The Winch Mullen Shield stays at Osborne Park for the 3rd year in a row as the club kick started the year 2022 in the best way possible.

Just when we thought Covid was a thing of the past, it’s reared up in an ugly way and will continue to do so in the near future with players having to isolate. We had 3 players this week miss with covid, including our 1st XI keeper and vice captain Cossie. As far as toss records go, Tom is sitting on top with 6 from 6 after successfully winning another toss. The boys bowled first and Joeys got off to a reasonable start. Mitchell Troy was back into the side and back to his best. He bowled his 10 straight for just 28 runs and the 1 wicket. The Skipper was at his miserly best also as the guys put the squeeze on the Joeys middle order. 2/107 soon became 8/128 as the boys picked up 6/21 due to the squeeze. Soup 3, Bagga 2, Hyde 2 and Tom 2 as Joeys were all out for 154.

The run chase started in a hurry with Sam clearing the fence at Point. He unfortunately tried it again 2 overs later and was dismissed, but Blake and Cal then settled and got the run chase back on track. When they both fell Joeys would have felt they were back in the game. The McCann brothers shut the door on that with a 65 run partnership before Soup hauled out. Layton McCann then brought up his 50 and dragged the boys over the line to pick up the win and consolidate their spot inside the top 4.

The previously 5 and 0 2nd XI made it 6 and 0 with another comprehensive bowling performance. Grant Armistead’s career seen him play 1st XI cricket at a young age, then recently playing with mates and family in the lower grades. After a big pre season he was rewarded with a spot in the 2nds and on Saturday he repaid the faith with a ripping spell of bowling. Joeys were travelling along ok at 1/53, enter Grant and before you knew it Joeys were 8/54. Grant picking up 5/16, before Mango cleaned up the tail with 3 cheap wickets as Joeys were all out for 98.

Deccy and Xav made light work of the run chase. Deccy continuing to grow in confidence after his 1st XI debut at Christmas last year. Xav also looked every bit in control in his 1st hit of the season after picking up a finger injury late in pre season. With 5 runs to win Deccy fell for 51 but that was the only hiccup in what was another solid performance for the guys.

The 3rd XI have shared the highs and lows in their first 6 games of the year. On Saturday Col won the toss and batted first in the hope of finding some consistency. Col and Will Milsome once again got the guys off to an ideal start. Both guys decided batting aggressively was the way to go, but when they both fell and a few quick wickets went with them, 4/84 was a position where the guys have fallen over in the past. That wasn’t the case on Saturday as Xander Matherson and Josh Smith came together and put on a match winning partnership. The pair put on 78 in quick fashion to get the guys into a comfortable position with 7/175. Xander finishing with 42, Smithy 40.

Tim Birch was a huge reason behind the guys success last year and after having a quiet start to the season, he would have walked off the field Saturday pleased with how his 2022 has started. Not only did he start well, Josh Rhodes and Alex Foxwell backed him up nicely to make things difficult for Joeys. At 5/90 the game was somewhat in the balance, overs were getting away from Joeys and our bowlers capitalised on that as we grabbed the last 5 wickets for 26 runs to run out winners by 60 runs. Tim finishing with 3/12 off 9.

The 4ths side has been our young up and coming side all year, with the Coach of the Club, Jack Hall and President, Jeff Czajkowski adding some experience to the side filled with Junior talent. Bowling first, the young guys lead the way with Fred Lucas picking up 3 middle order wickets to set the guys up. The Skipper Jack again stopped Joeys momentum through the middle overs as Joeys finished 9/180.

In reply Jeff and young Liam Biddiscombe opened the batting and the pair built the foundations. When Liam fell, young Fred Lucas walked to the crease. Similar to his older brother, Hamish, not a lot fazes Fred and the run chase didn’t seem too big of an ask for the youngest Lucas sibling. When 3 senior bats, Jeff, Pricey and Sav all fell the game rested on young Fred’s shoulders and even that didn’t faze him as he continued to find the gaps and pick up the boundaries. He paired up with another youngster in Benny Demasi and the pair put on 37 before Fred fell for 69. With 50 runs required from the last 13 overs, the game was headed for a tight finish. Jack and cousin Charlie Hall both made reasonable contributions including Charlie hitting a 6 to bring the game even closer, however it came down to the last over with Will Demasi and Aarav Jain at the crease. Dot dot dot and all of a sudden we needed just 1 run to win from 3 balls. Will Demasi went the big slog over cow corner and the boys picked up the win and sealed up the 10 club championship points for the weekend.

The 5ths were the only male side to take a beating over the weekend. The undermanned side once again found things tough against a Lethbridge 3rd XI side. Bowling first, our young openers have held their own all year and they once again did the job. Chanda and Gav Foran both picked up 2 wickets each as Lethbridge made 196. In reply our guys were blown away early and the game was gone. In his return from major knee surgery Lachy Hayes stepped onto the field for the first time since that final day in March. Playing solely as a batsman, Hayes top scored with 19 as the guys were rolled for just 67, with only 2 others reaching double figures.

On Sunday, Women’s cricket returned and Sophie Walker kept her 2021 form rolling into 2022. The opening batsman carved out another brilliant 50, seeing her season tally roll on to 283 runs in just 7 hits with an average well over 90. Her 50 not out set the foundations for the girls 5/95. In reply Portarlington gave it a red hot crack. With 2 of our star bowlers out it was up to the younger girls to provide the back bone of our bowling effort. Stephi Murphy, lead the way with 2/15 whilst one of the not so younger girls, Norz, who had put in a huge effort over the break, training down at the nets most mornings, was rewarded for her efforts picking up 2/12 from her 4 overs. It came down to the last over. Portarlington needing 8 to win from the last over. Our bowler, you guessed it, Sophie Walker. Dot dot single dot single and all of a sudden it was 6 to win from 1 ball. Not to be forgotten, Lauren Kelly’s glove work in the dying overs was superb also as the girls came away with a 4 run win to keep the girls safe in 3rd spot.

Our B Grade weren’t as lucky getting back on the winners list, it’s been a struggle for the girls who may be playing a division too high. That didn’t stop Daisy Sheehy from having a day out. Batting first our girls lost a few wickets quickly before Daisy settled the innings with the help of leaders Dani Mather and then Haylea Fitzsimmons. The trio put on the bulk of the runs for the innings as Daisy top scored with 22 as our girls finished 7/71. The girls would need to bowl well to defend the total and it was Daisy who took on the role of destroyer. She picked up 5 wickets in quick succession to give the girls a real chance at victory. Her 3 overs were rewarded with 5/11 as Kirralee Lewis chipped in with a wicket at the other end but it was all too late as South Barwon won the game with 4 wickets in hand and nearly 10 overs to spare. A few more runs from the girls and who knows what could have happened.

So if this weekend is any example of how 2022 is going to go we’re in for a fun ride. Availability is looking ok, barring a Covid outbreak here or there and with strong availability comes strong sides across the grades. 10 points to the club championship also sees us staying right amongst the top as well with a huge game against South Barwon next week.

Unfortunately with the affects of Covid lingering our social scene has suffered a little, next weekend’s scheduled Silver Circle has now been postponed hopefully to early March, stay tuned for more details on that. Our past players day should still go ahead in early Feb, more details will follow about that, Neil Alford has done a power of work chasing down the Premiership reunions for the celebrations, so hopefully that will be our next big day on the social calendar.