Jonty's Jottings - February 28-March 1

  

The final weekend of the home and away season brought mixed emotions for the club, with teams getting great results and not so great results, with two of our line-ups bowing out of the finals race in heartbreaking circumstances.

But we also have our first Grand Finalists of the year, and they could be playing at home!

 

We have three teams playing in finals this week, including our Under-16 Division 2 team, so the very best of luck to everybody playing!

 

 

The senior MVP vote counts are at the clubrooms next Sunday night, March 8 --- https://www.facebook.com/events/604187786804572/ --- so if you have played any senior cricket (or even if you haven't) we would love to see you there. ! The club's presentation night will be on Saturday, April 18, with further details to come soon.

 

The Under-16 presentation night I believe has been locked in for Monday, March 16, and I look forward to seeing everyone at the club then.

 

  

Here's what happened last weekend:

 

1st Grade - Two-dayer - Moonee Valley 121 and 3dec/116 def Footscray ANA 98 and 86 outright by 53 runs. A brilliant way to finish the home and away season, with the boys taking 15 wickets on day 2 to secure an outright victory that ended up being necessary to secure the minor premiership and the right to play the finals series at home if we're good enough to go the distance. Anthony Cafari (4/26), Jack Newman (3/12) and Shiwantha Kumara (3/12) wrapped up the first innngs before Sameera Vithana (52) and Sam Walker (32) teed off to set a target in quick time. Shiwantha (4/18), Bede Gannon (3/28) and Dan Comande (2/8) then ripped through ANA a second time. Ladder Position: 1st - MINOR PREMIERS

 

2nd Grade - Two-dayer - Moonee Valley 6/94 def Footscray ANA 88 by four wickets with 360 balls to spare. With any hope of making the finals having been extinguished in the boardroom (although we should have made it anyway!) it was a short day on Sunday to finish the season. Needing 48 to win, Stephen Ward (29) and Jim Polonidis (28no) ensured there would be no disaster and Luca Nimorakiotakis' day 1 6/28 would be rewarded with six points. Josh Norsetter played his whole game on Day 1. Ladder Position: 5th - ELIMINATED

 

3rd Grade - 45 overs - Moonee Valley 4/118 def Royal Park Reds 115 by six wickets with 158 balls to spare. A powerful victory where we dominated from start to finish, but unfortunately third and fourth both did manage to beat first and second in the final round, which leaves us wondering what might have been. This result also made the three and six-run losses to Royal Park earlier in the year hit home. Dan Phillips (3/31), Sohail Hussain (2/11) and Dean Jukic (2/14) combined well with the ball before Ian Denny (42no) and Sohail (33) ensured the victory would be comfortably achieved. Ladder Position: 5th - ELIMINATED

 

4th Grade - 45 overs - Moonee Valley 103 lost to Burnley CYMS 6/185 by 82 runs. We went into the game confident, but Burnley did its homework and produced nine changes from the team we beat a month ago - all much better than who they replaced. They were far too good on the day, but we still managed to avoid the wooden spoon and finishing with three wins is something we can be proud of. Mitch McPherson (3/58) was the most successful bowler while Sam Carbone (23) was the best batsman. Nam Nguyen (11) was looking good until he got an inswinging yorker, having earlier taken a good catch. Thankyou very much to all the boys who played in this team all season, hopefully we can see many more of you in 2020-21. Ladder Position: 7th - ELIMINATED

 

5th Grade - 35 overs SEMI FINAL - Moonee Valley 5/363 def Maribyrnong Park St Mary's 100 by 263 runs. Given this was the point the Shiners had fallen over on more than one occasion, there could have been some nerves. But they were dispelled early in a devastating display as we moved through to the Grand Final. Liam Shaw (102ret) racked up yet another ton, Sam Kater (90) returned to the team with a swashbuckling display, and Manu Poulose (44), Jarrad Sims (34), Liam Farrell (34) and Jesse Nankivell-Sandor (21) also came to the party in a massive total. Then Shane Chalmers (5/33) and Cassidy Box (2/18) ripped through a shellshocked Lions' batting line-up to send the boys within 70 overs of glory. One to go Shiners! The other result remains in doubt, so we don't know our opponent or venue as yet. Ladder Position: 2nd

