Saints Leave It Until the Last Minute
FTGDCA
by Ian Harley
It took until the last ball of the day for St Johns Tecoma to overcome newly promoted Knox Gardens at Talaskia Oval. The Falcons batted first and looked to be well on their way when their first wicket fell with 72 on the board. After the fall of the 4th wicket at 126, 16 year old Spinner Corey Brasher was introduced into the attack and proceeded to take 5 wickets for 18 runs in only his second Knox Tavern Cup game. The Falcons finished their innings at 9/185. In their chase the Saints were struggling early at 3/39 before opener Dean Palandri (95*) and Kyle Chandler (44) settled the ship with 114 run partnership. With 9 required for victory off the last over, Palandri struck a four off the first ball, then with 2 singles off the next 4 balls, required three runs off the last ball. With the field spread he managed to hit the long on fence claiming the 6 points.
Reigning premiers Ferntree Gully got the new season off to a strong start with an emphatic victory over Lysterfield. The Beavers batted first and found the going hard against Ferntree Gully’s bowling line-up, setting the Blues a target of 125. In reply Ferntree Gully cruised past Lysterfield’s score finishing the day on 3/189. Ryan Handley top scored with 91 before being dismissed backing up too far. Handy knocks came from Mark Teofilo and Matthew Black, both compiling 40’s.
Batsmen dominated the game at Belgrave with both teams loosing 4 wickets in a game decide in the second last over of the day. Batting first Rowville posted 4/191 with Tate Bergman 55* supported by Bogar(40) and Guest(32). The Magpies chase saw Leigh Newey make 53*with Scott Vozzo and Ben Carnell both reaching thirties.
At Upwey it was a different story with 20 wickets falling for the day. It seemed that Monbulk had the Tiger’s measure at 6/32 with new recruit Matt Mulcahy back in the shed for 0. Upwey fought back with Leigh Bianchi (32) top scoring. The Tigers attack of Bianchi, Wilson, and Cross kept the Hawks hunting before Brendan Heath took 3/0 to seal victory.
Runners up last season, Eildon Park posted a strong win over The Basin with the Morris brothers, Ben (57) and Cody (31) adding to Shane Cosstick’s 4 for 15. Bryn Gaunt (88) lead the way for Johnson Park to take the points over Upper Ferntree Gully despite a spell of 4/15 to Jay Colee.
In Decoite Shield Knoxfield were too strong for Auravale, South Belgrave defeated Mountain Gate and Footballers chased down Knox to take the chocolates.
Scores
Knox Tavern Cup
St Johns Tecoma 187 (D.Palandri 95*, K.Chandler) def Knox Gardens 185 (M Dalton 58, C.Brasher 5/18)
Upwey Tecoma 10/127 (L. Bianchi 32, Thilan 4/24, J. Simmonds 3/26) def Monbulk 10/103 (J. Duff 57, B. Heath 3/0)
Ferntree Gully 3/189 (M.Teofilo 42, R. Handley 91, M. Black 41*) def Lysterfield 9/125
The Basin 9/114 (S.Cosstick 4/15) lost to Eildon Park 2/116 (B.Morris 57, C.Morris 31)
Belgrave 4/193 (Newey 53*, Vozzo 39, Carnell 37) def Rowville 4/191 (Bergmann 55*, Bogar 40, Guest 32)
Johnson Park 6/183 (B.Gaunt 88, P.Dunlop 31, Colee 4/15)def Upper Ferntree Gully 121 (D.Goodger 31, Grant 3/21)
DeCoite Shield
Mt Gate 9/124 (S.Burridge 32, R.Barry 20, I.Tua 20, Baker 3/39) lost to South Belgrave 4/125 (D.Ray 41, A.White 36*, G.Shaw 3/24)
FTG Footballers 4/110 def Knox 102 (L.Hooper 33, A.Carey 3/27)
Knoxfield 6/200 (M.Train 52, M.Pruysers 51, T.Boxell 41) def Aura Vale 103(B.Holst 3/11,
Z.Wilson 3/15)
Division 3
Knox Gardens 7/152 (S Taylor 37, C Mostert 65*, A Chandler 3/26) lost to St Johns Tecoma 7/158 (Timmers 59, Clacy 41, Ad. Zandt 3/37)
Monbulk 7/146 (S. Bohun 73) lost To Upwey Tecoma 4/152 (Mitchell Hewitt 50, Michael Hewitt 42)
Ferntree Gully 119 (M. Mazzanti 30, J Garland 3/27) Lost to Lysterfield 7/121 (Whitty 38)
Eildon Park 10/145 (C.Trotter 36, D.Smyth 45, J.Debernardi 3/16) lost to The Basin 2/151 (M.Whalan 54, C.Betka 46*)
Belgrave 2/114 (Peters 32) def Rowville 108 (Peters 4/24)
Division 4
FTG Footballers 2/90 (L.Story 51) def Knox 83 (A.Percy 33, D.Cranston 3/12, L.Johns 3/15)
South Belgrave 6/146 (P. Steunenberg 47, T. Park 3/31) def Mountain Gate 124 (M. Burridge 43, P. Adams 36, D. Bromley 3/14, J. McDermott 4/25)
Knoxfield 1/64 (J Balfaour 53*) def Aura Vale 57 (G.Malone 4/26, J.Sake 3/7)
Division 5
Upwey 8/166 (M Anderson 44*, N Montague 3/28) def Knox Gardens 119 (D.Vernon 33)
Ferntree Gully 5/159 (M.Reed 61*, M.Catalano 41) def Monbulk 7/101 (A.Beekhuyzen 3/10)
The Basin 186 (S.Porch 65*, R.Heskes 43) def Lysterfield 8/119 (Peatling 39)
Eildon Park 4/168 (B Hoban 89no, D Tasker 33) def Knoxfield 7/163 (S Faulkner 73no, R Kodi 34)
Belgrave 2/167 (Smith 77*, M Levell 49*) def Rowville 7/122 (White 33, Walker 32)
Division 6
Knox Gardens 124 (G George 30, A Clark 4/14) lost to Aura vale 7/148 (M Hancock 3/13)
St Johns Tecoma 139 (Dan.Eagle 45, C.Klimeki 4/13, T.White 3/2) lost to FTG Footballers 9/224 (R.Amy 87, R.Pearce 3/19)
Eildon Park 2/62 (M Jackson 35) def Mountain Gate 10/58 (P Cutts 3/7, F Femia 3/6)
Division 7
FTG 8/104 (R. Sevior 32, M Casement 3/13, J Boyd 3/19) Def Knoxfield 101 (G James 5/35, D Jones 3/12)
Eildon Park 9/89 (S Graff 3/12) lost to Johnson Park 6/96 (S Langenburg 35)
Lysterfield 7/129 (S.Bras 30, J.Greenard 34, J.Linder 3/12) def Mountain Gate 6/123 (M.Argus 38, J.Linder 32, C.Sutton 3/43)
Belgrave lost to UFTG on Forfeit
