DRAGONS FIRE IN RUN HOME
BELL Park has thrown the GCA2 premiership race wide open with a six-wicket victory against Torquay.
The Dragons claimed their third big scalp in as many outings, reeling in the Tigers’ 191 with 16 balls to spare to set up a big final round.
Steve Kelly (41 not out) and Ash Carter (20 not out) shared an unbroken 57-run stand to bank the six points and move the fifth-placed Dragons within four points of Torquay.
Jamie Spiller (49), Shane Lymer (39) and David Toft (30) laid the foundations for the successful chase and despite a stutter through the middle of the innings, engineered by Torquay tweaker Terry Hill (3-26), the Dragons looked largely in control.
Earlier, Torquay appeared set to post a big total as Tom Dunn (66), Riley Wood (60) and Michael Cox (41) pushed the Tigers beyond 150.
From a powerful position of 2-165, the Tigers innings crumbled as they lost late wickets in their efforts to increase the scoring rate.
Michael Lymer (3-20 from 10 overs) and Ben Spencer (0-19 from 10) were instrumental in limiting the damage.
“They batted well. The first 20 overs we put the heat on them and they got away for the next 10 but I reckon they left a few out there,” Bell Park captain-coach Michael Lymer said.
“Bell Park is a lightning outfield and it’s a good pitch to bat on, so we were pretty happy at the end.”
Lymer was rapt with his team’s performance and attributed the late season surge to adopting a more relaxed approach.
“It’s just momentum at the moment. We were down about four weeks ago, we had a bit of a chat and decided the best way to go was to play carefree cricket,” he said.
“It’s largely out of our hands but we’ve been able to release the shackles. It’s been a long year off the back of what happened, but I said to the boys we need to go out and have fun.
“Last year got to a lot of us and it’s been tough with selection the way the points are. The aim was to get through the year, get through the season unscathed and try to keep the group together.”
Bell Park’s win sets up a tantalising final Saturday of the home-and-away season. To make the finals, the Dragons (46 points) must defeat Alexander Thomson and rely on Marshall to defeat Torquay (50 points).
Marshall needs to win to have any chance of finishing on top of the ladder, while Bell Post Hill can secure the minor premiership with victory against St Peters. Third-placed Geelong City will travel to Mt Moriac Reserve to take on Modewarre.
Should results go the Dragons’ way next Saturday, Lymer believes his charges will be a dangerous finals opponent. “In my heart of hearts I don’t think we deserve to be there. Other teams have had more dominant seasons but if we can go in with a good mindset, I can’t see there being any issues,” he said.
“We were able to beat both Bell Post Hill and Marshall last weekend. We play the Marshall ground well and if we were to go to Bell Post Hill, it’d be a toss of the coin.”