Rovers rip through Lakers

ROVERS United Bruck have booked yet another A grade grand final ticket after defeating Yarrawonga Mulwala over the weekend by 104 runs. Up against a strong Lakers side who have vanquished them twice before this year, the Hawks won the toss and batted, with opening pair Charith Perera and Ryan Collier digging in early. The pair put 34 runs on the board before Perera chipped one to Ben Walsh in the infield. Reid McNamara was the next to go, slashing at one outside the off stump straight to second slip. The Hawks went from 2/51 to 3/55 after Paddy McNamara holed out in the deep for three. Collier was the victim of miscommunication between the wickets, the ‘yes, no, sorry’ of it resulting in his dismissal at the non-striker’s end, run out for 26. Jeremy Wilson would fight back, working together to bring RUB from 4/58 to 5/112 alongside Matt Whitten, with Wilson snicking the ball to Reid Clarke keeping up to the stumps for 36. Whitten managed 19 before he was caught behind, with the tail keeping the scoreboard ticking over. Jacob Schonafinger (17 off 29), Luke Whitten (18 from 34) and Lucky Shantha (28 from 24) all chipped in with valuable runs, with the score creeping ever upwards. The Hawks batted their fill allotment of overs, sitting at 9/186 after 75 overs. Angus McMillan (4/50 off 24 overs) and Matt McCabe (3/32 from 24) were the strike bowlers for the Lakers. With the runs on the board, the Hawks came out to defend and their bowlers were putting it the right spot. The Lakers opening pair lasted 10 overs before Reid Clarke edged Paddy McNamara to the slips for three runs, the first wicket falling at 1/20. The Hawks kept the pressure on, bowling a consistent fourth stump line and allowing the dot balls to pile up. Schonafinger found the edge of Ben Welsh who just poked at one outside the off stump, and when McNamara pushed one through Fraser Smart’s defences and into the top of the off stump, the Lakers were 3/42 after 21 overs. The fourth came in the 27th over when Zach Moore slashed one to gully trying to get off the mark after 11 deliveries. Pressure continued to mount on the Lakers as they tried to find avenues to score, but when Schonafinger bowled Matt McCabe, the Hawks were in control with Yarrawonga Mulwala at 5/57 after 33 overs. The next to fall was Brock McCabe, who had lasted 68 balls before a peach from McNamara took the top of his leg stump. At 6/62, Andrew Dodd and Kyle Archibald tried to bring some spark into the chase, running the single hard and rotating strike, until Archibald hit one to the waiting hands of cover. More wickets fell in the 49th over, when a half volley to Dodd was hit right to mid-off, the Lakers slumping to 8/71. Wilson struck again in the 50th over, a ball skied to midwicket with Angus McMillan gone for a five ball duck. The match was all but concluded, the Lakers needing 104 with one wicket in hand, and when Angus Heslin tried to sneak a single and Xavier Mitchell was caught ball watching at the other end, Heslin was run out, the Lakers bowled out for 82. Paddy McNamara was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 4/20 from 14 overs, while Schonafinger (3/12 from 16) and Wilson (2/21 from 13) were impactful. The Hawks’ win sees them take on rivals Wangaratta Magpies in the grand final.

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