Sydney Grade: Bankstown news, Round Fourteen

The fired up Bankstown attack of Wayne Holdsworth, Matt Betsey and David Freedman ripped through the Fairfield batting to set up a first innings victory last Saturday at Bankstown Oval.

The Bankstown Sports Club sponsored Bulldogs lost the toss and Fairfield started off solidly with a fifty run opening stand. However the lively pace of Wayne Holdsworth got the Bulldogs back into the game with two quick wickets. He removed Cook and Shahid by tempting them into indiscreet pull shots which were miscued into the safe hands of 'keeper Shane Duff. Holdsworth finished with 2-35 and became the first top grade bowler to take 400 wickets for the Club but isn't quite sure whether the body will crack before he can reach the magic figure of 500!! Following Cracker's early inroads Matt Betsey and David Freedman combined to roll Fairfield for a meagre 179. Betsey probed away relentlessly to snare 4-48 whilst Freedman spun the ball deceptively to snare 3-56.

The fielding was at times magnificent with skipper Kevin Roberts paving the way with a direct hit from side on to run out Clarke who was threatening danger. Ironically the pick of the Fairfield batsmen was ex Bulldog Sean Pope who plundered 69 not out with eight boundaries and four entertaining sixes. Bankstown skipper Roberts produced a shrewd tactic by depriving Pope of the strike towards the end of the innings and giving him an easy single so the 'Dogs could attack the vulnerable Fairfield tail. Pope showed great faith in his fellow players but it went unrewarded as they succumbed to the spin of Freedman and the persistence of Betsey. Bankstown openers Anthony Smith and Vaughan Williams were quick to assert their dominance over the Fairfield attack in a lively opening stand. Smith raced to 49 with some explosive cover drives and square cuts and was decidedly unlucky to be adjudged caught at first slip just short of his half century.

Williams powered on and looked certain to notch yet another century when he missed an attempted drive through midwicket and was given out LBW for 97. Williams driving particularly through the onside was superb and he notched fifteen punishing boundaries and a glorious pull shot for six in a vital innings which enabled the locals to ensure that the target was reached before stumps. Kym Beazleigh put together some sweetly timed drives and looked set for a big score but mistimed a shot and unfortunately spooned a catch to mid on. Matt Betsey hammered home the advantage and was unconquered on 23 whilst Kevin Roberts made his intentions clear with a stunning six to finish the day and will resume on 10 not out. The Bulldogs cruised to 3-197 to take first innings points and will be chasing outright victory on Saturday in a game that will be spiced up with the return of N.S.W. paceman Don Nash for Fairfield and dashing opening batsman Corey Richards for Bankstown.

Although the Bankstown Sports Club sponsored Bulldogs narrowly failed in the quest for outright points against Fairfield last Saturday the side's premiership aspirations received a definite boost with the magnificent form of N.S.W. Blues batsman Corey Richards.

The elegant righthander compiled a masterly 108 to put the writing on the wall for the semi-finals and almost guided the 'Dogs to a sensational outright victory. An aggressive declaration from Bankstown skipper Kevin Roberts opened up the game and led to a nailbiting finish with both sides in with a chance of victory right up to the last couple of overs.

Fairfield skipper and ex Bulldog Sean Pope responded to the Bankstown declaration with some aggressive cricket and at lunch the visitors had plundered 185 runs for the loss of just two wickets. The Bankstown fieldsmen suffered an uncharacteristic bout of dropsy with the unfortunate paceman Matt Betsey the main victim of the fielding lapses. Paceman Greg Trevena snared the vital wickets of Shahid and Pope and veteran legspinner Ken Hall chimed in after lunch to take 5-82 to slow down the Fairfield onslaught. Despite this Pope was still able to declare at 9-284 after 49.4 overs and 199 minutes of hectic hitting.

This left the 'Dogs a mammoth 267 for outright victory from the remaining 47 overs. They started off confidently with a quickfire 47 run opening stand from Vaughan Williams and Anthony Smith before Williams was comprehensively bowled for a typically aggressive 25. The punishing opening batsman has now amassed 775 runs for the season and has proved to be a vital cog in the Bulldog machine. Smith cut and drove with his usual panache and appeared unlucky to be trapped L.B.W. for a hard hitting 36.

This set the stage for a Corey Richards onslaught and he did not disappoint with a magnificent 108 in just over even time. He plundered one six and fourteen boundaries in a classy innings which featured some spectacular straight drives and forceful shots through midwicket to give the 'Dogs a real sniff of victory. However following his departure and the tragic run outs of Kevin Roberts and Matt Betsey Bankstown was forced to defend to cling on to their six points and remain equal third on the competition table with Northern Districts. Betsey finished with a solid 35 in a fine supporting role to the runaway Richards whilst in form allrounder Greg Trevena showed typical tenacity to hold the Fairfield attack at bay near the end and finish with 12 not out.

Next week the Bulldogs take on Petersham at Petersham in the last round before the playoffs and will be looking for a decisive win to clinch the vital third spot in the top six.

