Ladder leader Lakes Entrance was disappointed not to have a chance to build on its outstanding season when no play was possible during its round 12 Bairnsdale Cricket Association (BCA) match against Metung Swan Reach at the Swan Reach Recreation Reserve.
With the outfield soaked and unplayable, play was abandoned before tea with the Seagulls not able to build on their impressive score of 7/207.
Lakes Entrance heads into this week’s Saturday/Sunday two-day match against Paynesville at AJ Freeman Reserve with an imposing season record of 10 wins, one loss and a draw from its 12 matches this season.
The Gulls have been competitive in recent matches and are capable of taking the game right up to the Seagulls if hard-hitting import Nathan Schoultz is on his game.
He has shown several times already in his first season in the BCA that when he is on song he his capable of scoring quickly and big.
With only a few weeks until finals, the Seagulls will be keen to hone their game, which has been built on creating solid partnerships and tight bowling.
Their fielding hasn’t been to the level they desire in recent matches and that will be one area they will be trying to improve on prior to big March action.
The productivity of imports Josh Sackfield, Jack Timms and Sam Kincaid has been huge, with the Seagulls looking for the consistent performers to maintain their output right until grand final day.
In “B” grade the Seagulls bowed out of finals contention with a disappointing loss to Paynesville at the Lakeside Oval.
The ninth-ranked Gulls batted first and accumulated an impressive 6/154 from their 40-over allocation.
Single wicket takers for Lakes were Harper Davis, Laurie Thomson, Jack Reggardo, Max Stevens and Anna Quinsey-Munro.
In reply the eighth-seeded Seagulls were dismissed for a dismal 86 in just 27 overs with six batsmen scoring ducks, including proven “A” grade performers Ben John and Dylan Bryant.
Jacob Daly (22) and Reggardo (21) impressed at the top of the order, while a handy final-wicket partnership between Davis (12) and Thomson, who remained 11 not out, added some much needed respectability to the score.
Both under 13 matches matches were washed out last Friday night.
This week Lakes White will do battle with Wy Yung at Cameron White Oval, while Lakes Entrance Maroon will host Orbost at St Brendans.
COUNTRY WEEK
Seagull imports Timms and Sackfield were part of the Bairnsdale Cricket Association side which played in the annual Melbourne Country Week tournament in the strong provincial division.
Unsuccessful in their first three matches, Bairnsdale played Leongatha last Thursday in a match to decide who would get relegated back to division two, with Bairnsdale winning the match after compiling 9/366.
Timms impressed making 41 against Sale-Maffra on day two, while Sackfield made two solid contributions of 28 and 25 against Warrnambool and Leongatha.
