Grubbers set for massive fortnight of BPCA action

OCEAN Grove has staked its claim for a Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association Finals push with the Grubbers returning from the Christmas break with a gutsy win over Inverleigh.

First XI captain Dan Roddis said his side was determined to not only make a finals push, but also to contend for this season’s A1 premiership, but first they will need to measure up against fellow contenders Barrabool this weekend at Ceres Recreation Reserve.

“It’s our number one focus at the moment.

“I said it at the start of the season that our ambition is to win the flag, I think that’s the case for every team, but the boys have picked up a couple of wins we really wanted and that we desperately needed.

“The boys are focused on making finals, winning that semi, and ultimately, winning the Grand Final. That’s the number one focus, that’s what we’re trying to do.”

The Grubbers held out against a bottom-placed Inverleigh outfit last weekend by four wickets, despite dropping three wickets in quick succession with only a few runs left to score.

Adam Arnold (36), Shaun Fankhauser (25), and Shane van den Nouwland (29) led the charge on the bat for Ocean Grove with the Grubbers ultimate chasing down Inverleigh’s total of 113 a ball short of 33 overs with 6/115.

Roddis commended his bowling attack for limiting Inverleigh’s batting attack, with special praise for Michael Thornton and Alex Mann, who each took three wickets last Saturday.

“Mick’s probably been our star player for the past three or four seasons now, I personally think he has become the best all-rounder in the comp,” he said.

“He struggled early with the ball on Saturday, then he picked up his first weekend.

“We gave him a spell, then we picked him up for the end and took out the tail of Inverleigh’s order.

“Alex, who is new to the club coming over from Portarlington, provides us with another leg spinning option and he’s been fantastic. I actually think last weekend marked the first time this season he’s played two games in a row.

“He’s such a good bowler and he’s always restrictive, it will come in handy down the track for sure.”

Following its matchup away against third-seeded Barrabool, Ocean Grove then heads to Armstrong Creek the following week to play the fourth-seeded Titans in what Roddis is calling a great chance to “measure up” against the rest of the competition.