Sport
3 March, 2021
Final's pitch
FINALS fever has arrived across the Loddon with summer sport seasons at the business end of play. At the weekend, Bridgewater convincingly claimed back-to-back Upper Loddon Cricket Association junior flags. But the fairytale rebirth of Dingee in the...
FINALS fever has arrived across the Loddon with summer sport seasons at the business end of play.
At the weekend, Bridgewater convincingly claimed back-to-back Upper Loddon Cricket Association junior flags.
But the fairytale rebirth of Dingee in the Northern United Association stumbled in the grand final.
Dingee had come out of recess to be ultra-competitive, making the grand final against Elmore who won by 39 runs.
Bridgewater’s convincing 97-run victory over Boort-Yando in the Upper Loddon juniors has given them the association’s first back-to-back flags since Wedderburn in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Play commenced on Saturday at the Newbridge Recreation Reserve in cool conditions with Bridgewater electing to bat after winning the toss.
Harry McKinley and Toby Naughton set the innings up with a second wicket partnership of 93.
Although the going was slow early, the runs flowed more freely following the lunch break.
Naughton made 45 before being caught while McKinley compiled 50 in a patient knock.
Will Stringer kept the scoreboard ticking over in scoring 22 to push Bridgewater’s total out to seven for 154 at stumps.
The Boort-Yando bowlers were hampered by a dew-affected ball with Fraser Holland and Jacob Mulquiny the most successful with two wickets apiece. A scoreline of 33 extras an indication of bowling challenges on the first morning.
Boort-Yando’s chase on Sunday never really got going after losing their first wicket with their score on 23, which proved to be the best partnership of the innings.
No batsman was able to get on top of the Bridgewater bowlers and wickets fell at regular intervals.
The innings ended with the score on 57.
Naughton removed both openers caught behind while Darcy Wood with three wickets, Kai Lister and McKinley two each shared the spoils for Bridgewater.
Immediately following the game, Bridgewater captain Darcy Wood was presented with the Les and Margaret Miller Premiership Shield, The Inglewood and Districts Community Bank awards were also presented to their respective recipients - Wedderburn’s Isaac Holt won the player of the year and bowling awards while Gabe Nevins (Arnold) accepted the batting award.
Meanwhile, in North Cetral Bowls Division grand finals, Korong Vale has taken out the Division 2 pennant with a two-shot victory over Wycheproof at Wedderburn on Saturday.
John Gibson’s rink including Joan Earl, Dorothy Gibson and Wayne Keenan set up the win.
And last Thursday in the mid-week pennant finals, Korong Vale had a 76-52 win over Boort.