GCA1 Round 12 wrap: Twin tons keep East Belmont’s finals hopes alive as St Peter’s cruising to victory

East Belmont helped keep its finals hopes alive against ladder-leaders Newtown & Chillwell, while St Peter’s is well on the road to victory. See Wes Cusworth’s full wrap here.

Shane McNamara scored 134 for East Belmont against Newtown & Chillwell. Picture: Wes Cusworth

East Belmont helped keep its finals hopes alive against ladder-leaders Newtown & Chillwell, St Peter’s is on the road to victory while a lower-order stand has put reigning premiers North Geelong in a promising position.

Here is Wes Cusworth’s wrap of the weekend’s action in GCA1 first grade.

St Joseph’s v North Geelong 251

North Geelong revealed its impressive batting depth once again, thanks primarily to a well-crafted 69 from new-ball firebrand Dale Kerr. Partnering Alistair McCann (43) in a vital 97-run seventh wicket stand, Kerr confirmed his all-rounder status by showcasing the breadth of his shot-making repertoire in a 92-ball stay that featured seven fours and a six.

Skipper Tom Mathieson also contributed a blistering 17-ball, unbeaten 23 as North Geelong elevated its tally to 251 against the St Joseph’s attack at Zampatti Oval.

Dale Kerr showed his skills with the bat making 69 against St Joseph's. Picture: Wes Cusworth

“We have blokes who bat down the order in our side who could be batting higher in other teams, but everyone just plays their role and if that’s batting at seven or eight you just make sure to take your chance when you get it,” Dale Kerr said post-game.

“Obviously, it’s never good when we lose early wickets, but it’s also nice to have a little bit of time out in the middle.

“There’ve been a couple opportunities where I’ve had 15 or 20 overs to bat and I haven’t capitalised; so today it was nice to bat a few overs with Alistair, tick over the scoreboard, and contribute a few runs to a total that is hopefully good enough to win next week.”

The pair came together at 6-113, after the returning Aussie Humphrey (4-61) and medium pacers Brandon Purcell (3-49) and Ryan Simmonds (2-46) made early incursions into the Magpies upper order with both seam and swing.

Phil Visser (40), Adam Costello (26) and Connor Hangan (22) all made starts before Kerr and McCann pushed the score into a more competitive range at the College oval.

“Aussie has just come back for them from that hand injury and bowled really well, so it’s good to see other people doing well,” Kerr said.

“I thought Brandon bowled really good lines and lengths; when I first came in the ball was still moving and he bowled in really good areas, he was probably the pick of the bowlers.

“While Ryan Simmons was another to bowl well, with the way he used his changeups and the like.”

East Belmont's Danny Hegarty also made a century against Newtown & Chillwell. Picture: Wes Cusworth

Newtown and Chilwell 0-28 v East Belmont 7-322

Needing victory to remain in the race for finals, seventh-placed East Belmont responded in the best possible way against the ladder-leading Two Blues thanks to twin centuries from openers Shane McNamara and Danny Hegarty. Returning to his position at the top of the order McNamara struck 11 fours and two sixes in his 168-ball 134, while Hegarty bludgeoned 15 fours and two sixes in his 111 from 186 balls. The pair combined for a brilliant opening partnership of 219 after being sent into bat by the Two Blues. While Hegarty benefitted from an early chance to construct his maiden three figure tally of the season, McNamara’s third century of the summer was a near flawless display that took his return to 710 runs at 71. The late chase for runs saw the wickets tumble, despite Zak Tribe (27) and Hayden McMahon (22) getting starts. Left-arm spinner Lachie Sperling (2-94) toiled manfully for Newtown and Chilwell to be the sole multiple wicket-taker, while the home side’s desperation in the lightning-fast Queens Park outfield was rewarded with three late run outs. Not surprisingly, the Lions need for a positive result saw the declaration come after 70 overs, albeit without reward. Dylan Hodge (15 not out) and Pat McKenna (11 not out) successfully negotiated a seven-over spell to carve 28 from the chase.

Ronnie McKenna took a spectacular catch for Newtown & Chillwell. Picture: Wes Cusworth

Highton 0-13 v Grovedale 203

There were plenty of starts for Grovedale, but the inability of the Tigers batsmen to go big has left the door ajar for Highton to run down the further 191 runs required for victory. Josh Windus headed the run-scorers with a 117-ball 57, teaming with Robin Smith (39) in the innings’ most meaningful partnership of 61 for the sixth wicket. Smith’s electrifying innings was punctuated by six fours and a six and came from just 42 balls. The end of the Windus-Smith union virtually signalled the end of the Tigers’ innings as they lost their last five wickets for just 10 runs. Earlier, Jordan Moran (26) and Jack Wrigglesworth (25) looked promising, as did Mick McNeel (18) before a brilliant slips catch by Brady Somers ended his stay. Fionn Neeson was the key protagonist for the Heat, his 15.5 overs yielding 5-55 to take his season’s aggregate to 28 wickets. Skipper Nathan McCoach picked up the scalps of Kane Pozman (15), Rob Smith and Sam Coutts (9) on the way to 3-38. Brady Somers and Zac Wills were subjected to a testing 11-over interrogation, reaching five apiece as Highton went to stumps at 0-13.

Highton celebrates a stunning catch by Brady Somers in the slips. Picture: Wes Cusworth

St Peter’s 0-41 v South Barwon 126

St Peter’s requires just 86 for first innings points after Josh Sorgiovanni (4-23) and James Stokes (3-29) combined to race through South Barwon at Walker Oval. The Saints met with little resistance apart from 26 from visiting skipper Nick Butters and yet another rearguard innings from decorated all-rounder Brad Hauenstein. The Swans situation could have been even more dire were it not for Hauenstein’s capacity to work with the tail after his side slumped to 6-71 and then 7-81. Hauenstein struck five boundaries in his patient unbeaten 37 from 116 balls. While Sorgiovanni and Stokes claimed the major spoils, St Peter’s ability to maintain the pressure as a bowling unit was pivotal to its success with Tom Webster (1-32) and Billy Jones (1-36) creating early inroads. The home side wasted no time shaving 41 from the target in just 12 overs; the ever-improving Matt Sorgiovanni reaching an unbeaten 19.

Originally published as GCA1 Round 12 wrap: Twin tons keep East Belmont’s finals hopes alive as St Peter’s cruising to victory