VSDCA 2018-19: Brighton faces daunting finish with South-West finals hopes on the line
Brighton captain Rick Damiano has conceded his side must win its remaining four games to keep its chances of a VSDCA finals berth alive.
Inner South
Don't miss out on the headlines from Inner South. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Brighton captain Rick Damiano has conceded his side must win its remaining four games to keep its chances of a VSDCA finals berth alive.
The Tonners are one match and percentage outside the South-West group top six after falling by 29 runs against Werribee on Saturday despite a superb hundred from their skipper.
TEST ASPIRANT PUCOVSKI FIRES FOR MELBOURNE
DANDENONG SET TO UNLEASH ENGLISH RECRUIT
ORMOND ENDS WINLESS RUN WITH BADLY-NEEDED VICTORY
Damiano dared to dream when he had combined with no. 11 Duncan McKenzie (0 not out) for a 40-run last-wicket stand, hauling Brighton with 30 runs of victory chasing 8-205.
The Tonners captain was the last man out, trapped lbw by Jonathon Burton (3-23) for 125 from 128 balls.
“I was basically just trying to hit sixes, fours or twos and keep him away from the strike,” Damiano said.
“We had put on about 30 for the last wicket and we needed about 40 more.
“I thought, ‘hang on, we are a chance here’. We needed eight or nine an over and I thought ‘I can probably do that’.
“Burton bowled three slower balls, I thought he’d bowl another one and went across my crease, then he bowled a quicker ball and got me.
“I did believe, but then I just played the wrong shot at the wrong time.”
Brighton was skittled for 176 after 41.4 overs, copping its fifth loss of 2018-19.
The Tonners sit 11th after nine rounds with games against Oakleigh (second), Caulfield (first), Taylors Lakes (13th) and Melton (sixth) to come.
“We have got three really tough games and Taylors are quite competitive as well,” Damiano said.
“If we are good enough to win all four, then you never know.
“But we have put ourselves in a pretty tough position with a poor start to the year.
“I think we have probably got to win four. I have weighed up all the other games, who is playing who, and I think we have pretty much got to win four.
“If we win three, we can maybe just sneak into the six. But we would be lucky.
“We have put ourselves in a tough position.”
Luke Shimmin (3-34) and Jack Bransgrove (2-38) were the pick of the Brighton’s bowlers.
MORE LOCAL SPORT NEWS
ESSENDON SPINNER IN BIG BASH LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT WITH STARS
‘Chaos’: Cricketer claims five wickets in five balls
A Victorian local cricketer has written himself into history books with an insane spell of bowling, claiming a rare triple hat-trick with five wickets in five consecutive balls. Watch each wicket fall here.
Ranked: The top 70 local footy clubs of 2024
After a stunning year of local footy we’ve ranked our top 70 clubs as the best in Melbourne. Did we get it right? See who we say is number one and lodge your own vote.