Tara Murray
Spotswood produced a performance with the bat that has been coming for a couple of years in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association north-west on Saturday.
Coming off their first loss of the season, last season’s premiers bounced back in a big way against Melton on Sunday.
It was a dominant performance with both the bat and then the ball, to continue the Lions tough start to the season.
Woodsmen coach Dan Schuppan said Saturday’s performance was the perfect response to the week before.
“I said at the end of last week that it’s OK to lose a game of cricket,” he said. “It is going to happen and you’re kidding yourself if you think you’ll go through undefeated.
“St Bernard’s had brought their a-game and we weren’t up to it in all aspects. Good teams respond and we’re a good side and we responded in all aspects.”
The Woodsmen won the toss on their home ground on Saturday against the Lions and made the most of the conditions.
Going at more than a run a ball, the Woodsmen made 4-290. Jarrod Martignago top scored with 135 off 141 balls, which included 17 fours.
Schuppan was thrilled sitting back in the sheds and watching that performance
“Something like that has been coming for the last couple of years,” he said. “It’s always hard to put a total like that together and yesterday [Saturday] it happened and all the stars aligned.
“Jarrod was unbelievable. Jakson Knight and Declan O’Brien also contributed.
“Declan has taken his game to another level this year. In the same scenario last year he would have scored 30 not out.”
Schuppan said it was also going to be hard to chase down those runs.
For the Lions that have struggled with the bat this season, it was a task too much, bowled out for 137 with more than seven overs remaining.
Lachlan McKenna took 4-27 off nine overs.
“Sam Hope has been amazing the last few years,” Schuppan said. “Lachie we got in for his batting but when you’ve played as many premier games he has he’s going to contribute in all aspects, fielding, batting and bowling and from a leadership point of view.”
After five rounds, the Woodsmen sit second on the ladder with a 4-1 record.
Schuppan said they were happy with how the whole senior program had started the season.
“We are content with where we are sitting from a club point of view,” he said.
“Our fourths are on top, our thirds are on top and our twos are ninth and our ones are second.
“Last year we struggled in the lower grades and it’s great to see the lower grades having some success after all the hard work the last couple of years.”
In other matches, Altona had a big win against Strathmore. The A’s made 6-205 before bowling Strathmore out for 93.
Williamstown fell short against Taylors Lakes. The Seagulls made 9-172, which the Lions made with ease, finishing 2-176.
Yarraville couldn’t quite get it down against Ivanhoe. The Eagles made 178, with Ivanhoe chasing down the runs with 15 balls remaining, finishing 5-182.
