A final round loss has doubled the pain for St Anthonys in the Gisborne District Cricket Association.
The Saints were handsomely beaten by Rupertswood at the weekend, forcing them to give up top spot on the ladder – a position they’d held most of the season – to their conquerors.
Bowling first in the top-of-the- table clash the weekend before last, St Anthonys was well and truly in control of this contest early as the Rupertswood top order folded.
The batting side slumped to 4-7 then 5-23, and it looked as though a sub 100-run total was on the cards.
But Rupertswood rallied with wicketkeeper Christopher Ryan leading the charge.
Ryan hit 109 from 167 balls in an innings that included 16 boundaries and progressed Rupo’s total to 9-220.
Returning to Arnolds Creek Oval on Saturday, the Saints had no answer to Rupertswood’s attack, being bowled out for a disappointing 108.
Aaron Forward and Brandon Webber led the way for the bowling side, taking three wickets each, while Anthony Morrison claimed two.
The loss knocked St Anthonys to second place on the B-grade ladder.
After going undefeated through the first eight rounds of the season, the Saints have now lost their last three matches – poor preparation for taking on Wallan in a semi-final this week.
Rupertswood will host Bacchus Marsh in the other semi.
Meanwhile, in A-grade, a final round loss to Gisborne meant Diggers Rest Bulla finished in fourth spot.
Diggers Rest will now take on top-of-the-table Woodend in a semi-final clash.
The two sides last met in round 11, with Woodend emerging as comfortable winners.
A final-round victory for Bacchus Marsh meant the Bulls avoided relegation.
Bacchus Marsh defeated third- placed Riddell and jumped to sixth on the McIntyre Cup ladder.