 

6th Grade - Two-dayer - Moonee Valley 177 lost to Pascoe Vale Central 9/197 by 20 runs. So close, yet so far. A brave chase ended up falling just 20 runs short of a spot in the finals, and to add insult, other results meant we finished with an undeserved wooden spoon. Danny Terzini (35) and Jesse Felle (34) led the way, while Jackson Price (20) produced his best knock of the season at the top of the order. Dejan Gilevski (31) bravely climbed out of his sick bed to very nearly back up his hat-trick with a matchwinning innings and Tomas Morrissy (23) was also outstanding, with our two junior stars sharing in a 38-run stand for the ninth wicket that raised hopes right to the death. Ladder Position: 6th - ELIMINATED

 

7th Grade - ELIMINATED - FINAL LADDER POSITION: 7th ---------- Donnybrook 9/187 def Genesis 115 in the Grand Final

 

Under 16 (1) - Two-dayer - Moonee Valley 6dec/178 lost to Doutta Stars 6/184 by four wickets with 72 balls to spare. A gutsy effort from our undermanned team, but the finals-bound Stars proved too strong. Details have not been submitted online as yet, so I can't tell you what happened! Ladder Position: 6th - ELIMINATED

 

Under 16 (2) - Two-dayer - Moonee Valley 37 and 82 lost to Pascoe Vale Hadfield 4dec/69 and 3/180 by 130 runs. The undefeated ladder leaders proved too strong from start to finish, but our boys never gave up and will go into a rematch in the semi final on Thursday and Friday knowing a week is a long time in cricket and anything can happen. You only have to beat them once, and I have no doubt you can do it! Nam Nguyen, Thomas Kruspe and Luca McMonigle (bowling his first over for the season) picked up the wickets, while Nam (20) and Riley Walsh (15) batted well at the top of the order. Ladder Position: 4th

 

Under 14 (3) - Two-dayer - Moonee Valley 9/192 def Aberfeldie 9/148 by 44 runs. A great way to finish a difficult season, boys, and you can all hold your heads high as you head into under-16 (and hopefully some senior) cricket next season. Jordy Walsh (2/8) and Jack Shiers (2/17) joined Jack Bastian (2/9) with two wickets in a great team effort, while Matthew Bocquet (26) and Lachie Monger (18) supported Zac Nilsson's 26 from day 1. Ladder Position: 7th - ELIMINATED

Under 12 (4) - One-dayer QUARTER FINAL - Moonee Valley 9/93 lost to Greenvale Kangaroos 2/101 by eight runs. Another narrow loss saw the under-12s season come to an end, but the boys and girl can all be proud of their efforts to almost knock out the third-placed Roos. Max Talone (11ret) was the best of the batsmen, while Eden Del Citto and Archie Frazer picked up the wickets. Ladder Position: 6th - ELIMINATED

 

Under 10 - One-dayer - The Under-10’s had a good win to finish the season with a 14 run victory over Maribyrnong Park. The fielding was fantastic with run outs and a great caught behind by Luke Sevenson. Isaac Richardson with two wickets bowled a great spell as did Lachlan, Andy and Beau. The team bowled the best it has for a few games and also batted well only losing three wickets with the team also running well between wickets.

So there are three teams still playing in the finals - get along and support them if you can, I know they will appreciate it!

 

 

Under 16 (2) - Two-dayer SEMI FINAL v Pascoe Vale Hadfield at James Martin Reserve, Hadfield 4th v 1st. A great chance to bounce back and make the Grand Final.

 

5th Grade - 35 overs GRAND FINAL v Donnybrook or Northern Lions at TBA 2nd v 1st or 4th. One day, one game, 70 overs from the promised land. We don't know who or where yet, but that will be communicated when we find out. GO VALLEYS, BRING HOME THE CUP!

 

1st Grade - Two-dayer SEMI FINAL v Gellibrand at Ormond Park West 1st v 4th. Minor Premiers is a great achievement, but now it gets serious as we look to turn that into a home Grand Final appearance.

 

 

GO VALLEYS!

 

Jonty (Brendan Rhodes)