NEWPORT-DIGMAN has closed the gap on the Williamstown and District Cricket Association A1 turf top four after a cruisy 95-run first innings win over co-tenants Gellibrand at Digman Reserve on Saturday.
The Bulls edged to within three premiership points of shaky fourth-placed Williamstown Colts and will continue their charge in the final two rounds of the home and away season.
Gellibrand, with 155 from 54.4 overs, was never going to trouble the Bulls.
Gellibrand made 9-135 in their second dig, avoiding the threat of an outright loss.
Williamstown Imperials pummelled the Colts by 138 runs on the first innings at Fearon Reserve.
West Newport slumped to a costly defeat to Melton South in a low-scoring affair at Loft Reserve.
Chasing just 120 for victory, Wests were all out for a bleak 115 in a result that could have major implications on their finals ranking.
In B1 turf, St John’s claimed their second outright win of the summer to move into second place.
— Lance Jenkinson
WDCA
A1 turf: West Newport 115 (S Jones 27 M Shiell 25 K Teeken 5-31 D Beckett 3-34 M Woodyard 2-9) lt Melton South PSCC 119 (L Edwards 29 M Shiell 4-15 CW Irving 3-34) and 5-137 (D Pirro 56no A Yates 38no CW Irving 3-39);
Gellibrand 155 (T Briski 37 L Clifford 33 M Mason 3-15 A Tee 2-17 MS Farook 2-25 K Collins 2-41) and 9-135 (G Sharma 37 M Keating 27 L Clifford 26 K Collins 5-42 D Streets 2-23) lt Newport-Digman 250 (C Brown 83 M Mason 74 D Streets 32 C Caiger 4-57 M Keating 3-36 N Keating 3-46); Williamstown Imperials 9-211 (R Hinton 46 G Robson 38 M Craig 32no J Callus 2-27
J Willis 2-27 R Harb 2-43 T Sangha 2-47) d Williamstown Colts 73 (A Mercaldi 3-8 P O’Keefe 2-0 G Robson 2-12) and 6-99 (J Haines 3-12 R Hilson 2-25)
B1 turf: St. Johns 9-167dec (T Murray 58 DJ Temby 39 R Warner 34
A Zenonos 2-22 D Clarke 2-46
M Murphy 2-61) and 1-26 d Melton Centrals 92 (S Robertson 25 J Temby 4-47 DJ Temby 3-26 T Murray 2-1) and 96 (T Murray 4-22 S Morgan 3-17 J Temby 2-16); Williamstown Congs 6-276dec (S Dyson 87 M Leach 47 W McKnight 46 B Mifsud 38 M Dyke 3-43 D Burnham 2-56) d Grand United 98 (S Dyson 3-29 T Stanchinotti 2-15) and 7-81 (S Dyson 3-19 T Stanchinotti 2-21)
