Springvale South confident it can bounce back after semi-final defeat

Springvale South skipper Ryan Quirk says his group won’t wait long to bounce back after its first defeat of the summer in Saturday’s Turf 1 qualifying final. Here’s why.

While he doesn’t believe the term ‘good loss’ applies to his side, Springvale South captain Ryan Quirk says his group has got a rejuvenated fire in the belly after Saturday’s qualifying final defeat.

After edging out Buckley Ridges in the Turf 1 decider last summer, the Bloods went through the home-and-away season undefeated before having its first slip up on Saturday.

The Bloods posted 5-220 from their 45 overs before Buckley Ridges reeled in the total with three wickets and an over to spare.

Despite already knowing the area he feels his side will need to improve if it faces the Bucks again, Quirk is confident his side didn’t need to lose in order to claim back-to-back titles.

“I think it depends on the team, we’re a side that I feel we wouldn’t have had to have a loss to give us a chance to win (it all),” he said.

“A lot of people say a loss is good for everyone, but I think that is a team-by-team basis.

“We know how hard it is to win the flag, it took us around 10 years between the one before last year, but the boys are ready to go this week with some fire in the belly to have another crack at Buckley in a couple of weeks.

“I think the boys felt we had a few too many missed opportunities, that if taken might’ve changed the game.

“The upside of finishing first is we get a second chance for that reason; the boys were flat after the game, but we have another massive game this week.”

Springvale South batter Cameron Forsyth. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Cam Forsyth’s unbeaten 70 highlighted Springvale South’s innings and Quirk is hopeful his group took notes on how the busy batter went about it.

“I think batting wise we didn’t score off enough balls,” he said.

“Cam showed it to pretty much the rest of us, I think he went at a run a ball 70, and I think a lot of those he scored off most of the balls he faced.

“A few of us, me included, could probably take a trick out of his book – I don’t think we showed enough intent on every ball.

“I thought we bowled really well, they got on top of us and we fought back, it’s no secret that Buckley has some class players.”

In the other Turf 1 final, Hallam Kalora Park (7-236) defeated North Dandenong (175) to advance to Saturday’s preliminary final at Alex Nelson Reserve.

The Turf 1 grand final will be held at Berwick’s Arch Brown Reserve.

In Turf 2, Beaconsfield (9-231) defeated Lyndale (149) and Cranbourne (162) held on in a thriller over Heinz Southern Districts (158) to break its semi-final hoodoo.

In Turf 3, Nuwan Kulasekara’s Dandenong West (3-104) advanced strongly to the grand final after dismantling Fountain Gate (103).

Coomoora (7-139) will be the side Dandy West meets in the final, after the Kangaroos successfully chased Springvale’s 10-138.