Skipper Mark Grant spearheaded a determined Bulldog fightback with a dogged 50 against Fairfield last Saturday at Rosedale. A slow outfield and a pitch that kept low on occasions made scoring difficult and Bankstown did well to notch 177 under the circumstances. Grant was patience personified in the conditions lifting his head only once to pound a spectacular six over midwicket. He received solid support from Jason Deitz who enjoyed scoring a quickfire 37 against his old club. Consistent Shane Cusick chimed in with a useful 30 and Grant Roden looked in good touch until he was well stumped for 15. Darryn Bull remained unconquered on 14 at the end and was involved in a handy little partnership with his skipper which could prove vital. At stumps Fairfield had scored 3 without loss in reply.

The seconds tumbled to defeat when Fairfield recovered from an early setback to post 5-245 in reply to the 'Dogs 177. Left arm finger spinner Darryn Bull was easily the pick of the Bulldog bowlers snaring 5-74 in his probing spell. He bowled with plenty of flight and guile making the Fairfield batsmen earn every run. The loss has brought to an end the seconds successful winning streak and has virtually dashed their slender hopes of making the playoffs. They would need to score an outright victory over Petersham in the last round of the competition which commences this Saturday at Bankstown Memorial Oval. Even with maximum points they would still need other results to go their way to sneak into the playoffs. At present they are on 42 points and in eighth position six points behind Parramatta and St. George who are equal fifth on the table and only have to win to make the final six.

The erratic thirds have already posted first innings points over Fairfield at Jensen. Bankstown dismissed the visitors for a paltry 82 and skipper Geoff Spotswood closed the Bulldog innings at 3-85 in reply. The hostile pace of Brad Roworth and Troy Brown ripped the heart out of the Fairfield batting and the gentle medium pace of Spotswood polished them off effectively. Consistent rungetter Andrew O'Brien once again was in sparkling touch with 28 not out whilst Brad Christensen was untroubled in scoring 23 not out as the 'Dogs cruised past the meagre total. At stumps Fairfield had reached 0-36 with a much more confident start to their second innings to set the stage for an interesting completion to the game this Saturday.

The thirds chalked up an impressive outright victory in the penultimate round of the competition scoring 3-85 declared and 7-156 in reply to Fairfield's meagre 82 and 9-158 declared. Once again the gentle inswing of veteran skipper Geoff Spotswood proved too much for the Fairfield batsman and he polished them off in the second innings with an impressive five wicket haul. Clintin Price chimed in with two useful wickets whilst medium pacer Shane Cusick also grabbed two to complete the rout. The Bankstown second innings once again teetered on the brink of disaster at 5-50. However a determined 45 from in form allrounder Brad Roworth and a defiant 25 not out from Brent Mills steered the side to their first outright victory of the season.

The fourths kept their premiership hopes alive with a devastating first innings win over Fairfield last Saturday. Paceman Darren Ettridge once again was the spearhead of the Bulldog attack swinging the ball effectively to capture 3-25 and help roll Fairfield for a minuscule 105. Michael Bright also bowled tidily to capture two wickets as did Andrew Sidie whilst skipper David Drew was well pleased with the Bankstown effort in the field. In reply the Bulldogs plundered 9-224 and will be pressing strongly for a badly needed outright when play resumes next Saturday. Hard hitting allrounder Michael Bright plundered a delightful 50 whilst run machine Peter Dugmore continued on his relentless way this season with a punishing 61. Darren Ettridge hit out boldly and the burly David Thompson pounded a quickfire 20 to complete the run feast and push the Bulldogs into an invincible position.

The fourths entrenched themselves in the top six with an imposing outright victory over Fairfield last Saturday. Bankstown's 9-224 proved much too good for Fairfield who were humbled with 105 and 99. Paceman Jeremy Thackray had the Fairfield batsmen well and truly on the back foot capturing 2-8 in his lively 6 over spell whilst Lincoln Tucker followed up his two wickets in the first innings with 1-23 from 13 in the second. Darren Ettridge once again moved the ball around with superb control to capture 3-8 from 7 overs whilst the very promising Green Shield legspinner Michael Bright bamboozled the Fairfield batsmen, as he did in the first innings, snaring 3-43 from 18 attacking overs. David Drew's fourths now cannot fail to make the playoffs but will still be chasing victory in the final round as they could slip into third position and enhance their premiership prospects substantially with a good win over Petes.

The fifths need a minor miracle if they are to get out of trouble after collapsing for a paltry 120 with Fairfield cruising to 6-179 in reply. In the end the 'Dogs did well to scrape together 120 after slumping to 8-78 but 23 hard fought runs from allrounder Michael Polson and a stubborn 14 from Brett Sweetnam helped them out. Paceman Matt Doab once again was the spearhead of the Bulldog attack with 4-20 from eight lively overs whilst Brett Sweetnam and Steve Harris toiled away honestly. Peter Moy was not happy with the day's eventualities especially when a vital run out decision went against the 'Dogs in the field and is hoping for a change in fortune when play resumes this Saturday.

Peter Moy's young fifth graders once again succumbed to a persistent Fairfield attack to lose outright. Paceman Matt Doab was the star for the Bulldogs capturing 6-41 in an inspired spell as Fairfield compiled 245. The Bankstown second innings was even more disastrous than the first with the 'Dogs rolled for a miserly 102. It was hoped that the first innings collapse of 120 would not be repeated but unfortunately it was and this time there were no excuses. The fifths will be looking to finish the season on a much better note when they take on Petersham next week in the last game of the season.

(Reproduced with the kind permission of Michael Stephenson.)