In recent seasons, Yarraville Club has made indifferent starts, adding a touch of intrigue to a side that has won four of the past five Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division flags.
A tie and a loss is all the Clubbers have to show from their opening two matches.
While no one is suggesting the end of an era is near for this crop of players, the air of invincibility seems to have thinned following last year’s semi-final exit to eventual premier Greenvale.
On Saturday, the Clubbers did what they seldom do – lose on their home turf at Hansen Reserve, going down by 41 runs on first innings to South Caulfield.
Set 192 for victory, the Clubbers suffered a top-order collapse to be 6-45 before eventually making 150.
Adam Contessa was the standout with the bat, making 72 off 97 balls, including 13 fours.
In north division, Williamstown CYMS (179 and 4-117dec) beat Footscray United (85 and 2-77).
Janaka Siriwardana, with 86 including 15 fours and three sixes, and opening bowler Andrew Walshe, who took 7-26, set up the CYs’ win.
It was a weekend to forget for Altona North, Laverton and Spotswood, with all suffering first-innings defeats.
In north A1, Altona Roosters (199) had a thrilling nine-run win over a go-slow Seddon (9-190) after James Lomas snared a five-wicket haul.
In west B1, Connor Danaher was the toast of Barkly Street Uniting (217) after scoring 117 not out in his side’s hammering of Footscray ANA (97 and 8-89).
