Cricketers look to break free
Teams involved in a log jam on the edge of Horsham Cricket Association’s A Grade top four will attempt to break the shackles in one-day games on Saturday.
While Homers reign supreme on top of the ladder with a healthy lead on Jung Tigers, Rupanyup-minyip, Laharum and Horsham Saints remain gripped in battle on equal points.
The season appears based on which of the teams challenging Homers’ domination can break through and find consistency through the ranks.
This Saturday Horsham Saints, fresh from a confidence-building win over Rupanyup-minyip, take on Homers in another big challenge on the turf at Horsham’s Sunnyside Oval.
The Saints produced the team effort they were chasing with the bat last week, overtaking the Blue Panthers’ 176 with three overs to spare.
Veteran opener Gary Davidson anchored the chase with 43 but had critical help from the likes of Austin Smith, 37, Matt Combe, 23 and Tony Caccaviello, 21. Other players also made it into double figures.
The Saints are blatant underdogs against the Pigeons fresh from belting a disappointing Jung Tigers in a low-scoring affair, also at Sunnyside.
Homers, with opener Michael Langford hitting 30 and Marcus Williamson a critical late-order 33, managed 130 against a Tigers attack inspired by off-spinner Jake Mclean, 4-17.
But the runs were more than enough as left-armer Eddie Landwehr, 7-7, and Craig Britten, 3-17, tore a gaping hole in the Tigers’ response.
Only Conor Lawson, batting with a badly broken finger suffered while fielding earlier in the day, offered resistance with 21.
The Saints will come up against a Homers side with Simon Hopper, Adam Atwood, Jarred Combe, Nathan Koenig and Sandy Hodge if available, all hungry for runs.
Rupanyup-minyip won’t have enjoyed coming off second best to the Saints and will attempt to take its frustration out on winless Blackheath-dimboola.
The Blue Panthers’ top-order batsmen in Adam Carter, 28, Victor Lothian, 40, Ryan Mettelmann, 35, and Travis Hair, 49, all spent time at the crease for no result.
Blackheath-dimboola had a fascinating clash against Laharum but couldn’t defend 161 at Laharum, the home side passing the score four overs from stumps.
Tom Magee hit 67 for the Bulls in a 42-run opening stand with Harry Young, 14, and Angus Barham, 35.
But the rest of the list fell cheaply, many to Josh Mahoney, 4-24, and Mal Adams 3-42.
Blackheath-dimboola needs a few more cards to fall its way to upset Rupanyup-minyip at Rupanyup.
Laharum, meanwhile, will try to strike while the iron’s hot against Jung Tigers at Horsham City Oval.
The Tigers appear to be either hot or cold – nothing in the middle – and consistency is sadly lacking from a talented list.
Shining a light for the Tigers’ cause is Mclean, who is evolving into one of the best finger spinners in the competition.
Standing in the Tigers’ way are the likes of bludgeoning Ben Peucker, who clipped 60 in Laharum’s middle order last week, Mahoney, 44, who rarely misses out, Damien Bunworth, George Macduff, Daniel Griffiths and Pearce Watling.
This weekend represents the last of one-day fixtures before back-to-back two-day rounds.