Footscray Edgewater’s finals campaign in Victorian Premier Cricket was fleeting.
The Bulldogs ran into a red-hot Camberwell Magpies outfit that refused to back down.
The Magpies, minor premiers after the home-and-away rounds, showed the gulf in class between first and eighth with a commanding 86-run win.
Camberwell batted into day two and posted an imposing 322 off 104.4 overs.
Paceman Hamish Winter-Irving continued his fine summer with the ball for Footscray Edgewater, taking 4-54 off 25 overs.
Dean Russ is better known for his batting, but the former skipper bobbed up with 5-45 off 21.4 overs, exceeding his total wicket tally for the season in one fell swoop.
The chase was always going to be an uphill task for Footscray Edgewater. The Bulldogs were not helped by the steady stream of wickets they lost during the second day as they perished for 236 in 79.4 overs.
Greg Munro was a mainstay of the innings with 65, while there were plenty of others who got starts, including Matthew Gudde (34), Russ (30), Tim Buszard (23) and Dylan Kight (22), but there was nothing to seriously threaten the Magpies.
The Bulldogs’ fourths suffered a shock loss to Prahran by one wicket at the Merv Hughes Oval.
Meanwhile, at least one Hobsons Bay club will feature in this summer’s Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west grand final.
Whether it is Williamstown or Altona will be determined in an all-west semi-final at Williamstown Cricket Ground this weekend.
Williamstown will go in as favourites, having been the dominant side in the competition all season, culminating in the minor premiership. Altona would love nothing more than to advance to the season-decider at the expense of a local rival.
Williamstown was made to work every step of the way to overcome sixth seed Taylors Lakes by 39 runs in a quarter-final at home.
The Seagulls recovered from 7-105 to post 203 after late heroics from Brenton Hodges (56) and a supporting cast of Matthew Twentyman (25), Luke Rainone (29) and Daniel Popa (22 not out).
Taylors Lakes fell short when all out for 164.
Craig Sheedy (4-37), Bryce Preston (3-36) and Popa (2-35) were the main destroyers for the Seagulls.
Altona sunk to a 104-run loss to Noble Park, but survived as top-ranked loser. Chasing the Parkers’ 5-276, Altona scored 163, with tailender Stefan Sidari top-scoring with 32.
Altona will need to improve if it wants to have any chance against Williamstown.
Lance Jenkinson
