IN a special Weekly feature, LANCE JENKINSON looks back on all of the Western Region Junior Cricket Association grand finals played in 2012-13.
U17A: Williamstown 9-145 d Newport-Digman 144
IN a special Weekly feature, LANCE JENKINSON looks back on all of the Western Region Junior Cricket Association grand finals played in 2012-13.
Williamstown won a tight and tense grand final over Newport-Digman by a mere one wicket at Balmoral Park.
Newport-Digman rustled up 144 with the bulk of those runs coming from captain Jack Reidy (47), Jackson French-Wright (36) and Oliver Lanning (23).
James Kilpatrick (4-8) and Jack Van Wyngaarden (3-26) made life difficult for the Bulls batsmen.
Williamstown’s run chase would prove successful, but only just, with middle-order batsman Sam Davis starring with 37.
U17B Sth: Altona North 6-209 d Wyndhamvale 109
Altona North was able to pull off a stunning result to crush minor premiers Wyndhamvale in the season decider at Tom Roberts Reserve.
Wyndhamvale was dicing with disaster once its innings finished with a small total of 109.
The Vales had no answer to some brilliant bowling from North’s Arunn Samynathan, who took 4-19.
Altona North had a stress-free run chase, winning by 100 runs after 78 (retired) from Jayme Lawson, who finished with 668 runs for the year in all competitions.
U17B Nth: Deer Park-Ardeer 4-116 d Gellibrand 112
True to form, top-ranked Deer Park-Ardeer comfortably accounted for Gellibrand in the grand final at Alamanda Reserve.
Gellibrand had first go at batting after being sent in, but a spate of starts with no big scores and 4-10 from Asad Lawrence meant they would have to defend a tiny total of 112.
Deer Park-Ardeer was in cruise control with captain Steven Clohesy (40) and Anthony Sciortino (20 not out) pointing the way to victory.
U15A: Yarraville 7-174 d Hoppers Crossing 111
Hot favourites Yarraville were merciless in their disposal of Hoppers Crossing in the big one at JT Grey Reserve.
Yarraville opted to bat and it would prove a wise choice as it compiled an imposing 7-174 with Josh Turner (37 not out), Mitchell Cross (34) and Liam Richardson (30) the top scorers.
Hoppers Crossing fell short by 63 runs, despite an impressive performance from Brett Smith, who snared three wickets and belted 43.
U15B Sth: Werribee Centrals 8-185 d Williamstown CYMS 0-1 (washed out)
Werribee Centrals reaped the rewards of finishing the regular season on top.
The Centurions were awarded the premiership after rain washed out play in their grand final against Williamstown CYMS at JT Grey Reserve.
Centrals produced a hefty total of 8-185 on the back of Gurpreet Sidhu (51 retired not out) and Jack Budd (48). Luckless CYs had no chance to mount a run chance as rain intervened two balls into their innings.
U15B Nth: Sunshine United 106 d Seddon 72
The two best sides in the division fought out a low-scoring affair at Errington Reserve.
Minor premiers Sunshine United snared the holy grail over Seddon by 34 runs.
United could muster only 106, thanks largely to the big-hitting Ryan Comensoli with 50 retired not out and Nicholas Millar with 34.
Seddon was stopped in its tracks on 72 by an inspirational bowling performance from Abhigya Manandhar (4-13).
U15C: Gellibrand 5-151 d St Albans 60
Little separated Gellibrand and St Albans on the ladder at the end of the home and away rounds, but the gulf was massive in the grand final at Balmoral Park.
Gellibrand powered to 5-151 with captain Jeremy Fine (48) and Connor Wall (36) giving the bowlers some stick.
Fine showed his all-round qualities with 4-5 with the ball to leave the Saints’ run chase in tatters, 91 runs short.
U13A Sat: Werribee 2-66 d Werribee Centrals 58
The all-Werribee grand final at Warringa Reserve turned into a Wyndham whitewash.
Werribee Centrals were bowled out for just 58, a score that was always going to be hard to defend, considering the numbers put up by the Werribee batsmen this summer.
Werribee passed the target two down with all-rounder Jordan Dimkovski getting it done with bat (23) and ball (3-8).
U13B Sat: Spotswood 4-230 d Port Melbourne 148
There was no shortage of runs grand final big bash at Grant Reserve.
Spotswood’s firepower proved too much in the end for Port Melbourne as it went on to win by 82 runs.
Jack Fitzharris (42) and Oscar Laurent (41) both retired not out in the Woodsmen’s big total of 230. Port could not get close because Laurent backed up with the ball, taking 3-8.
U13B Fri Sth: Footscray ANA 224 d Spotswood Gold 164
First versus second met in the deciding game showdown at McIvor Reserve.
Second-placed Footscray ANA swooped on the holy grail with a convincing 60-run win over Spotswood Gold.
ANA posted an imposing score after huge performances from Jack Lishman (48 retired not out) and Mars Lester (41 not out).
Spotswood, courtesy of Jay Vine (40), had a red hot crack at the big run chase, but ultimately fell short with Lishman topping off a fine outing with 3-14.
U13B Fri Nth: Werribee 6-173 d Gellibrand 172
Werribee caused one of the upsets of the WRJCA finals, winning the flag from third position after beating minor premiers Gellibrand by four wickets at the big dance at JT Grey Reserve.
Gellibrand were superbly led by Connor Wall (43 retired not out) and benefited from a massive 47 extras, including 38 no-balls.
While its bowling was wayward, Werribee’s batting was on song, running down the target six down with Adrian Mezzatesta (40) and Callan Gilboy (41) both retiring.
U13B Fri East: Spotswood Green 3-182 d Caroline Springs Green 165
Spotswood made it an undefeated summer, eclipsing Caroline Springs by 17 runs in a hard-fought grand final at McIvor Reserve.
The Woodsmen produced a powerful batting performance with Angus Cameron (42) and Keelan Crimmins (40) retiring not out.
Caroline Springs, which finished the season on top, put its best foot forward with Jathin Patel (40 retired) and Sam Taylor (30) getting the innings off to a flyer.
The innings collapsed under the weight of an impressive Woodsmen bowling display.
U11A Sat: Port Melbourne 4-86 d Point Cook 8-84
Port Melbourne had a comfortable time of it in a six-wicket win over Point Cook in the premiership decider at JT Grey Reserve.
Set just 85 for victory, Port timed its run chase to perfection to reach the target with an over to spare.
Oscar Roberts (23) and Dechlan Griffin (15) were the cornerstones to the minor premiers’ successful chase.
U11A Fri Sth: Point Cook 4-122 d Williamstown CYMS White 3-116
Big hitting was the order of the grand final as Point Cook edged out Williamstown CYMS by six wickets at Alamanda Reserve.
CYs went to the changeover confident after setting a big target with William Bokma (25 retired) and Campbell Menzies (22) the run leaders.
Point Cook showed why it finished the home-and-away rounds in top spot with a sterling batting display led by Jack Mentor (25) and Darcy Harmer (25), who both retired not out.
U11A Fri Nth: Werribee Gold 9-96 d Grand United 5-90
Werribee Gold won the grand final by the skin of its teeth: a one-wicket margin over Grand United at JT Grey Reserve.
Werribee, which finished minor premier, was guided to victory by star batsman Jack Stephenson, who retired not out on 27, the eighth time he had done so this summer.
Earlier, Grand United could muster only 90, with Kyle Holden being the standout with 25 retired not out.
