By JIM TIMBERLAKE
GEELONG Cricket Club finds itself in some early season strife with no victories from its first two games of the Victorian premier league season.
Add to that a growing injury list, with Dom McGlinchey struck down by a foot injury last week, and the Cats really need to bounce back tomorrow against Melbourne.
Jack Sheppard took four wickets against Camberwell last week and will need to continue his good form with the ball, while recruit Carl Sandri stood tall, top-scoring with 60.
There’s been no consistently tougher team than Melbourne over the years and the Cats will need all their players to dig deep if they are any chance to win this and keep their season alive.
In Geelong Cricket Association, Geelong City has enjoyed a perfect start to the season with two victories from as many starts.
After defeating Leopold in round one the Sharks took on Murgheboluc last week, with star English import Richard Oliver scoring a magnificent 116 at the top of the order.
With support from Jack Driver (46) and Tom Elliott (28), 239 was the final score after 50 overs.
In reply, the Frogs started well, with Jason Grozdanovski (76) leading the way.
But when Mark Worthington (3/31) removed both openers, City marched on to an impressive victory.
Tomorrow, in the last one-day match for some time, City takes on Grovedale, which also claimed a valuable win last week, chasing down South Barwon’s 7/264.
Tobias Hogg came of age with 127, while Gareth Yelland returned to the top of the order scoring 64.
Geelong City has regained the belief it belongs in the top flight and will look to prove to the league it’s more than a one-man team.
Selections: LARA v Murgheboluc, ST JOSEPH’S v Leopold, SOUTH BARWON v Geelong West, EAST BELMONT v Newtown & Chilwell, NORTH GEELONG v Bell Post Hill, GEELONG CITY v Grovedale
In an important early season match-up, St Peter’s travels to Torquay in good form following two wins on the trot.
The Saints showed their depth against Guild St Mary’s last week with an even batting performance, capped off by Frank Mileto’s gutsy 52 while batting at number eight and helping his side to 195.
Steve Illingworth, Blake Robinson and Jaymee Guy all took two wickets to help their side record a tight 24-run win.
Torquay finds itself with one win and a loss after going down to Thomson last week.
With no Tigers scoring 50 or taking three wickets, the entire side needs to step up to have any chance here.
One factor in the Tigers’ favour is that St Peter’s star import, VRS Kedarnath, is serious doubt with a suspected broken finger.
Selections: GUILD ST MARY’S v Alexander Thomson, Torquay v ST PETER’S, NEWCOMB & DISTRICT v Waurn Ponds, St Alban’s Breakwater v MARSHALL, Highton v MANIFOLD HEIGHTS, Modewarre v THOMSON.
After battling to match it with the stronger division three sides in recent years, Bannockburn is enjoying some good early-season form, taking maximum points from its first two games.
Last week the Tigers took on local rival Teesdale and put on a dominant display, chasing down 101 just two wickets down.
With a winnable game against bottom-placed Lethbridge, Bannockburn can really set itself up for a strong finals tilt with this match.
Selections: INVERLEIGH v Corio Bay, Bell Park v MEREDITH, TEESDALE v Corio, SHELFORD v Little River, BANNOCKBURN v Lethbridge, Winchelsea bye.
