North Geelong confirmed its Geelong Cricket Association favouritism with a thumping win against South Barwon in round four on Saturday.
South Barwon won the toss and batted first with Leigh Lorenzen and Nick Butters negotiating the new ball.
Tom Mathieson introduced himself into the attack and South Barwon soon found itself 6/60 despite Pat Richards playing well for his 59.
Some late order resistance from Brad Hauenstein (40 from 63 deliveries) meant the Swans at least had something to bowl to with a final score of 146 all out.
Left-arm seamer Mathieson picked up 5/21 in a superb display while Alistair McCann grabbed two wickets.
Ned Cooper (21) and Casey Meehan (28) got the Magpies off to a good start with 40 on the board, but at 4/81 things started to even up.
Andrew Fergusson (43 not out from 74) and Adam Costello (25 not out from 41) then put together an unbroken 66-run stand to guide North Geelong home.
East Belmont took home the points after a high-scoring encounter against Newtown & Chilwell.
East Belmont made 8/254 batting first with Hayden McMahon (54 off 61), Lachlan Inglis (49 off 71) and Shane McNamara (43 off 53) among the runs.
George Rhodes fell 14 short of his third consecutive century for Newtown & Chilwell with a superb 86 from 87 balls but his side fell 22 runs short with left-armer Jack Jenkins snaring four wickets.
Grovedale defeated Lara by five wickets with Michael McNeel (60) and Jack Wrigglesworth (56 not out and three wickets) the stars.
Grovedale chased down Lara’s 225 (Dan Weigl 74, Kaden Marum 55) in the 43rd over.
St Joseph’s won a thriller against Highton.
Nash Viney’s 54 off 57 balls was largely responsible for Highton making 203, but three wickets each to Tom Smith and Austin Humphrey kept the Tigers in the hunt.
In reply, Jackson Bye made 50 and Troy Nolan 40, but at 9/195 the game was in the balance.
It was Smith who finished it off for Joeys with three consecutive boundaries at No 11 despite four wickets from Jack Cook.
