Strong return for Monbulk cricketers

Grace Hourigan 2/1 & James Thornton 3/6 - U16s. PICTURE: SUPPLIED

This week saw the return of three out of four of Monbulk Cricket Club’s junior teams, as well as the club’s veterans for the first time in 2024.

Both the Fast 9s and U16s had great wins to kickstart the year in style, but the U12s just fell short.

Well batted Will Meyer and Ethan Knight (both 50 retired) in the U16s before James Thornton took 3/6 and Grace Hourigan 2/1.

It also saw the first weekend of two-dayers for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd XI.

The 1s have a target of 286 vs St John’s Tecoma, with Aaron Powell the pick of the bowlers with 4/42.

The 2s are in a strong spot, bowling St Johns Tecoma out for 132, and in reply are 2/35.

The 3s are in a tough spot, but will continue to fight hard next weekend.

The 4s had a bye, while the 5ths unfortunately just fell short.

Finally, Monbulk’s veterans started the year strongly, with a 14 run with over South Belgrave. Travis Selby (retired 42*) and Dave Anderson (39) were strong contributors with the bat, while Chris Defina took 2/11 with the ball.

Scores:

-1st XI – Monbulk vs St. John’s Tecoma 10/286 (A. Powell 4/42, C. Haworth-Hooker 2/70, K. Storey 2/47)

-2nd XI – Monbulk 2/35 (B. Trinnick 20*) vs St. John’s Tecoma 10/138 (J. Santini 3/20, E. Blenkiron 3/35)

-3rd XI – Monbulk 6/93 (C. Heppell 19, A. Gillard 17, M. Winzenried 16) vs The Basin 3/189 (T. Noonan 1/20, T. Rickard 1/29, D. Rowe 1/53)

-4th XI – Monbulk – BYE

-5th XI – Monbulk – Scores TBC

-Veterans – Monbulk 9/170 (T. Selby 42*, D. Anderson 39, M. Cutler 23) def South Belgrave 9/156 (C. Defina 2/11, B. Haack 1/25, T. Scholes 1/31)

-Under 16s – Monbulk 3/168 (W. Meyer 51*, E, Knight 50*, W. Blenkiron 21) def Mountain Gate 7/15 (J. Thornton 3/6, G. Hourigan 2/1, J. Fraser 1/1, S. Blenkiron 1/1)

-Under 12s – Monbulk 10/66 (J. Jennings-Sykes 20, A. Selby 6*) def by Eildon Park Panthers 5/79 (T. Brodie 1/3, F. Ratten 1/11, J. Wragg 1/11)

-Fast 9s – Monbulk 3/94 (A. Arnott 27*, H. Watson 18*, M. Demant-Roddy 14*, H. Grigg 13*) def St. John’s Tecoma 5/37 (A. Anoop-Nechikottli 2/11, H. Grigg 1/0, M. Demant-Roddy 1/0, H. Watson 1/0)