The Melton region’s two teams in Western Suburbs Uniting Churches Cricket Association A-grade synthetic are no longer joint pacesetters after Rockbank lost outright on Saturday.
The Eagles and Rams had been the top two heading into the season’s first two-dayer, but Rockbank bats failed twice in the innings and 125-run defeat to Charles Sturt University.
Daniel Piccolo top scored for Rockbank in both innings, but his knocks of 25 and 33 did not get enough support in the batting order as the Rams were all out for 89 and then 75 in reply to University’s 9-289.
Eynesbury had a near-unassailable 5-439 to defend but still had to toil for the full 72 overs to secure victory against St Johns.
David Temby (94) kept the Eynesbury bowlers at bay as St Johns batted out the day to make 7-239 – 210 shy of the target. Matthew Siedlecki (2-25) and Blair Sole (2-42) were leading wicket-takers for the Eagles.
Eynesbury now leads A-grade synthetic outright with 18 points, ahead of Altona Sports (16), while Rockbank is still in the top four (12) in spite of its defeat.
In Williamstown District Cricket Association A-grade turf, Melton South is off the mark after a 144-run thrashing of Williamstown Congs.
The Congs were chasing South’s 246 made the previous weekend and were never in the hunt after Michael Pisani (4-22) snared the first two wickets before a run was scored.
Cobi Davies (2-3) and Mitchell Woodyard (2-26) were other multiple wicket-takers as the Congs crawled to 72 all-out off 42.3 overs.
Division rival Melton Centrals was also comfortable in victory, defending 261 by bowling out West Newport for 144.
Ben Notman (2-30), Scott Lumley (2-45) and Matt Murphy (1-3) did the damage early before Abhishek Aggarwal ended a brief middle-order resistance from West Newport by taking 3-23.
