxter, which sits at the top of the table on 102 points, is the only team assured of a finals berth, regardless of the fact of whether it loses its final two games. Peninsula Old Boys and Langwarrin are locked together on 90 points, a game clear of Mornington (78) and an outright win clear of Mt Eliza (70). The aim of the Old Boys and Kangas now is to lock away a home final.…
DISTRICT MAIN RIDGE has thrown down the challenge and is making its move in MPCA District cricket. Going into the third last match of the home and away season, the Ridge are currently in fifth place on 62 points, along with Baden Powell and Heatherhill. Rosebud and Delacombe Park are four points clear on 66 points and Mt Martha is a game ahead in second place on 74 points. Red Hill is on top. The Ridge can shake off Baden Powell if they can get the job done in this game against the Braves and keep the heat on the…
PROVINCIAL MORNINGTON made its intentions well and truly known on Saturday that it is looking for an outright victory against Long Island at Alexandra Park. In a very tight 2016-17 season, every point and every ounce of percentage is going to come into play at the conclusion of the final home and away match of the season. The Dogs are outside the top bracket by just four points (behind Mt Eliza) and a game behind Langwarrin and POB. An outright win in this match would get them inside the four. In a game of cat and mouse, Long Island won…
SUB-DISTRICT AN amazing 18 wickets fell in the MPCA Sub District match between Tootgarook and Tyabb on the opening day on Saturday. After 80 overs of play, there isn’t a clear-cut favourite to win the match. Tootgarook are 30 runs ahead with two wickets in hand. The Yabbies will be looking for quick wickets on day two, then looking to score quick runs to give themselves a chance to bowl out the home side to record a reverse outright win. The Frogs are in the box seat though after bowling out the Yabbies for 51. Stephen Brain was superb with…
COUNTRY WEEK THE Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association Sharks failed to make the Country Week final despite winning three of its four matches last week. The new-looking MPCA, boasting nine new faces, were robbed of a final’s berth after a controversial result between Ballarat and Warnambool went against the Sharks on the final day. Neck and neck with Geelong and Warnambool going into the final day, wickets and runs meant everything. The Sharks weren’t able to get the job done against Geelong, the eventual winner, going down by just 21-runs. However, what happened at Shepley Oval between Ballarat and Warnambool had…
PROVINCIAL MORNINGTON Peninsula Cricket Association star Chris Brittain single-handedly defeated Moorooduc in Provincial cricket on Saturday after smashing an incredible 232 for Baxter. The master all-rounder hit 18 fours and 14 sixes in Baxter’s massive total of 7/416 after chasing Moorooduc’s 168. Coming into the Round 8 match, Brittain had already hit two massive back-to-back hundreds against Mornington and Crib Point. Those knocks prompted former Victorian wicketkeeper and South Australia coach Darren ‘Chuck’ Berry to say on Melbourne radio that Brittain was the best country batsman he had seen. As well as having knocks of 155 and 181 coming into…
DISTRICT RYE avoided a reverse outright attempt by Seaford to win its first game of the season in MPCA District cricket. Resuming at 5/111 on day two of the match and chasing Seaford’s first innings total of 74, Rye was eventually bowled out for 150, giving them a 76-run first innings lead. Seaford was always going to go for a reverse outright and scored 7/214 in 38 overs before sending Rye back into bat. Faisal Payenda smashed 92 and Chris Cleef hit 63 in Seaford’s second innings. Just needing to bat out the remainder of the day, Rye was able…
SUB-DISTRICT TYABB continued its big move on Saturday with a commanding win against second placed Ballam Park in MPCA Sub District cricket. The Yabbies have charged into the top four on the back of a couple of impressive victories. On Saturday, Tyabb belted Ballam Park. After scoring 9/270 with Jarrod White (72), Michael Edwards (50) and Nick Taranto (54) all dominating, the Yabbies set about defending the total. When Tyabb’s Jai Gleeson picked up Stuart Plunkett for a duck, the Knights were in all sorts of trouble. Gleeson finished with the impressive figures of 4/37 from 18 overs, including eight…
PROVINCIAL PENINSULA Old Boys have once again bucked the MPCA Provincial trend in round eight and posted a strong score against Sorrento. On a day where the bowlers were on top in Provincial cricket on Saturday, POB posted a more than solid total of 8/277 to give Sorrento plenty to chase on day two of the match this weekend. The next highest score of the round was from Pines against Somerville. The Piners were bowled out for 186. The Old Boys once again had contributors throughout their card, starting with Wade Pelzer at the top of the order with 87,…
DISTRICT THE day certainly belonged to the bowlers on the opening day of round eight in MPCA District cricket on Saturday. In the first two day game of the new year, Red Hill was the only team to make it past 200, scoring 201 against Heatherhill. The next highest team score was 165, hit by Baden Powell against Mt Martha. The lowest score of the round was 74 after Seaford were bowled out by Rye. The Demons are in a winning position at 5/111 in reply. The match at Seaford Reserve was the real story of the day with the…
SUB-DISTRICT HASTINGS have once again failed with the bat, this time against Carrum in round eight of MPCA Sub District. The Blues’ bowlers have been able to get their team out of trouble for the most part this season and it appears that it is going to be the case again in this match. Hastings were bowled out for just 149 on Saturday against the Lions after cruising at 2/114 at one stage. Mitchell Floyd was superb at three with 41 runs, Robbie Hearn got started for 31 and AJ Wilson opened with 29 to give the Blues the ideal…
PROVINCIAL MORNINGTON Peninsula Cricket Association Provincial heavyweights Baxter and Peninsula Old Boys flexed their muscles in the first game of the new year on Saturday. Baxter star Dale Irving snared 3/0 as his side took 4/0 against Long Island to easily win by eight wickets, while Peninsula Old Boys rolled Langwarrin for less than 100 to easily steamroll their fellow top four opponent. Long Island is just a shadow of its past glory days and they were no match for Baxter. Batting first after winning the toss, the Islanders scrambled to 8/116 with skipper Aaron Paxton top scoring with 35.…
SUB-DISTRICT THE MPCA Sub-District competition hotted up even further on Saturday after the round seven one-day matches were played. It was already a tight competition, however, after the completion of the round, just one game separates third placed Tyabb from second-bottom Carrum Downs. Hastings and Ballam Park are now as safe as houses in the top four after the top two teams recorded wins against Skye and Balnarring respectively. Tyabb was the big mover with a win against Dromana. The Yabbies won the toss and batted first and made 175 in their 40 overs, losing just five wickets along the…
DISTRICT THE Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association District competition launched the new year in exciting fashion on Saturday. With some very important one-day games taking place, where top sides were pitted against those outside of the top bracket, the results could really shape the season. What the result did do was further tighten up the gap between third place and eighth place. Wins to Red Hill and Mt Martha further entrenched them into the top bracket, however, losses to Delacombe Park and Flinders really threw the season wide open again. Rosebud set Delacombe Park just 140 runs for victory after skipper…
HAPPY New Year to everyone involved in MPCA cricket. No doubt everyone has had a sensational break and are looking forward to an exciting back end of the 2016-17 season. There is little doubt that there is plenty of excitement and challenges for clubs in every grade across all divisions. There are just two one-day matches and three two-day games left in the season, kicking off this Saturday with a one-day match to launch the New Year. Provincial In Provincial, the fight for a spot in the top four is well and truly on with six teams with realistic chances…