Tara Murray
Footscray Angliss was left 40 odd runs short of pushing Melton South Royals in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Evans-Clark Shield.
The two sides have had a number of good battles in both division 4 and 5 in recent seasons, and this two-day match was no different.
Angliss made 168 on day one before the Royals finished 6-169 in reply to get their second win of the season on Saturday.
Angliss president Michael Cox said they had some moments, but weren’t able to get the job done.
“It wasn’t a great result for us,” he said “They’ve got a bowler that is bowling really well and has 20 wickets for the season.
“There was nothing in our deck for bowlers on Saturday.”
Cox said their innings of 168 was about 40 runs short of where they needed to be.
They had put on 50 for the opening partnership but they struggled for partnerships later on.
Womajo Wotu showed some resistance as he made 49.
Cox said Womajo and his brother Darren Wotu had been really good inclusions into the side coming out from Vanuatu.
“They are really keen and are soaking up everything we can teach them,” he said. “They haven’t played a lot of longer format cricket so we’ve had to rein them in at times as we have to bowl for 80 overs.
“They’ve been good early on.”
With the ball on Saturday, Cox said they generated a few chances and there were quite a few shouts as well.
He said they had a dropped catch with the keeper up to the stumps, but they managed to take everything else as it was hard work in the field.
Cox said the group kept focus until late to try and get the victory.
Womajo Wotu took two wickets for Angliss.
The loss leaves Angliss with just three points after the first three rounds.
Cox said it wasn’t the start they were after they aim to play finals this season.
“With how well we recruited we definitely want to make finals and the players are talking about,” he said. “That is the goal.”
Elsewhere in the club, Cox said everything was tracking along nicely.
He said their first girls team had exceeded expectations and won a couple of early matches.
Their over-50s side is coming along as well, with Cox saying they now have a pathway all the way though for the men’s side.
In other results, St Andrew’s Footscray lost to Roxburgh Park.
The Falcons made 149 with St Andrew’s bowled out for 114 in reply.
Seabrook got the points against Laverton.
Laverton made 196 which Seabrook chased down in 70 overs, finishing 6-200.
Zach Wilson top scored with 94 for Seabrook.
In the Russell Pollock Shield, Barkly St Uniting beat Donnybrook, and Williamstown Congs lost to Melton Centrals.
Meanwhile in the Roy Picone Shield, Gellibrand was on the winners list while Kingsville suffered a loss.
