Romsey was in the box seat at the halfway mark of the all-important McIntyre 1sts match on Saturday, yet a never-say-die Woodend managed to conjure up a nine runs victory.
The one-day round was highlighted by three big centuries — 146 off 126 balls at Gisborne by Sunbury United opener Fabian Fernando, and 136 by Macedon’s big hitter Alex Browne (86 balls) and Gisborne captain Jarryd Vernon (125 balls).
Gisborne remain on top of the ladder, with Woodend now second, followed by Romsey and United.
At Gilbert Gordon Oval, Woodend batted and openers Marcus Stewart who made 50 and Henry Lawson 35 put on 61 for the first wicket.
Romsey bowlers persevered, and the last six wickets tumbled for just 30 runs in 39.4 overs.
The last five Woodend batters scored five runs collectively, leaving dangerous hitter Warren Else stranded on 18 in a disappointing tally of 151.
Taylor Stevenson was the wrecker with 5-21, and the Redbacks could be well pleased with their efforts.
Romsey openers Adam Frost and Matt Milne 18 added 48 runs before the first wicket fell; at 3-81 spinner Tom Robson then struck twice throwing the match wide open.
The Redbacks, with skipper Ben Way at the crease, looked certain to win at 6/117 then three wickets tumbled, including Way for 20 — caught and bowled by Hamish McDonald.
A last wicket stand carried Romsey to 142 before Lawson ended the innings. To be dismissed for 142 was not what the Redbacks’ and many others expected.
Robson was the trump card with 5/37, two victims smartly stumped.
BIG PARTNERSHIP
When United ran out Gisborne’s ace opener Riley Vernon for 5, there as elation, but Jarryd Vernon then proceeded to show his expertise and with the consistent Spencer Jones who made 49, gave the Dragons the edge.
Jarrod Catania hit 37 late from 12 balls, and the Dragons closed at 6/273 c.c. from 45 overs seemingly enough to guarantee victory for the top side.
Fernando made a match of it, and at one stage United’s run chase was really on at 2/222.
Gisborne’s experience stood out, and late wickets tumbled with United finishing at 7/248 on an entertaining afternoon where 13 wickets fell and 514 runs were scored.
The Dragons shared their wickets around.
West Indian Alex Browne was a match winner for Macedon for the third match in succession.
He followed up an unbeaten 106 and swift 73 with a blistering 136 at Tony Clarke Reserve, sharing a second wicket stand of 186 with Cam Howlett who contributed 56.
Macedon’s 7/285 c.c. was always beyond Rupertswood’s reach, with all-rounder Darcy Doyle capturing 4-44 to add to his earlier quick-fire 30.
In the remaining match, Broadford secured an overdue win by scoring 185 (Gareth Sharp 81) and restricting Sunbury Kangaroos to 9/126 (Mace Green 61).
McIntyre 1sts matches to be played on January 25 – February 1 are: Romsey v Gisborne, Macedon v Woodend, Sunbury Kangaroos v Rupertswood, Broadford v Sunbury United.
Centuries in other grades came from Hanging Rock’s Steven Zubryski (100 ret. not out), Chris Watson (Diggers Rest/Bulla) made 115 and Diggers Rest/Bulla’s Lachlan Andrews 101.
ALL THE SCORES
Scores from matches in the Gisborne District Cricket Association on Saturday included:
McIntyre Cup 1sts: Macedon 7/285 c.c. (A. Browne 136, C. Howlett 56 – -K. Barker 4-53 d Rupertswood 165 (D. Doyle 4-44); Gisborne 6/273 c.c. (J. Vernon 136, S. Jones 49, J. Catania 37 n.o. — J. Hughes 3-66) d Sunbury United 7/248 (F. Fernando 146, L. Sherlock 34); Woodend 151 (M. Stewart 50, H. Lawson 36 — T. Stevenson 5-21) d Romsey 142 (A. Frost 34 — T. Robson 5-37); Broadford 185 (G. Sharp 51) d Sunbury Kangaroos 9/126 (M. Green 61 — B. Hickey 3-32).
McIntyre 2nds: Woodend 6/121 c.c. Lost to Romsey 2/122 (J. Wallace 61 n.o., D. Wright 39 n.o.); Macedon 9/94 (O. McAliece 5-16) lost to Rupertswood 6/95 (S. Coleman 3-25); Sunbury United 8/175 c.c. (S. Gray 51) d Gisborne 8/123.
Johnstone 1sts: Eynesbury 121 lost to Diggers Rest/Bulla 9/123; East Sunbury 9/184 c..c (S. Paton 66) d Kilmore 127; Aintree 143 (B. Vasudevan 62n.o. — B. Bryant 4-20) lost to Eastern Hill 4/144 (Bryant 62 n.o.).
Johnstone 2nds: Eynesbury 101 lost to Diggers Rest/Bulla 2/102); Kilmore 2/206 c.c. (S. Suttie 98, H. Purcell 72 n.o.) lost to East Sunbury 5/208 (C. Watson 115 n.o.); Eastern Hill 8/129 c.c. lost to Aintree 5/130.
Jensen 1sts — Gisborne 8/107 c.c. lost to Lancefield 3/109; Rupertswood 9/195 c.c. Wallan 85; Melton South 179 d Sunbury United 109; Riddell 172 (H. Fisher 41) d Harkness 153 (M. Aujla 56 – L. Castle 4-24).
Jensen 2nds: Lancefield 142 (P. Hogan 67 n.o, J. Burns 30 — J. Shaw 4-18) lost to Trentham 6/144 (G. Thomson 48); Hanging Rock 5/315 c.c. (S. Zubrycki 100 ret. n.o., F. Watt 59 n.o., J. Smith 52 ) d Blackwood 9/177 (J. Hand 40 n.o. – N. O’Connor 3-23, Zubrycki 3-35); Romsey 4/215 c.c. (D. Leach 68 n.o., M. Palmer 34) d Macedon 124 (S. Gray 45 — J. Day 4-17, A. Liddicoat 3-9); Rupertswood 8/200 c..c d Malmsbury 126.
Jensen 3rds: Harkness 9/140 c.c. (Mark Turner 78 – P. Besanko 4-5) lost to Woodend 4/142 (A. Gray 43 n.o.); Melton 9/99 lost to Sunbury Kangaroos 2/103; Diggers Rest/Bulla 3/227 c.c. (L. Andrews 101 ret. n.o., K. Davis 46) d Gisborne 6/136 (J. Lang 57 n.o.); Melton South 5/181 c.c. lost to Melton Centrals 1/182; Kilmore 76 lost to Sunbury 8/78.
Club North (Broadford 5/166 c.c. d Eastern Hill 6/116; Malmsbury 9/199 c.c. (E. Kosmac 55 n.o., B. Terbeeke 45) d Wallan 115 (C. Knott 3-20); Woodend 7/63 c.c. (B. Mann 40 n.o.) lost to Lancefield 3/67; Kilmore 9/134 c.c. (T. Hanson 61 n.o.) d Gisborne 7/133 (G. Walker 38 — J. Acret 5-18).
Club South: Hanging Rock 176 d Rupertswood 90; Eynesbury 91 lost to Sunbury United 5/92; Melton Centrals 9/163 c.c. lost to Woodend 1/168 (G. McDonald 53, R. Coundon 51, C. Large 38); Harkness d Gisborne on forfeit.
