By MARK HEENAN
THE Grubbers are determined to make amends for their round four defeat against reigning A Grade premier Drysdale when they meet Barwon Heads on November 28.
Ocean Grove who went into match with a 3-0 record, were thoroughly outplayed in their 98-run loss against the Hawks in a two-day game at Drysdale on November 21.
Ocean Grove coach Paul Jubber said his youthful team was enthused about the prospect of facing a winnable game against its battle of the bridge rivals this Saturday.
The Seagulls, who lost to Jan Juc on November 21, will also be searching for a much-needed victory.
“The boys are pretty keen to bounce back … I keep hearing (they are our) arch-rivals,” Jubber told the Voice.
“They (Barwon Heads) are our number one opposition … the boys will be up and about for this week given the rivalry and the history of the two teams.”
In pursuit of 241 for victory against Drysdale, the Grubbers lost crucial middle order wickets.
Young Grubber opening batsman Jackson Kent continued his consistent season and top-scored with 37, while promising all-rounder Rob Proctor (25) chipped in with late runs.
Kent, 4/34 from 12.3 overs, and Proctor who took 2/70 from 17 overs, performed well on day one.
Drysdale’s Brendon Sharpe was the star bowler on day two with his figures of 6/40 from 21 overs.
Sharpe claimed the vital Ocean Grove scalps of Adam Spiby (11), Corey Buxton (11) and Grubber coach Paul Jubber (8).
Jubber praised Sharpe’s heroics with the ball.
“Brendon Sharpe took 6/40 and he bowled exceptionally well,” Jubber said.
“Their (Drysdale) fielding was pretty good and they were just generally too far good for us.”
IN B Grade, Ocean Grove lost to Collendina by 51 runs in their two-day game at home.
Chasing 154 for victory, the Grubbers lost wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out for 102 from 71.1 overs.
Cobra Dean Britt was the star bowler with his figures of 7/30 from 25.1 overs, a spell that included 15 maidens.
Ocean Grove middle-order batsman Greg Scarpa top scored with 25 on day two.
Collendina were bowled out for 153 on day one.
OCEAN Grove’s C Grade two-day game went down to the wire against Jan Juc at Jan Juc Park.
The Grubbers who posted a competitive 9/247 from 60 overs on day one, challenged the Sharks late in the game on day two.
The Jan Juc batting pair of John Urgin (95 not out) and a blistering hundred from Troy Hardy (112) took the game away from the Grubbers.
Urgin and Hardy combined for a 151-run second wicket partnership stand as the home side posted 7/249 from their 60 overs
The Grubbers got back into contest thanks to some individual fielding brilliance from Issac Saunders who took a towering catch at mid-off and created a direct hit run-out.
Ocean Grove bowling pair Marcus Wirth took 3/69 from 17 overs, while Billy Foord-Englesman claimed 2/54 from 13 overs.
Young Grubber Lachlan Hooper also impressed with 1/37 from 10 overs.
IN D Grade, a half-century from Grubber Thomas Kent (53 not out) helped Ocean Grove to a comfortable 55-run win over Collendina 1 in their one-day game at Shell Road.
Ocean Grove posted 7/159 from 40 overs, while in reply Collendina made 9/104 from 40 overs.
Kent also bowled eight overs and finished with figures of 0/7.
Jarryn Dower was the leading wicket-taker for Grubbers with 3/10 from eight overs.
