Yarraville Club has worked its way out of sticky situations so often over the years that it no longer comes as a surprise when they achieve a mission deemed close to impossible.
The Clubbers thrive when their backs are against the wall with a never-say die attitude being their strongest asset.
The reigning champions had to dig their way out of a hole once more, overcoming St Bernard’s Old Collegians by 58 runs in a hard-fought VTCA senior division contest at Hansen Reserve on Saturday.
Chasing 231 for victory, the Clubbers were in a spot of bother on 5-60, but the longest batting order in the competition came in handy in the dying hours of the two-day match, as they powered past the target to finish on 7-288.
No. 8 batsmen Adam Contessa led the charge for the Clubbers with his first century for the club.
“We were looking down the barrel,” Clubbers coach Michael O’Keefe told Star Weekly. “To get up and win showed the character we’ve got in our side.
“We bat so deep that we’ve always got the belief we can get whatever runs we’ve got in front of us.”
Contessa arrived at the crease with the Clubbers still in trouble on 6-120.
The precarious position came despite the best efforts of opening batsman Konrad Kurta, who hit eight fours and two sixes en route to 75.
Kurta watched in dismay as five of his top order partners perished before his dismissal. His willingness to fight it out provided a platform for Contessa and company in the bottom order to carry the side to victory.
Contessa featured in two critical partnerships. The first was an 85-run stand with a patient Andrew Cullen (44), the second an unbroken 83-run partnership with debutant Dale Williams (27 not out).
Contessa was on from the moment St Bernard’s started putting the ball in his wheelhouse.
“To have a bloke like him batting at eight, any side would like to have that and we’re blessed,” O’Keefe said.
“He was pretty chuffed that he could not only get a 100, but get a 100 in the circumstances when we needed someone to really step up and he took that.
“It just shows his leadership qualities.
“They bowled a couple of short ones to him early, he loves to play the short ball and got onto a couple, hit a couple of bigs sixes, which sort of got him going.”
Having lost the season opening game, it was important for the Clubbers to not let this one slip.
They are now 1-1 and back on track.
“When you’re only playing a dozen games in a season, you’ve got to get the early wins on the board to get yourself into a position to be pushing for the finals at the end of the year,” O’Keefe said.
The Clubbers will travel to Beaumaris for a two-day game starting on Saturday.
In north west division, Spotswood produced a stellar bowling performance to beat West Coburg by 27 runs.
The Woodsmen defended a measly 131, rolling the Burgers 104 after four wickets to Jeremy Brown and three each to Andrew Dickinson and Ashley Robertson.
Druids, led by 92 from Shane Windridge, overcome a challenge from Seddon to win by 68 runs, Laverton suffered a home loss to Haig Fawkner by 69 runs and Altona North was comprehensively out-played in a 130-run first innings loss to Keilor.
In west A1, Janaka Siriwardana scored 67 and took three wickets in Williamstown CYMS’ 186-run trouncing of Kingsville Baptists, Yasith Da Silva made 79 not out from the middle order to guide Altona Roosters past St Andrews, Newport-Digman fell short by 26 runs in their chase for Werribee Centrals’ 9-210 declared, while Footscray United copped a 111-run thrashing at the hands of Sunshine Heights.
In west B1, Daniel Nightingale (56 and 96) and Tyson Brennan (7-50) had game’s to remember in Footscray ANA’s comfortable win over West Newport, Barkly Street Uniting only just managed to avoid an outright loss to Seabrook, while Williamstown Imperials went down to Deer Park.
