VTCA: English import shines for St Bernard's
BY TEO PELLIZZERI
26 Oct, 2010 01:00 AM

ST Bernard's Old Collegians got rewards for their initiatives at the weekend as they won one of just
two matches played in Victorian Turf Cricket Association's Senior Division.

The extended off-season continued for eight of the 12 clubs in Senior Division at the weekend, but St Bernard's had no such trouble at Hilbert Oval as they won by eight wickets against Royal Park-Brunswick.

Division rivals Airport West-St Christopher's and Old Essendon Grammarians were not so lucky, as the clubs' matches against South Caulfield and Greenvale respectively were abandoned.

A 92-run stand from Simon Cave (69) and Nathan Hawkes (76 not out) took St Bernard's past Royal Park-Brunswick's 95.

Teams did not take to the field until 2.50 in the afternoon, playing 29 overs each.

But even in the sunshine, Royal Park-Brunswick's decision to bat first was met with trouble in the form of a red-hot James Stewart for St Bernard's.

The English import, from Doncaster Town, claimed 5-35 off 12.1 overs to end a promising start to the innings in the 29th over.

Royal Park-Brunswick had reached 1-50 before losing 9-45, with captain Craig Osborne chipping in with

3-17.

"I thought we bowled well, our bowlers did a good job and we were always confident about getting that score," Osborne said.

"[Royal Park-Brunswick's] two openers came out with the right attitude.

"It was a matter of tying them down.

"James [Stewart] did exactly what we asked - he kept a good line.

"We focused on early partnerships, we knew it'd take one of 50 to 60 and we'd get the points."

The only other game to see action

at the weekend was Bentleigh's

13-run win against Williamstown CYMS.

Focus now turns to round three, where St Bernard's travel to Spotswood, while Airport West-St Christopher's will host McKinnon and Old Essendon Grammarians will travel to Bentleigh.

With the ladder in its formative stages, St Bernard's has 9.93 points on top from Bentleigh (9.83), Williamstown CYMS on 3.10 and the rest of the league bar last-placed Royal Park-Brunswick on three points.

Snowdogs put bite on Woodsmen

BY LANCE JENKINSON
26 Jan, 2010 04:00 AM
ST BERNARD'S Old Collegians had one of those days where everything they touched turned to gold.
The fifth-placed Snowdogs' pursuit of a finals berth in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division was given a major boost as they claimed first innings points before stumps on day one of their two-day clash with Spotswood at the Murphy Oval in West Essendon on Saturday.

The visiting Woodsmen perished for a paltry 106 as Snowdogs opening bowlers Gerard McMahon and Duncan Snell instigated a batting collapse at either end of the order.

McMahon claimed 3-34 off 10 overs, snaring three of the top-four Woodsmen batsmen in the process.

Snell finished with team-best figures of 3-24 off 12.3, running through the tail end.

The Snowdogs were not finished.

They were hell-bent on maintaining the rage and advanced confidently to stumps on 0-130 off 39 overs with wicketkeeper-batsman Chris Spinella (66) and Snell (58) unbeaten.

There was no waiting around for Snell, who blasted two big sixes as the Snowdogs opened up a 24-run lead and will set their sights on an outright victory on day two.

New ball game (community news)

29/09/2009 5:00:00 AM

ST BERNARD'S Old Collegians players and officials have been in winter wonderland in the knowledge they will feature in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division for the first time since the 1990s.
Reality will hit the Snowdogs about on Saturday when they take to the St Bernard's College Oval faced with a top-tier battle with South Caulfield on day one of a two-day clash.

After back-to-back promotion - following a runners-up finish in North A1 in 2007-08 and a senior A1 premiership in '08-09 - it's a whole new ball game for Snowdogs coach Rex Bennett, captain Craig Osborne and president Anthony Jordan.

They confront the VTCA's most battle-hardened quality outfits, including local clubs Airport West-St Christophers and Old Essendon Grammarians.

The Snowdogs will reintroduce all-rounder Duncan Snell on an international permit.

The English import has just completed a stellar season with bat and ball in the Yorkshire County Premier League, winning a flag with York.

The Asif Jan-coached Airport West-St Christopher's hosts the other promoted club Williamstown CYMS in its season opener at Etzel Street Reserve.

The West Saints have recruited leg-spinner and newlywed Robert Rutley from the Doutta Stars, but he will not debut for his new club until he returns from his honeymoon.

Old Essendon Grammarians face a difficult road trip to McKinnon in round one. The Bombers welcome back opening batsman Travis Withers and young up-and-comer Adam Dudderidge.

Doutta Stars will begin life in senior A1 in a clash with Greenvale at Buckley Park. The Stars will be without Rutley and batting star Viv Ion (to Yarraville Club), who opted to remain in senior division.

Strathmore will kick-start its new season with a short trip to Sunshine United.

The north A1 season will start with a bang. Local rivals Moonee Valley and Avondale Heights - minus all-rounder Tarique Jeffrey who moved to Footscray United - will battle at Ormond Park. East Keilor has an equally exciting contest with St Albans at Overland Reserve.

The north B1 season will begin with a one-day round. Flemington hits the road for a clash with new kids on the block Altona Roosters and Aberfeldie will face another newcomer Braybrook-based St Andrews. Aberfeldie Park plays Kingsville Baptists.

Snowdogs savour win (Community News)

BY LANCE JENKINSON 24/03/2009 8:32:00 PM

ST Bernards Old Collegians has achieved a sporting miracle, club president Anthony Jordan says.
The Snowdogs had their backs to the wall after accepting a free pass to play in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior A1 division courtesy of Albion's decision to stay down in the north A1.

The new kids on the block were one of the yardsticks of the divsion for most of the summer, but the wheels appeared to have fallen off on the eve of the finals.

They were hammered by Williamstown CYMS in the last round and coughed up the all-important No.1 finals ranking.

But it proved no hindrance on the weekend as they went on to exact revenge on CYs in the grand final at Crofts Reserve.

After surviving a semi-final test against Brighton District, the Snowdogs moved into the season decider to be confronted by two of the four days being washed out, making the task even harder.

It meant the CYs could bat two days and force a draw to claim the premiership if they were good enough.

They were odds-on to do so when they batted on Saturday afternoon with the sun shining and overcast conditions forecast for day two.

The gritty Snowdogs fought every step of the way - dismissing the usually potent CYs for just 212 in a go-slow 100 overs.

Assistant coach and first XI captain Craig Osborne said the key to the victory was the bowling performance on day three. "We really had to get into their middle order," he said.

"We knew if they got away from us it would just about take the game away.

"We really toiled hard on a good batting wicket."

Antonio Mullins was superb with the new ball for the Snowdogs, claiming 2-74 off 28 overs. Osborne was the pick of the bowlers with 4-35 off 27 overs.

Tristan Kassis took 2-38 and Luke Davis a tight 2-24 off 16 overs.

The Snowdogs still had to bat to perfection on an overcast day four.

They reached the target with two wickets up their sleeve and 20 overs to spare in fading light after a 100-plus-run partnership between Mullins and Gary McIntyre.