DISTRICT
THERE are six teams vying for just one spot on the MPCA District ladder as we head into the mid-season break.
While Baden Powell and Red Hill sit at the top of the tree on 72 points and Pearcedale has locked down third place with 60, six teams all sit on three wins and 36 points.
Mount Martha and Main Ridge, despite winning just two games to date (24 points), are just a game outside fourth place.
There were some must-win games for clubs on Saturday, some of which achieved the desired outcome while others are now well and truly on the back foot.
Carrum was one of those teams that simply had to win.
Defending 224 against Baden Powell was never going to be enough however, and the visitors got the runs with six wickets still in the shed.
Rhys Elmi was dominant and scored 155 of the 4/226 for the Braves.
Carrum is in second last place on the table and would need to win all of its remaining games after Christmas to make a charge.
Heatherhill had a sensational opportunity to go four points clear of the pack in fourth place with a win against Delacombe Park but fell an agonising five runs short.
The Hills were certainly in position to do so after bowling out the home side for 150 on the opening day.
However, the visitors resumed at 3/22 on the second day and never recovered, eventually bowled out for 145.
Dean Blight resumed with figures of 2/9 and finished with 5/32, while Shane Deal collected 4/39.
Seaford destroyed the finals chances of its neighbour and biggest foe Seaford Tigers.
Defending 8/212, Seaford was able to bowl out the Tigers for 179. Ash Mills added 79 with his 3/21 for the Tigers, while Matty Meagher scored 29. 17-year-old Max Watters almost took his side to the promised land with 25.
Tiron Fernando and Andy McMannis each snared three wickets for Seaford while Ali Mortaza picked up a couple of his own.
Flinders failed in its attempt to get the outright win against Boneo but still picked up the very much appreciated 12 points.
The Sharks are in fifth place after taking 13 wickets against Boneo, restricting them to just 114 runs for the match.
Defending 228 after Shane Beggs hit an unbeaten 101 last week, Flinders bowled out Boneo for just 89. Matt Burns took 3/15 and Mitch Stansborough 3/22 for the Sharks.
Boneo was 1/25 in its second innings before the match was called to an end.
Red Hill had little problem bowling out Mt Martha.
Chasing 302 for victory, the Reds were never in the game, eventually dismissed for 151.
Brent Martin had a wonderful match, snaring 3/26 to go with his game-high score of 74 for the Hillmen.
Glenn Collett also enjoyed a dominant match, scoring 54 with the bat and picking up 2/42 with the ball.
Pearcedale destroyed Main Ridge, going within seven wickets of picking up the outright.
After making 71 runs on the opening day for the Panthers, Kaine Smith then took 4/12 and 3/11 as the home side bowled out the Ridge for 96 in the first innings and then had them 3/37 in the second.
Jason Albress scored 47 of the 96 first innings runs.
First published in the Mornington News – 22 December 2015
