Weekend to forget for Bushrangers

After another two-week hiatus in the 2021 season because of COVID-19 restrictions, this weekend’s games tippedoff with Round 14 of VJBL action on July 30, followed by Round 19 (postponed R11 games) for Big V on July 31.

Unfortunately, the impact of COVID-19 disruptions means the VJBL will miss those two games as there is no room in the calendar to re-schedule games.

However, it’s better news for the Big V season, as the season is extended by another two weeks to accommodate the missed games through Lockdown 5.0.

The lockdown has, however, impacted on the finals’ series where criteria for qualifying has changed and the play-offs being shortened.

Lady Bushrangers 67 def by Sherbrooke

Suns 86

In a game that was tight right through until the last quarter, the Lady Bushies have gone down to RMIT by 15 points.

Leading Scorers: Blair 28pts | 16/21FT|9reb, McInerney 14pts| 6reb

Div 2 men’s doubleheader weekend

The second COVID-19 Lockdown definitely put a halt on the dream run of the Bushies Men during the previous few rounds.

Facing ladder-leaders RMIT on Saturday in Melbourne and then Pakenham at home on Sunday proved too much for the guys this weekend.

Game 1 Bushrangers

51 def by RMIT 111

In a game the guys would rather forget, with a well than below-average shooting percentage, we had no answers for ladder-leaders RMIT as they blitzed their way to a substantial win.

Liam Wright 15pts|4ast|2stl; Lloyd Wright 10pts|Kego 7pts| 12reb

Game 2 Bushrangers 77 def by Pakenham

Warriors 79

After taking a handy sevenpoint lead into the half-time break, we faced an eight-point deficit going into the last.

And with a flurry of shots making their mark, we squeezed in to be level with 21secs remaining on the game clock.

But with two seconds left to play, Pakenham landed another two points putting them up and ensuring the pressure was on us to score.

Hockley 14pts|5ast, Best 13pts|4stl, Lloyd Wright 12pts| 11reb|4ast, Sartori 11pts|6ast;

Round 20 home games

Big V — Lady Bushrangers v Corio Bay 5 pm (Wangaratta stadium)

Big V — Bushrangers v Craigieburn 7 pm (Wangaratta stadium)

VJBL — playing R15 as fixtured (Benalla stadium)

At the Lima School the Eagles’ Shaun Murphy and Jim Renkin pulled off a momentous win of 3 rubbers to 2 against top-team the Bombers’ Colin Exton and John Bajada.

Murphy won both of his singles and it was the doubles win that sealed the match for the Eagles. Exton and Bajada won a singles each.

At Tatong the Wombats’ Andrew and

Adam Marriott defeated the Farmers’ Pete Smith and Damian Young 5 rubbers to nil. Two rubbers went to three games with Smith taking a game off each of the Wombat players.

At Swanpool Rec Reserve the Swans’ Chris Seeley and Sathya Kancharla won a tough match against the Tigers’ Paul Shea scoring 3 rubbers to 2.

Kancharla won both of his singles and Seeley and Shea won a singles each. The Tigers won the doubles.

There were no B-grade results.