Sub-District greats Gale and Ayres strike centuries in first round of the season

TONS and runs flow for Sub-District cricket evergreens “Butch’’ Gale and Sean Ayres in the first round of the season.

IT was a day for the golden oldies of Sub-District, with two of the competition’s most enduring and admired players scoring centuries and another former First XI great topping the ton in the lower grades.

In the south-west section, the VSDCA’s leading run scorer, Melton’s Anthony “Butch’’ Gale, hit his 15th century to lead his team past Malvern at Macpherson Park on Saturday.

Gale, 49, made 111 not off 224 balls on a slow wicket and outfield.

“We never gave up and we hoped if we took it to the last few overs anything could happen,’’ Malvern captain Luke Walker said.

“Credit to the opposition though. Butch was superb and his top-order support was important too. They all contributed.”

Gale was playing his 428th First XI match and the century took his run tally to 11,192.

It was his first ton in 10 years.

“I never thought I had another one in me but it snuck up on me,’’ Gale said this afternoon.

“Nice to hit a few in the middle, and nice to have the ones you didn’t hit in the middle lob into a gap.’ You always need a bit of luck.’

Gale said his legs were sore “but they’re always sore, whether I make runs or I don’t’’.

The left-hander turns 50 in February. He said he was playing in the First XI only because Melton had three players unavailable.

Sean Ayres made 103 not out for Plenty Valley.

In the north-east section, Plenty Valley’s Sean Ayres, soon to turn 46, cracked 103 not out as PV totted up 9-412 against Coburg.

Ayres hit 11 fours and 4 sixes in his innings, and crowned his match with 2-25 off nine overs as the Burgers fell for 128.

It was the 289th First XI match for Ayres, who won the first Val Holten Medal after its was renamed from the Hatch Medal in 2013-14. He said he was unsure how many centuries he had made in the VSCA: “Eight to 10, I think.’’

Another longstanding Subbies player, Endeavour Hills all-rounder Richard Saniga, also turned in a notable performance yesterday.

Richard Saniga of Endeavour Hills.

The 51-year-old made 52 of the Hills’ total of 109 against Noble Park.

In the Third XI fixture between the clubs, Noble Park’s former captain, club champion and premiership player Gavin Hurley, closing in on his 50th birthday, made 116 not out.

Noble Park’s Gavin Hurley.

Hurley, who also played Premier Cricket for Melbourne and Frankston-Peninsula, is playing alongside his sons Sam and Lachlan.

In the Second XI, Altona’s former coach Craig Duff, 49, hit 103 not out against Elsternwick.

Duff counted six 16-year-olds as teammates.

Altona’s Craig Duff.

While the veterans had their say in the spring sun, two teenagers made the First XI debuts, with Ormond selecting 15-year-old wicketkeeper Jack Ellwood and Malvern 16-year-old batsman Harry Gell.