AN impressive display of bowling in Round 4 of Barber Shield cricket saw Penola claim an outright victory over South Gambier at McCorquindale Park on Saturday.
Day two of play saw the Eagles already ahead of a meagre 59 first-innings runs from South, with the real chance of an outright victory firmly in their focus.
But with the bat all did not run smoothly.
At 4/89 overnight there was plenty to do to set up the chance of the outright win, but the wickets began to tumble before much was added to the total.
With Lewis March, Jack Mullan, Jase Bateman and Mark Smith all out on day one of play, big innings were required by the likes of Dave Somerfield and George Kidman.
However, Sam Klemm was the first to go, caught off the bowling of Luke Zadow for just 12 runs with the total at 115.
Somerfield and Kidman then joined forces, with the former finding some handy runs.
However, as he chased quick runs, Somerfield lofted a ball over the bowlers head, which fell into the hands of Dane Pople and his day was done after a handy 58 runs.
From there it was all down hill for the Eagles, as the wickets fell with regularity, with few runs added.
Kidman departed for two runs with nothing further added to the overall total, while Curt Evans came and went for nought, also on the same total of 132.
Michael Waters managed an unbeaten five runs, while Brett Vaughan was the only other Eagle to score, with four to his name.
Camron Jorgenson was impressive with the ball for the Demons, with figures of 6/32 off 15 overs.
A lead of just 85 runs did not guarantee an outright victory, but with the ball in hand Penola was ruthless.
With a handy start Jorgenson began to compile some runs, reaching 16 before he was clean bowled by Evans with the total at 24.
That triggered a collapse, with Adam Kuhl and Dylan Clough out for no score, while Zadow followed after contributing eight runs.
Kuhl was first to go, caught off Kidman, Clough was caught and bowled by Evans and Zadow was then caught off Kidman, with the total still at 24.
There was no coming back for the Demons, with the Eagles on the front foot and making good use of their home wicket.
With 30 runs on the board the Demons again faltered.
Mitchell Sims (0), Zac Walker (0) and Pople (5) all fell, leaving South at 7/30 and staring down the barrel of an outright defeat.
Michael Sims managed one of only two double-figure scores, with 13 not out to his name, but in the 27th over with just 46 runs on the board it was done and the Eagles claimed an impressive victory.
Evans was the best of the Penola bowlers, with figures of 5/7, while Kidman managed 4/15.
As a result Penola has opened a handy margin to North Sportsman’s at the top end of the ladder, with 42.81 pints, to the Tigers’ 33.45.
