Sports News

Regional finals for cricket 

Having qualified as winners of the Darebin District, the Senior boys' cricket team competed in the regional finals against some stiff competition last Wednesday. In the first match the team got to 103 off their 12 overs after winning the toss against Hazel Glen College. In reply Hazel Glen were 50 runs at the halfway mark and a tight finish looking likely but a couple of tight overs from Alex Johnston pushed the run rate required into double digits with the opposition eventually falling 26 runs short.  This setup a final game against Eltham High School to make it through to the Regional Final vs SEDA next week. We lost the toss and batted.  Losing 2 key wickets early put our team on the backfoot and we never recovered. Lenny Dean(24) batted sensibly to hold the innings together, while his older peers were regularly dismissed at the other end. Eltham chased down the 70 runs in 7 overs and were worthy winners.  Thanks to the Year 10 boys who stepped up to give us 11 and to Pauline Dridan for getting us there and back safely as usual.

District cricket Gala Day winners

The Northcote Year 9/10 boys' team travelled to Donath Reserve for the District round-robin Gala Day. First up was William Ruthven. Bowling first, the boys restricted the opposition to 46 off their 8 overs but conceded too many extras. We managed to chase down the runs down with 7 balls to spare to get us off to an unconvincing but winning start. Up next was Lalor Secondary College who elected to field first and were left chasing 80 after Nathan McIntosh top-scored. The bowling was shared around against an inexperienced batting line-up and Northcote were comfortable winners.

The last game proved to be a ‘final’ as both Northcote and Thornbury were undefeated. It was played to a very high standard with both teams looking like they would win at different stages in a topsy-turvy match. Teams agreed to play 10 over innings, allowing 2 overs each and both teams having quality bowling attacks. Northcote were sent in and were in trouble at 1/3 after 2 overs. Connor Hastings and Matt Tulk did extremely well to get their side back in the match getting the score to 1/37 after 6 overs. Nobody could get any clean hits away in the closing overs but this was largely due to the quality and pace of the Thornbury High fast bowlers.

Only defending 53, Matt Foster and Finley Ward bowled exceptionally well to start off our bowling innings. Finley bowling a crucial maiden in the 3rd over while Matt gave the side momentum taking 2/3 off his 2 overs and beating the bat most of the time. Connor Hastings chipped in with a useful caught behind wicket next over and it looked like Northcote High were just about home as Thornbury High were 3/18. Momentum swung again as Thornbury took 31 off the next 4 overs. 14 off 14 balls needed. Thornbury hit an impressive 4 and looked to be favourites. Needing 7 off the last over, Max Daphne bowled accurately to seal a dramatic win and put Northcote through to the next round and cap off a very enjoyable day of cricket. Well done boys.

Will Medcalf

Coming up

3 March  -  Yr 9/10 Regional Cricket - Girls' and Boys' teams

4 March  -  Senior Girls Premier League Soccer

5 March  -  Senior Division Volleyball