by Samuel Laffy
Jindivick (125) vs Warragul (1/59)
Entering the final home-and-away round, Warragul knew they needed a victory over Jindivick to possibly secure a top four spot – although they are relying on Western Park losing.

And the Gulls did all they could to tick off the first box, requiring just 66 more runs to claim first-innings points against the Jumping Jacks.
However, Jindivick would no doubt be pleased with the fight they showed at the end of a torrid season, with a lower order fightback enabling them to post a competitive score.
Patrick Mulqueen (3/29) was in devastating form with the ball early and with Paul Wookey (2/15) providing able support, Warragul reduced Jindivick to 6/44.
However, Shayne Gillings (32), Ranga Brandigampala (21), and Bob Wilkinson (28) combined to lift the Jumping Jacks to 125, ensuring that their bowlers had something to defend.
The Gulls however went clinically about their chase with Mulqueen (28*) and Wookey (19) adding 43 for the first wicket to take the sting out of Jindivick's attack, as Warragul safely made their way to 1/59 at stumps.
Buln Buln vs Western Park (7/276)
It's hard to remain impartial sometimes when writing about the achievements of your club-mates, but Saturday saw one of the more engrossing – and celebrated - knocks in recent history for Western Park, as Jack Barnes went heartbreakingly close to notching his maiden century; the classy bat leading his side to a position of strength against Buln in their clash.
'Bush' – as he's affectionately known – has one of the more interesting CVs of any cricketer in the association. Renowned for his habit of leaving the ball then helplessly watching it cannon into the stumps yet possessing one of the more obdurate and unbreachable forward defences you're ever likely to see.
Regarded as a defensive-minded bat, but hitter of perhaps the most famous six in Western Park history – an enormous slog-swept swipe that sealed a B grade COVID Cup victory and triggered a pitch invasion led by none other than Tom Papley himself.
A man with not one, but two trophies that adorn his name at the Western Park clubrooms. One of them handed out in the wake of a now hilarious but somewhat ill-advised bat hurl towards square leg at the conclusion of a losing final.
The other with origins not entirely family-friendly or fit for publishing, but famous nonetheless.
As it was the vast majority of Western Park fans were huddled around whatever device they could get their hands on as the much-loved Barnes went about occupying the crease with a serene sense of sway on Saturday.
He'd worked the ball with aplomb through the off-side, dispatched the odd loose ball to the leg-side fence, and was thoroughly in control for his entire stay at the crease.
A century looked unlikely – given his scoring rate – for much of the afternoon, but as the overs left dwindled the runs began to flow, as Barnes' frenetic fervour rose to the occasion.
It came down to the final ball of the innings. 'Bush' unfortunately couldn't muscle the necessary boundary, but his sensational 95* was crucial in helping the Warriors post 7/276 in a must-win game.
Together with Tyler McMillan (who walloped many a boundary on his way to 71), Western Park overcame some spirited bowling from Sam Reid (3/51 from 14) and Josh Baker (2/42 off 12), with Buln Buln never relenting despite the trying conditions.
Yarragon (73) vs Garfield-Tynong (5/93)
Garfield-Tynong warmed up for their finals campaign by comfortably accounting for Yarragon in their round 14 clash, with the Titans once again led by the wily Krishan Rangajith.
Captaincy is rarely an easy task, but for Matt Dodman the confidence he must have in throwing the ball to Rangajith knowing that 20-odd overs of startlingly accurate bowling is on its way must be a magnificent feeling.
As it happened, the talented spinner snared 6/27 from 22 on Saturday to run through the Yarragon line-up, with Brayden Ridler (2/4 from 4) chiming in to help bundle the Panthers out for 73.
Jake Green (24) did his best to inspire his teammates but aside from a typically dogged 16 from Jake Borsato there was little support for the Yarragon all-rounder.
Green – as he has done for many a year in the WDCA – then put on a swing bowling clinic, hooping the ball to great effect and providing headaches for the Titans top order.
Dodman (a golden duck) and Sean Somers (a second ball duck) went almost immediately and were quickly followed by Matt Bow (2) and Jake Van Den Berghe (0) as Green (who snared 5/48) enjoyed a stellar spell.
Unfortunately for the Panthers, Luke Wilson (41) and Kasun Ranasinghe (41*) were up to the task and they combined to carry Garfield-Tynong to 5/93 – and already a 20-run lead – at stumps.
Drouin vs Neerim District (182)
Neerim District entered round 14 looking to seal second spot on the ladder with a victory over Drouin, and the Stags are well-placed to take home ground advantage into the finals after the first day's play, posting a challenging target of 182 for the Hawks to chase.
It was a total that belied the challenges faced by the Neerim District top and middle order, with a lower order fightback quashing much of the momentum snatched by Drouin early in the day.
Harvey Mylius (2/22 from 6), Chris McCallum (1/18 off 9), and Tim Lappin (4/50 from 20 terrific overs) reduced the Stags to 7/89 at one stage and it looked unlikely that three figures would be reached, let alone 182.
However, Aaron Fawcett (a gritty 49*) and Matthew Kelliher (34 from 47) joined forces and provided endless frustration for the Drouin attack as the afternoon progressed.
Their 56-run ninth-wicket stand ensured the Hawks were forced to remain in the field until the third last ball of the day's play – a situation unlikely earlier in the day – and are now staring down a tricky run-chase next weekend.