ST MARY’S Tyntynder has confirmed their favouritism for the 2022-23 flag by thrashing closest rivals Nyah District by 10 wickets in the top-of-the-table clash.
The Demons hadn’t lost since playing the Saints in November, but they crashed back to earth at the weekend with the reigning premiers unable to cover their missing stars, all-rounders Joel Walsh, Drew Lloyd (hamstring injury) and batsman Dean Harrop (ankle).
They are still a formidable line-up without these key pieces, but the Saints’ bowling attack is in fantastic form after rolling Swan Hill twice within 50 overs and then dismissing the Demons for 107 on Saturday.
Saints skipper Nathaniel Holmes-Brown told The Guardian his side’s hard work had been leading to this moment.
“It was a pretty good feeling – we had a little chat after the game – and just said that was what we’ve been building up to all year,” he said.
“As a skipper, it’s great when everything goes to plan, and we just had one of those days when it all came off.”
However, Holmes-Brown was hesitant to get too excited with his side’s performance, knowing the Demons will be in better shape in the finals.
“Although we did win very easily, cricket can change very quickly,” he said.
“They beat us comfortably in the T20 final 10 weeks ago, and they’ll be a much stronger outfit come finals – but we’ll definitely take the confidence of this victory into the rest of the season.”
The Saints started the game like a house on fire, taking the first four wickets for only 11 runs, with Holmes-Brown taking 5/15.
Holmes-Brown lauded the performances of his bowlers.
“It makes it so much easier for me as the opening bowler knowing if we don’t get those early breakthroughs, we’ve still got three or four blokes who can pick up that slack,” he said.
Justin Toomey dug in for the Demons with a well-compiled 58, but 107 was never going to be enough against the Saints’ powerful batting line-up.
However, the manner of their chase was encouraging for the Saints.
“We knew we’d be able to chase down the total with the talent we’ve got, but to do it without losing a wicket was pretty special,” Holmes-Brown said.
“It was awesome to watch Jonty (Chaproniere) and Jake (Foster) go out there and do their thing.”
The Saints’ opening combination chased down the total within 14 overs, with Chaproniere making 54 off only 41 balls in an ominous sign for opponents.
“Everyone in the association knows what he’s capable of, and he’s always very close to that big score which we’ll hopefully see in the next couple of weeks,” Holmes-Brown said.
“Our opening partnership can go either way – we can lose them early or get off to an absolute flyer, but nine times out of 10, we do get off to that flyer, which really takes that pressure of the blokes coming in afterwards.”
The Saints face another tricky assignment this weekend away against the in-form Wandella.
Holmes-Brown said his charges are looking forward to the challenge.
“It should be a good game – we’ve only played there once, and they rolled us. We’ll just try to play our brand of cricket which we’ll back to get us over the line.”
Ultima TUF v RSL
RSL have come from the clouds since Christmas to get themselves right in contention for a finals berth.
Missing skipper Ben Hallam, the Blues recorded a vital victory over Ultima TUF.
A loss for the Blues would have been tough, but they dug deep when it mattered to condemn the Roos to their third consecutive loss.
It was a match dominated by two fantastic innings, with Blues opener Ryan Hinton making 127 as the Blues posted a mammoth 5/225.
Hinton was well backed up by Brenton Caldwell, who made 69 in the pair’s 154-run partnership.
Not to be outdone, Roos opener Kyle Symons made 138 not out.
However, unlike Hinton, he couldn’t find the support needed to back him up and the Roos fell nine runs short of victory.
Wandella v Swan Hill
WANDELLA won their third match on the trot to head into this week’s blockbuster against the Saints in red-hot form.
Sitting well entrenched in the top four, the Bombers proved too strong for a Swans side whose season is petering out.
While a regulation victory on paper, it was a game nobody at Wandella will forget, with opening bowler Ryan Barnes bowling one of the great spells in club history.
After going wicketless in his opening spell, Barnes returned later in the innings to take 8-3 in a spell that lasted seven overs.
Chasing 216 to win, it appeared Callan Noonan (69) would get the Swans home until Barnes ran riot.
Earlier, Bombers skipper Gregory Dickson (58) was well backed up by youngsters Patrick Oliver (46) and Bohden McKnight (37).
The Bombers are a live chance of upsetting the top-of-the-table Saints this weekend.
