Castlemaine District Cricket Association semi-final contests were battled out last weekend across the competition.
In A Grade matches, finals contenders undertook a two-day fixture to decide this year’s grand finalists, A Reserve played one-day encounters on Saturday and Sunday in qualifying, elimination and preliminary finals to decide their final two, and B Grade contested one-day semis.
The Women’s finalists went head to head on Friday evening and C Grade (Under 16) smashed out fast-paced two-day clashes.
The batsmen struggled under the weight of finals pressure, failing to notch up one ton. But the bowlers were in fine form with Newstead A Grader Alex Murphy leading the way with an impressive 6-55 against Guildford.
Guildford A Grade opponent Matthew Manning claimed 5-30 for the winning side, while fellow A Grade bowler Declan Slingo of Muckleford also had his eye in taking 5-56 against Castlemaine United. Mia Mia B Grader Justin Greet was also sharp taking 5-20 in his side’s win against Castlemaine United.
Results were:
A GRADE
In Semi Final 1, Guildford 10-169 (Tom Reece 40, Charles Bunting 35, Troy Thomas 24, Hadley Bassett 21; Alex Murphy 6-55, Sam Winnard 2-35) defeated Newstead 10-143 (Rhys Smith 38, Sam Winnard 24, Alex Murphy 20, Ian Garsed 19; Matthew Manning 5-30, Cordie McKendry 3-32).
In Semi Final 2, Muckleford 10-100 (Brett Cole 32, John Watson 26, Daniel Peckham 16; David George 3-18, Charlie Warren 3-31) lost to Castlemaine United 10-146 (James Chaffey 45, Charlie Warren 22, Darcy Carroll 16, Harper Kneebone 15; Declan Slingo 5-56, John Watson 3-35).
Guildford will now take on Castlemaine United in this weekend’s Grand Final.
A RESERVE
In Saturday’s Qualifying Final, North Castlemaine 10-160 (John Howorth 87, Ken Chapman 19; Steve Learmonth 3-27, Private Player 2-0, Andrew Young 2-25, Leigh Bennett 2-42) lost to Taradale 10-213 (Steve Learmonth 57, Regan Williams 45, Matthew Maerz 28 not out; Mitchell Hancock 3-42, John Howorth 3-47).
Taradale make their way straight into the Grand Final, while North had a chance to redeem themselves in Sunday’s prelim.
In Saturday’s Elimination Final, Heathcote 9-158 (Brad Rowe 33, Nick Malavisi 22, Cale Polson 19, Rhys Ashen 16; Nash Turner 3-26, Neville Cooper 2-14, Tim Gingell 2-33) defeated Muckleford 10-157 (Marty Sharples 31, Private Player 22, Samuel McGee 17, Tim Gingell 15; Rhys Ashen 3-25, Nick Malavisi 3-28, Benjamin Poulton 3-40).
In Sunday’s Preliminary Final, North Castlemaine 10-150 (Darren Hinck 47, Mitchell Hancock 33, Ken Chapman 23, John Howorth 14; Rhys Ashen 4-29, Cale Polson 3-29) bounced back defeating Heathcote 10-121 (Tim Gleeson 49, Rhys Ashen 18, Cale Polson 12; Nicholas Ryan 2-26, Darren Hinck 2-26, Karsen Beer 2-33).
Taradale and North Castlemaine will now face off in the Grand Final this Saturday March 15 at Wesley Hill.
B GRADE
In Semi Final 1, Mia Mia 8-314 (Justin Greet 83, Seamus McKenna 68 not out, Simon Dundas 52, John O’Sullivan 44, Nathan Sims 30; Charlie Cordy 2-20) defeated Castlemaine United 10-108 (Brad Perry 34, Charlie Cordy 26, Thomas Gordon 14 not out; Justin Greet 5-20, Andrew Conforti 2-18).
In Semi Final 2, Taradale 9-167 (Steven Curnow 47, Justin Hancock 42, Kym Szegedi 24 not out; Corey Pedley 3-28, Vineet Kumar 3-31, Isaac Pedretti 2-37) lost to Hepburn 1-168 (Ashley Lovick 75 not out, Lindsay Olver 43, Nathanial Lowe 37 not out).
Mia Mia will now take on Hepburn in this Saturday’s Grand Final.
WOMEN
In Friday’s Semi Final 1, Hepburn 140 (Diane Edlin 21 not out, Jennifer Schellekens 13 not out, Tara Ford 12 not out, Johannah Maher 12 not out; Alana Wearne 2-10) defeated Barkers Creek 91 (Gabrielle Smith 14 not out, Nicole Semmens 10 not out; Kira Terletzky 3-18, Lucinda Lowe 2-5, Danni Kraak 2-12).
In Semi Final 2, Newstead 110 (Eve Righetti 19 retired not out, Dawn McNabb 14 not out, Gen Butler 12 retired not out; Citasha McBride 3-10, Tenille Thomas 2-14) defeated Guildford 80 (Tenille Thomas 13 retired not out; Alicia Nicholson-Pollard 3-12).
This Friday Hepburn will take on Newstead in the Grand Final at a venue to be confirmed.
C GRADE (Under 16)
In Semi Final 1, Maryborough 10-92 (Lachlan Roche 25, Oliver Cassidy 15, Jaxon Carmody 13, Kaleb Jardine 10; Benjamin Jardine 3-11, Jack Gibson 2-1, Levi Bruce 2-24) lost to Barkers/North/Harcourt 10-137 (Levi Bruce 28,Jordan Hardy 26, Sam McLean 18, Benjamin Jardine 13; Keegan Doherty 4-5, Oliver Cassidy 3-16).
In Semi Final 2, Castlemaine United Gold 1-50 (Gabriel O’Sullivan 15 not out, Louis Parsons 12 not out) defeated Colts Phelans 8-49 (Charlie Erickson 22; Charlie Cordy 3-6, Gabriel O’Sullivan 3-8) in a low-scoring affair.
In this weekend’s two-day grand final Barkers/North/Harcourt will take on Castlemaine United Gold at a venue to be confirmed.
See our sister paper the Castlemaine Mail this Friday, March 14 for finals venues and times.
