Premier Cricket: Patrick Rowe, Ed Newman crack centuries for St Kilda

Patrick Rowe and Ed Newman vault into three figures as St Kilda enjoys a run feast at the Junction Oval.

Ed Newman and Patrick Rowe after their centuries for St Kilda.

It took Ed Newman five years to make his first century for Dandenong.

It took him two matches to make his first for St Kilda.

The left-hander blitzed 105 off 82 balls and shared a 167-run stand with fellow century-maker Patrick Rowe (126no) as the Saints surged past 300 and put a heavy loss on Greenvale Kangaroos at the Junction Oval on Saturday.

The home team stacked up 3-306 and held the Roos to 9-154.

Newman’s move from Dandenong to St Kilda in the off-season came as a surprise, not least to the Panthers, who had patiently persisted with him, watched him score a maiden century last season and expected him to be a fulcrum figure in a recast First XI in 2021-22.

But he wanted a fresh start in Premier ranks.

Saints captain Adam Crosthwaite said at the time of the transfer that the club was chuffed to gain a player of Newman’s talent.

He acknowledged Newman had made less runs than his supporters had hoped for at Dandy.

Newman won a few supporters at St Kilda on Saturday, including coach Glenn Lalor.

“He batted very, very well,’’ Lalor said this morning.

“Showed intent from ball one, hit the ball hard. He batted with Patty and they put on an important partnership and they went at a run a ball.

“Ed pushed Patty with him and showed his maturity as a young cricketer. He was very good to watch.’’

But it wasn’t all about the new man.

Rowe opened the innings and scored his maiden century, with his unbeaten 126 coming off 152 balls and including 12 fours and a six.

He shared a 132-run partnership for the second wicket with Jon Merlo, who hit 58 off 61 balls.

Rowe lost his state rookie contract in the off-season. After he did, Crosthwaite spoke of the need for the 20-year-old to score hundreds and improve on his 411-run season in 2020-21.

“Very measured, he was patient, he batted through, he did a very good job for us,’’ Lalor said.

“He was the linchpin of the innings, had those really good partnerships with ‘Merls’ (Merlo) and Ed.

“He just needs to keep knocking on the door, to be honest, churn out some runs, keep pressure on the people above.’’

Josh Bartlett took 4-21 and Henry Thornton 3-22 as the St Kilda bowlers met resistance only from Greenvale opener Josh Trembearth, who scored a fighting 79 from the opening slot.

Meanwhile Josh Manning played his 200th match for the club.

His milestone didn’t go the way he wanted – he was caught behind for two – but Lalor said he’d been a worthy and committed player for St Kilda.

Left-hander Manning has played 131 First XI matches, scoring four centuries and almost 3500 runs.

* The Saints also had a century-maker in the Second XI, with No 4 Harry Dixon hitting an even hundred in a thumping win.