DISTRICT
RED Hill has already opened up a gap on the ladder against the rest of the MPCA District teams after the conclusion of the third round.
The Hillmen sit on 44 points, a game clear of Mt Martha (32), while Flinders (30) and Heatherhill (26) make up the top four.
Red Hill were too good for Seaford Tigers on Saturday. Skipper Simon Dart hit an unbeaten 101 as the visitors took their time getting to 6/151 in 65 overs to get the 12 points.
Resuming at 2/14, Red Hill needed to get themselves back into the game and while it looked mighty shaky at times with the scorecard reading 3/41, 4/62, 5/83, 6/100, Dart was able to get them over the line with good support when it mattered from Nick Esipoff.
Liam O’Halloran picked up 2/28 for the Tigers and Max Watters claimed 2/44 from 21 overs.
Mt Martha wasted no time picking up the outright victory against Rye.
The Demons resumed on 4/20 in its second innings after being bowled out for 79 in the first innings. Mt Martha responded with 9/115.
The Demons were bowled out for 85 in their second innings, giving the Reds 50-odd to get to pick up the win. They scored 0/51 with skipper Mitchel Darville unbeaten on 31.
Heatherhill also picked up an outright victory against Seaford.
The Hills resumed at 5/188 after rolling Seaford for 109 in the first innings. They finished on 8/283 before sending the home side back in.
Despite 107 runs from opener Ryan McQueen in the second innings and 55 from Ian Rowe, Seaford was still bowled out for 200 in 63.2 overs. Jake Theobald took 4/30 for the Hills.
Needing 27 to win, the Hills racked up 2/32 in 2.1 overs to claim the outright.
Delacombe Park smashed Baden Powell.
After scoring 316 in their first innings, the Parkers had the visitors 1/10 overnight. The Braves were rolled for 101, Dean Blight claiming 3/32, Aaron Aughtie 3/24 and Rob Fisher 2/27.
The Braves fared better in their second innings, finishing the day at 1/81.
Flinders did what it needed to do against Rosebud. Just.
Chasing 185 for victory, the visitors picked up the win in the last over of the day.
Andrew Power (41) and Tim Clements (48) were catalysts in the win, while an unbeaten 20 from Mason Mail and unbeaten 24 from Max Royal helped guide the Sharks over the line.
Billy Quigley was the best of the Rosebud bowlers with 4/58 from 26 overs.
Main Ridge picked up the important 12 points against Boneo.
Chasing 134 for victory, Main Ridge scored 6/168 in 61 overs before sending the pandas back into bat.
Boneo scored 3/167 in its second dig, Chris Jobling hitting an unbeaten 73 and Ryan Jellie hitting 58.
First published in the Mornington News – 8 November 2016