The season can’t end soon enough for Metung Swan Reach, coping another mauling last Saturday, this time at the hands of Orbost in Bairnsdale Cricket Association round 14 action at the Swan Reach Recreation Reserve.
Orbost’s post-Christmas revival continued with the Blues already claiming first innings points, their fourth win for the season and third since the Christmas break, with this one likely to end in an outright victory inside the first hour of day two.
The Swans can’t take a trick. They started the season with three sides, but were unable to even field a second on Saturday, having to forfeit to Buchan in “B” grade after pulling out of the “C” grade competition several weeks ago. It wasn’t so long ago things were looking rosy, promoted to the premier division and the winner of three of their first six matches, on the periphery of the top four.
The Swans will resume in their second dig at 5/54 with a lead of just eight runs over a hungry Blues side that is keen to capitalise and climb at least one and possibly two places on the ladder by the end of home and away season this Saturday night.
The Blues won the toss and sent the Swans in to bat and things looked promising early with Rob Chambers (18) and Alec McPhee (19) adding 43 for the first wicket, but unfortunately the demise Chambers saw the Swans quickly slump to 4/47 and 6/58, before the tail showed some resistance, led by Mark Linford who got 10, and extras, whose contribution was equal top scorer with 19.
Metung Swan Reach was dismissed for 97 in the 40th over, with Nick Hulme (4/18), Luke Endley (2/13) and spearhead Nick Davis (2/14) sharing the wickets.
Orbost batted with plenty of urgency, keen to get a maximum points result inside the first day’s play, if possible, but just like St Mary’s Nagle last round, they ran out of time.
Jayden Price (24 from 22 balls) and Mikael Hulme (50 from 46) got the Blues off to a flier, adding 50 in even time, with Price helping himself to a couple of huge maximums.
Orbost passed the Swans with just three wickets down and pushed onto 4/143 from just 21 overs before declaring and asking the Swans to bat 19 overs to stumps.
Alex Hulme (24 from 23) and the emerging Braeden Ross (30 from 19) played exciting cameos as the Blues pushed forward in search of quick runs.
Sam Tindley-Roe was the only multiple wicket taker for the Swans, picking up 2/29.
The Swans made it through to stumps, and knocked off the Blues lead, but it came at a cost, finishing an eventful day’s play with just five wickets in hand with Tindley-Roe top scoring with 24.
Young Mitchell Farley picked up his first wicket in “A” grade for Orbost, finishing the day with the impressive figures of 2/2.
The Swans will be keen to make a game of it but with morale and momentum against them, they would be optimistic to reach afternoon tea.
