By Tara Murray
Woodend let slip an opportunity to all but seal a finals spot in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup Premier Firsts.
Sitting in fourth spot heading into the second last round, a win against Romsey would have put Woodend in the box seat to hold off final round opponent Diggers Rest Bulla.
Instead, Woodend has just a 2.72 per cent lead over the Burras, with the winner of that match to play finals.
Woodend’s Greg Matthews said they had their opportunities to knock off Romsey.
Chasing 328, Woodend was bowled out for 315.
“We thought if we could bat the 80 overs we could get the runs,” Matthews said.
“We got into a position to get on top in the match. We were 7-300, but at the end of the day we couldn’t get it done.”
However, 7-300 was a long way from earlier in the day when Woodend was in trouble at 5-70.
Matthews said the top order collapse proved costly.
“We spoke about it, that you can’t lose clumps of wickets and that’s what happened,” Matthews said.
Warren Else was the standout for Woodend finishing 106 not out.
The loss leaves Woodend in an early elimination final. The winner of Woodend and Diggers Rest Bulla will take that last finals spot.
Matthews said Diggers Rest Bulla would be full of confidence.
“We lost to Diggers Rest earlier in the season,” he said.
“They are obviously coming off a good win which will give them confidence and they are playing at home.
“We need to bring our A-game.”
After making the grand final last year, Matthews said missing this year’s finals would be frustrating.
“At the start of the season we set out to make finals and it would be pretty disappointing not to make them,” he said.
In other matches, Diggers Rest Bulla kept its finals hopes alive with an upset win against Gisborne. Needing 194 to win, the Burras managed to get the job done seven wickets down, bowled out for 220.
Sunbury has all but sealed its spot in the top grade with an outright win against Wallan.
Needing 12 runs for first innings points on day two, the Roar passed it with ease, bowled out for 159, a lead of 39.
Wallan then made 7-141 in its second innings, with Sunbury finishing 4-103 to seal an outright win.
Sunbury now sits nearly 16 points clear of the bottom-placed Magpies.
Bacchus Marsh sealed top spot with a massive win against Sunbury United.
Needing 160 for victory, the Bulls smashed 4-348 and Alex Porter finished unbeaten on 161.
MORE GDCA NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/diggers-rest-bulla-clicks-at-right-time/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/gdca-umpires-pull-protest/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/macedon-set-on-top-spot/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/finals-thrill-for-riddell/
