BARCLAY SHIELD

Riverside 133 (N Chrimes 49 D Pote 43) v Diamond Creek 1/23

A Grade travelled to Coventry Oval to take on top of the table Diamond Creek. Winning the toss and batting first, we didn't get off to the best start as we fell to 3/10. However Nathan Chrimes (49) and Dillon Pote (43) put together a 82 run stand to steady the innings, but we collapsed as were bowled out for 133 in the 63rd over.

With 17 overs to bowl, we picked up one wicket with a good bit of fielding from Dillon Pote forcing a run out late in the day, we'll look to take early wickets next week to put the pressure on

B Grade

Riverside 217 (X Youngman 88 E Smale 57 M Doyle 40) def by Lalor Stars 3/241(cc)

B Grade bowled first as they played a rare pre-Xmas home game against Lalor Stars in a one day game. Lalor started well, before Jacob Bowden (1/31 off 8) and Cameron Drake (0/16 off 8 overs) put the brakes on the innings, however with wickets in hand Lalor were able to explode in the final 10 overs to finish with 3/241 from their 40 overs.

With plenty to do with the bat, we lost a couple of early wickets, before Xavier Youngman (88) and Elliot Smale (57) put together a 142 run stand to put ourselves back in the game, Matt Doyle (40) and Liam Johns (17) tried hard to push us towards victory but were eventually bowled out in the 40th over for 217.

B Grade now sit in 5th position and will look to get themselves back in the 4 when they take on 4th placed Heidelberg next week.

MOM: Xavier Youngman 88 & 1 Catch

D Grade

Riverside 5/231(cc) (K Mahony 84 S Edward 57 R Russell 30* R Gleeson 28 S Gibbs 25) def Greensborough 94 (R Gleeson 6/14 J Hartigan 2/27)

D Grade had a big 137 run win at home when they took on Greensborough at Whatmough Park. Winning the toss and batting first, Sam Edward (57) and Kyle Mahony (84) got us off to a great start, putting on 109 for the first wicket, Ryan Gleeson (28), skipper Scott Gibbs (25) and Ryan Russell (30*) all combined to push the run rate up as we finished on 5/231 from our 40 overs.

With the ball, Joel Ramsay (1/18 off 8) and Harsh Dhillon (1/17 off 8), started well with the new ball, with Jim Hartigan also chipping in with 2 wickets from his 8 overs, it than became the Ryan Gleeson show, as he took a career best 6/14 from 7.4 overs along with a catch to bowl Greensborough out for 94 in the 38th over.

D Grade remain in 2nd spot on the ladder and take on 8th placed North Eltham Wanderers at home.

MOM: Ryan Gleeson 28, 6/14 (7.4) and 1 catch

F1 Grade

Riverside 3/194(cc) (A Merrifield 92* C Skiba 48) def Diamond Creek 7/181(cc) (J Rae 2/32 J Money 2/41)

F1 Grade took on 1st-place Diamond Creek at Greensborough Park looking to solidify their place in the top 4. Losing the toss and being sent in, Cal Skiba continued his excellent form, with a well compiled 48 opening the batting, he combined with Ben Jurkovic for a 58 run 2nd wicket stand after losing an early wicket, Cal than combined with Alex Merrifield to put on 102 for the 3rd wicket as they upped the run rate, before Alex and the returning Nick Gedge hit 33 in quick time as we finished on 3/194 from our 35 overs. Alex finished on 92* off 67 balls and Nick with a quick fire 16 from 7 balls.

Needing to bowl well to defend our total, all 5 bowlers chipped in with a wicket as Diamond Creek eventually finished on 7/181, giving us victory by 13 runs. Josh Money and Josh Rae both led the way with 2 wickets, Cam Lea (1/20 off 7), Nick Gedge (1/31 off 7) and Wissam Ali (1/44 off 7) all grabbed a wicket too.

F1 Grade move up to 2nd spot and take on 3rd placed Mill Park this week.

MOM: Alex Merrifield 92*

F2 Grade

Riverside 7/151(cc) (S Merrifield 66*) def Heidelberg 8/148(cc) (W Mills 2/17 D Hoobin 2/30 M Newell 2/34)

F2 Grade travelled to Banyule Flats and took on Heildelberg in a one day game. Winning the toss and batting first, we fell into some earlt trouble at 3/46, before Simon Merrifield and Jackson Devine put together a 67 run stand for the 4th wicket to steady our innings, before some late hitting got our innings to 151 for the loss of 7 wickets at the end of 35 overs. Simon batting to the end for a well made 66*.

In defence of our total, we managed to hold and win a 2nd nail biter in the space of 2 weeks, keeping Heidelberg to 8/148 off their 35 overs for a 3 run victory. Wes Mills backed up his 5 wicket haul last week with 2/17 from his 5 overs, Matt Newell and Dave Hoobin also snagged 2 wickets each bowling at the death, as Aidan Newell (1/30 off 7 overs) and Connor Melville (1/14 off 7 overs). Ben Xerri the only bowler not to get a wicket but bowled a very important and ecnomical 7 overs for just 18 runs.

F2 Grade also move up to 2nd position and will take on 3rd place Lower Eltham at Greensborough Park this week.

MOM; Simon Merrifield 66*

G2 Grade

Riverside 4/156(cc) (M McMaster-Smith 60 J Dixon 47 M Rowley 27) def by Epping 8/158 (M McMaster-Smith 3/42)

G2 Grade took on Epping this week in a top of the table clash. Sent in to bat first, we batted our 35 overs to finish at 4/156, Matt McMaster Smith once again led the way with 60, as James Dixon (47) and Mick Rowley (27) also made important contributions.

With the ball, our young guns in Jake Bohan (1/16 off 7 overs) and Noah Gleeson (1/23 off 7 overs) bowled very tightly with the new ball and were rewarded with a wicket. Aaron Rae also picked himself up a wicket, Matt McMaster-Smith and (3/42 off 7 overs) and Steve Gleeson (1/30 off 6) also picked themselves up wickets but unfortuantely Epping were able to pass our score 8 wickets down off the last ball of the game to take victory. A great fight from the boys who took 4 wickets at the death to give themselves a chance.

G2 Grade fall back to 4th place and will take on 7th placed Lower Eltham this week.

MOM: Matt McMaster-Smith 60, 3/42 (7), 1 catch & 1 run out

vets

Riverside 9/144(cc) (S Gibbs 40* B Neave 30*) def by Greensborough 2/148

The Vets took on Greensborough at Greensborough War Memoria. Batting first, we were eventually bowled out for 144, with Scott Gibbs (40*) and Ben Neave (30*) leading the way with contributions from Tony Lander (18) and Chris Skiba (19).

Greensborough were able chase down our total in the 27th over for the loss of just 2 wickets, with Chris Skiba and Rick Bohan each taking a wicket.

Our vets are sitting in 6th position and will take on 3rd place Heidelberg at Warringal Park in a fortnight.