Saints aim to tame Lions once again

HEATHCOTE will be aiming to tame the Maiden Gully Lions again in Saturday’s 11th round of A-reserve action in the Castlemaine District Cricket Association season.

The one-day clash between the Saints and Lions starts at 1pm at Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.

It’s consecutive meetings between the teams, albeit a month apart, after Heathcote scored a five-wicket victory on Maiden Gully’s ground at Bake Mate Oval on the Marist College campus on December 14.

In what is an 18-round season, Heathcote starts Saturday’s clash in fifth place in the premiership race.

The Saints marked one of their best all-round performances of the season in round 10 against the Lions.

On that day Maiden Gully won the toss and chose to bat.

After being 2-28 the Lions fought back with a 123-run stand between Brodie Hogan and Robert Brown.

They hit top scores of 67 and 66 runs.

Next best for the Gully was Michael Rogers on 20 against a Saints attack led by Tim Gleeson, 2-20 off eight overs; Daniel Butler, 3-17 off three overs; and David Wilson, 2-19 off two.

A 73-run opening stand between Brad Rowe, 40, and Daniel Butler, 32, put Heathcote in a strong position to chase down a target of 196.

The Lions struck back to claim three wickets when the score was on 73.

Saints’ captain Nick Malavis, 33 not out, teamed with Cale Polson, 31, in a 61-run stand.

A fine all-round game by Tim Gleeson included 23 runs as the Saints reached 5-198 off 37 ½ overs.

The chase for the A-reserve premiership is being led by North Castlemaine, 84 points, and Castlemaine United, 78.

Locked on 66 points, Taradale and Campbells Creek Colts round out the top four from Heathcote, 54; Muckleford, 54; Newstead, 42; Harcourt, 30; and Maiden Gully Lions, six.