Cricket round-up: Barwon Heads win Battle of the Bridge

Michael Fallon’s 8/60 in the previous week helped restrict Ocean Grove to just 180. But Ocean Grove responded well this week and at one stage even look to be in the better position as they had Barwon Heads at 6/67.

However, Campbell Snookes’ unbeaten 50, along with Kristian Hopwood’s 44 and Brock Close 41 not out meant Barwon Heads secured a three-wicket win.

Barwon Heads now move above Ocean Grove to claim third-place based on their superior percentage. They are both on 27 points as are second-placed Barrabool, who secured a 100-run win over Collendina.

Collendina started their pursuit of Barrbaool’s 326 well, with Kade Norquay making his third half-century of the season. Collendina even looked fairly well poised on 2/154 at one stage.

However, Barrabool claimed their last six wickets for just 15 runs, not only ensuring victory, but also that they would have the best percentage of the three sides tied on points.

At Ellimatta Reserve Anglesea completed the first outright of the season. Having dismissed Portarlington for just 48 in the first week they once more showed their dominance by bowling Portarlington out for 85 in the second innings. Highlighting Anglesea’s depth was that Dylan Taylor taking 5/23 in the second innings, despite a hamstring injury stopping him from bowling for several weeks.

Anglesea Cricket Club president Brett Kerr said he was pleased to see Taylor return in such emphatic fashion.

“It was good for him to get some wickets and go well.”

Anglesea then chased down the 63 runs they needed to secure the extra points with the loss of just two wickets. They are now 16 points clear at the top of the table, having taken 19 more wickets than any other team.

Kerr said the club was in a good position both on and off the field.

“I think we’re on the right track at the moment, and we hope we have these players stick around for a fair while.”

Queenscliff are presently just six points behind the top four, having chased down Jan Juc’s 140 with relative ease. Jan Juc bowled fairly well, with Queenscliff ending the day 6/191 off 78 overs. But despite the positives, they slipped to their third consecutive defeat.

It proved a difficult week for all the local sides in the GCA. In Division 2 both Torquay and Modewarre suffered defeats, while in Division 1 Leopold were also resoundingly defeated, but did manage to dash South Barwon’s hopes of defeating them outright.