PENOLA has retained its undefeated status in the Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association’s Barber Shield competition, defending its solid total against East Gambier at McCorquindale Park last Saturday.
Despite the comfortable 75-run victory, it was a far closer result than expected, with the Bulldogs rallying to a respectable 211.
The margin could have been closer, had the bottom order not crumbled under the pressure from Penola’s David Somerfield, who finished the day with six wickets.
Those efforts with the ball saw Somerfield have the perfect round, after he made a century with the bat on day one last week.
The Bulldogs were off to a strong start, with openers Darren Whitehorn and Dion Stratford steadying the ship early.
The score was at 44 when Whitehorn was finally dismissed for 24, caught by Mark Smith off Jase Bateman.
From there Connor Little took to the crease, but he was sent back to the bench with one run to his name.
It was then the Bulldogs dug their heels in, as Alex Hentshke joined Stratford to post a 97-run partnership.
Hentschke was dismissed for 36 runs, while Stratford continued to lead his team.
Emerson Marks came and went for no score, before Nick Laube padded up to join the skipper.
The pair added 13 runs to the total before Jack Mullan claimed the prized scalp of Stratford, as he was caught on the boundary by Lewis March, just shy of a century on 97 runs.
From there Nathan Gore took to the crease and his partnership with Laube saw another 29 runs added.
However, when Laube (11) was caught by Smith off Mullan, it was a downhill slope to the finish.
Gore was next to fall with 26 runs, while Simon Golebiowski (4), Alec Roberts (2) and Luke Allen (3) were all dismissed shortly after.
Liam Turley remained unbeaten on four.
Despite the valiant effort from East, it again demonstrated a lack of depth with the bat, as Stratford was joined by just four double-figure scorers.
The Eagles also had five batsmen reach double figures last week, but had only six players take to the crease.
With the ball on Saturday, Somerfield led the way with 6/47 off his 25 overs, while Mullan also fared to bag three wickets.
Bateman claimed one scalp, while in the field Smith was in fine form to take three catches on the day.
Looking ahead to this week’s final minor round of Barber Shield, Penola will face a top-of-the-table clash against North Sportsman’s at Marist Park, while the Bulldogs will go up against South Gambier at Scott Park.
