YARRAVILLE Club took advantage of an undermanned Royal Park-Brunswick to cruise to a 150-run win in a lop-sided one-day game and keep hold of top spot in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division.
It was the Clubbers of old as they put the Royals to the sword in all facets of the game for a stunningly easy victory that gives them a rock solid platform for another title tilt.
The Royals slumped to 4-23 and struggled thereafter to post an inadequate 7-112 off 40 overs.
Steven Oosterhof was the Clubbers chief destroyer with the ball with 3-30 off 10 overs, while Matthew Murphy chipped in with 2-30.
The fireworks did not start until the Clubbers entered the crease.
Skipper Justin Baker (48) and Kayne Meehan (22) got the innings off to flyer.
With the victory almost in the bag, the tried and true combination of Viv Ion (104 not out) and Michael O’Keefe (76 not out) wanted to rub salt into the Royals wounds.
The pair piled on the misery with an unbroken 178-run partnership to lift the hosts to 2-262 and claimed some handy bonus points.
The Clubbers have been victorious in each of their past two matches and their uncharacteristic inconsistent start to the season is nothing but a distant memory.
Spotswood claimed the last six South Caulfield wickets for just four runs to successfully defend a small total and win by 29 runs at Princes Park.
The strength of the Woodsmen bowling department meant their tiny total of 121, built on the back of 53 to leader Matt Leddin, was defendable.
Leddin (3-18) and his young teammate Michael Knight (3-23) lifted the Woodsmen to victory with some stellar bowling late in the day.
Williamstown CYMS was comprehensively beaten by Airport West-St Christophers to remain at the foot of the table.
Meanwhile, Altona Roosters suffered their first loss of the summer to an on-the-up Kingsville Baptists at Angliss Reserve.
Senad Levic was the cornerstone for the Baptists with 85 not out and a four wicket haul.
VTCA
Results, January 7
Senior division: Yarraville Club 2-262 (Ion 104no O’Keefe 76no Baker 48) d Royal Park-Brunswick 7-112 (Oosterhof 3-30 Murphy 2-30), South Caulfield 92 (Leddin 3-18 Knight 3-23 Robertson 2-16) lt Spotswood 121 (Leddin 53 Warnock 26), Williamstown CYMS 78 (Walshe 31) and 4-68 (Holt 31) lt Airport West-St Christophers 4-107 (Holt 4-26 Leetet 3-46).
North division: Altona North 68 lt Youlden Parkville 101 (Benton 3-19 Powell 3-30) and 3-67 (Benton 2-27), Westmeadows 5-189 (Jeffrey 4-51) d Footscray United 157 (Jeffrey 32 McKay 31 Ainge 30 Kardachi 27).
North A1: Aberfeldie 120 (O’Brien 5-47 Swallow 3-10) lt Laverton 8-127 (Swallow 43).
West B1: Sunshine Heights 169 (O’Neill 4-68) lt Barkly Street Uniting 4-193 (Williams 65 Danaher 35 Christensen 34 Campbell 29), Kingsville Baptists 3-140 (Levic 85no) d Altona Roosters 127 (Lewis 37 Uppal 29 Levic 4-23 Vo 2-21).
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