GCA round 11 wrap: How Lara has turned fortunes around after relegation, all the results

Lara was relegated from GCA1 after winning two first-grade games last season. Now the undefeated Cats are the favourites for a GCA2 flag. Meanwhile, a top-four shake-up looms in GCA3.

Lara's Mitch Heywood took five wickets against Bell Park. Picture: Alan Barber

Lara captain Dan Weigl says the loyalty of locals has been central to his side’s post-relegation resurgence as the Cats continued their dominant GCA2 season in their top-two clash with Bell Park.

After a thrilling final over win last week, Cats quick Mitch Hayward tore through Bell Park on Saturday with 5-48 as the home side were skittled for 146 from 59 overs with Nikhil Pottabathini topscoring with 44.

Lara opener Kaden Marum was dismissed on the third ball of the Cats’ innings but in-form batter Andrew Hughes (31*) saw them reach 1-49 at stumps on day one.

It means the undefeated Cats are just 98 runs away from their eighth win to go with two no-results in the 2024-25 season.

Lara was relegated at the end of last season after finishing last in GCA1 first grade with two wins, having managed three victories in 2022-23.

While relegation can lead to a mass exodus, Weigl said it was a different story for Lara with Brenden Miller returning to the Cats while living in Colac and Lara local Pete Herrick coming on as co-coach.

Bell Park's Shane Lymer can only look on as Lara's Dan Weigl takes the catch. Picture: Alan Barber

Picture: Alan Barber

“We didn’t lose anyone and we probably picked up a couple, so I’d say we’re probably stronger this season to be perfectly honest,” Weigl said.

“Lara has always been built entirely pretty much on our local players anyway, so we didn’t anticipate we’d lose anyone.

“I think if you look at other teams around, they’re certainly not in the same boat in that respect. So with that being said, it’s something we’ve always prided ourselves on and we’ll continue to do so.

“Division ones is eight teams, so it’s really close (in GCA1) and you see that this year again. I’ve got no doubt the top couple of teams in division two can compete in division one comfortably.

“It is what it is and when the decision was made, we just had to get on with it and nothing you can do about it.

“Everyone’s been really good in that aspect, just continue to put the work in and outcomes have obviously been better.

“But I think the fact that he’s living in Colac after playing at Lara shows that there is a really strong connection within the group of playing at the club that you grew up at.”

Weigl feels the return of Miller, who scored an important half century in their T20 semi-final win over Newtown & Chillwell this week, highlights the strong ties to the club.

“He is a Lara person through and through and he’s been a really important addition,” Weigl said.

“He went and had a hit down in Colac because obviously it was closer to where he was living at the time.

“But I think the fact that he’s living in Colac after playing at Lara shows that there is a really strong connection within the group of playing at the club that you grew up at.”

Hughes and Haywood have been crucial to their success but Weigl said there have been a host of contributors throughout the season.

“Andy with the bat has obviously made the bulk of the runs but realistically there’s been four or five different people step up at all different times with the bat and with the ball,” Weigl said.

“Mitch has been our most penetrating bowler and that’s the way he is, he’s got that little bit more pace and bit of X-Factor.

“Realistically it’s just been a team-wide (contribution) at different stages throughout the year and that’s what you need in good teams, not just leaving it down to one or two people.”

Bell Park's Nik Pottabathini was the Dragons’ top scorer. Picture: Alan Barber

GCA3: Top four shake-up looms after surprise results

Waurn Ponds Deakin has a golden opportunity to surge into the top-four after a strong first-day against Corio away from home.

The Eagles bowled Corio out for 121 and are 2-55 in reply as Dhanuja Haturusingha (5-30) and Zarbakht Asim (3-31) wreaked havoc at VicTech Oval.

In another boost for the Eagles, last-placed Bannockburn is just 54 runs away from victory with nine wickets in hand after rolling Manifold Heights for 117.

Waurn Ponds Deakin can leapfrog both Corio (fourth) and Manifold Heights (fourth) with a convincing win next Saturday

Bannockburn has won just one game for the season and a win over Manifold Heights could see them edge ahead of Modewarre – chasing 207 next weeks against the undefeated Thomson – into seventh.

GCA4: Lethbridge edge ahead of Dinos in top four clash

Lethbridge has edged ahead of Newcomb & District after knocking off the Dinos by 58 runs in their GCA4 top-four clash at Grinter Reserve.

Thomas Saunders (83) and Riley Stone (45) helped Lethbridge to a healthy total of 223 from their 45 overs and Newcomb & District captain Eugene Stanciu was the only thing standing in their way.

After claiming 3-41 with the ball, Stanciu opened the batting and scored 62 in a fantastic all-round display.

No.4 batter Daniel Harrison was the only other batter to pass 20 as the Dinos were bowled out for 175.

Lethbridge (third) and Newcomb & District (fourth) remain locked on 51 points with ladder-leaders Little River three points ahead of Meredith.

Guild St Mary’s on 48 points and Teesdale on 36 are in the hunt with another seven home-and-away rounds remaining in the one-day competition.

Originally published as GCA round 11 wrap: How Lara has turned fortunes around after relegation, all the results