For those who like their sports news Twenty20 style

Ballarat cricket

Heath Pritchard wasted no time making an impact at Darley Cricket Club, leading his side into a commanding position in its Ballarat A-grade opening round match against Brown Hill. Bowling first, the Lions made the perfect start, removing the top three Hill batsmen for two. The batting side tried to fight back, with Shane Harwood making a vital 57. But there was no stopping Pritchard, who took 3-30 from 15 brilliant overs. He was well supported by Matthew Cape, who took 3-28 and helped bowl Brown Hill out for 153 in the 59th over. In reply, Darley is 1-27 with Harry Killoran not out 15. Jason Knowles took the only wicket for Brown Hill. The Lions will require 125 runs for victory when play resumes.

Gisborne cricket

Bacchus Marsh defeated Sunbury by three wickets on Saturday. After being set 138, the Bulls were guided to the total by Cameron McKinley, the top- order batsman making a hard-fought 41 to lift his side to 3-92. From there, the Bacchus Marsh lower order did the rest, with Tom McColl and James Bailey combining in a vital 23-run stand to seal the win. Elsewhere, Riddell was too good for Diggers Rest Bulla; Woodend got the better of Sunbury United; and Gisborne defeated Romsey.

Football

Gisborne is on the hunt for a new coach after Rod Sharp decided to step down from the head role last week. A Bulldogs statement said Sharp had stepped down from the position, effective immediately. Sharp coached the side for the past two years, including to a preliminary final last season. Full story online at www.starweekly.com.au/sports

Softball

Sunbury Softball kicked off its new season on Saturday with a draw between Goonawarriors and Cubs in under-13s. The teams scored 13 home runs apiece. Dark Knights defeated Panthers 9-0 in the other under-13 game. In women’s competition, Knights defeated Storm 16-6, and Jackson Panthers defeated Wildcats 13-0. In the men’s competition, Goonawarriors defeated Jackson Panthers 7-0, while Storm were too good for the Knights, winning 11-5.

Golf

Kath Jekabsons is winner of the Romsey Golf Club’s Rose Scanlon Shield as best female golfer at the club. Jekabsons was named the winner last week on 34 points, nine clear of Pam Drummond. Jekabsons also won the eclectic and gobbler competitions. Beryl Cole won the putting award.

Soccer

Point Cook’s Joseph Spiteri was named FFV state league 4 west’s best and fairest last week. Spiteri won the award on 18 votes, one clear of Altona North’s Jerobeam Damons. Spiteri also won the golden boot award for his division after scoring 17 goals for the season. Hoppers Crossing’s Liam McDermott finished third in state league 3’s north-west best and fairest count. McDermott finished on 18 votes, eight behind the winner, Whittlesea United’s Tansel Baser.

Basketball

Mahaela Jackson has been named the Werribee Devils Big V women’s division 1 coach for next season. Jackson, a former star player with Mildura, has previously coached fellow Big V division 1 teams Mildura and Hawthorn. She says she’s looking at an improved result for the Devils next season. “Having played and coached for many years in the Mildura program, I am proud to now become a member of the similarly well established and developing Werribee Basketball Association,” Jackson said. “With the loss of most senior players at the end of the 2014 season, this year’s team was made up of a talented younger group … I look forward to working with the team towards an improved result for the 2016 season.”

VTCA

It was a great day for Seddon in its opening round Victorian Turf Cricket match against Sunshine United. Seddon secured a five-wicket win to get its north west division season off to the perfect start. United made a competitive 6-162 but it proved no match for Seddon, which went on to make 5-197.

VSDCA

Werribee’s powerful batting line-up carried it to a dominant win against Yarraville in the Victorian Sub District Cricket on Saturday. The Tigers smashed 3-306 on day one of the match. With so many runs on the board, the Tigers bowlers were in attack mode for day two on Saturday. Yarraville was eventually bowled out for 122, giving Werribee a 184-run win.

 VTCA

It was a tough opening round for Yarraville Club, with its bowlers copping a battering from Strathmore. Batting first, the Clubbers posted a respectable 170, but Strathmore smashed the ball to all parts of Syd McGain Oval on its way to 6-242.