By Mark Heenan
Collendina scored a resounding victory over Jan Juc at Bob Pettit Reserve to end its year on a high.
Cobra coach Corey Walter said it was important to consolidate his team’s top-four spot before the break.
“It was a pretty big game for us obviously – Juc right on our heels, they got a result the week earlier and they were three points behind us on the ladder,” Walter told the Voice.
“It was a really good bowling performance, it was pleasing and it gives us a little bit of buffer from fifth spot which is handy.”
Collendina (27 points) is in outright third spot on the ladder after six rounds.
The Cobras dismantled Jan Juc on day one and rolled home side for only 122 from 58.2 overs.
At stumps on day one Collendina was in control at 0/42 and needed a further 81 runs for victory.
Andy Higgins was elevated to opener and made unbeaten 31 before he retired due to work duties.
The early loss of Corey Walter (9) and brother Nathan Walter (11) did not stop Kade Norquay (54) and Cameron Kavailiunas (36) from guiding the Cobras to victory.
Norquay and Kavailiunas shared in a key 70-run third wicket partnership.
Collendina finished at 6/160 from 57.5 overs before play stopped.
Walter said Norquay had slotted in well as Cobra opener after a five-year A Grade absence.
“He has been unreal, obviously he had five years out of the game and he just got better and better each week,” Walter said.
“He is rapt to be back and he is loving it and comes to training twice a week, he is hardly missed a session and he has started to reap the rewards now and make some really good scores.”
On day one Corey Walter was a standout with the ball and finished with 4/17 from 13.2 overs.
Walter ripped through the Sharks’ middle order.
Ace Cobra bowler Charlie Lamb was equally damaging with 3/60 from 23 overs, while Higgins picked up 2/31 from 16 overs.
A quick 40 from Jan Juc coach and gun bat Ben Grinter and an unbeaten 45 not out from Will Tamassy proved the only resistance with bat for under-performing Sharks.
Collendina’s next A Grade game is against Barrabool at home, which starts on 6 January.
It was a much tighter contest in B Grade where Jan Juc defeated the Cobras by 17 runs at Collendina.
Batting first Jan Juc compiled 8/224.
Sam Tucker was the leading wicket-taker with 3/40 from 16 overs.
In reply Collendina was all out for 207.
Alistair Grant top scored with 75 and shared in a 126-run fifth wicket partnership stand with Daniel McManus (42).
In C Grade Jan Juc scored an eight-wicket win over Collendina at Bellbrae Oval.
Shark batsman David Norman guided the home side to victory after his fabulous innings of 120 not out.
Jan Juc finished at 2/172 from 29 overs after Collendina was all out for 169.
In D Grade Collendina (7/173) defeated Portarlington (9/166) in their match at Bellarine Secondary College.
