By Ewen McRae
Hoppers Crossing fought hard in the top-of-the-table clash with Williamstown, but came up short for its first loss of the season.
With the sub-district south-west first XI rivals the only unbeaten teams coming into round five, the two-day clash at the weekend doubled as a good pointer to title credentials.
While the Cats had their moments throughout the contest, Williamstown had a 164-run partnership between Matthew Dervan and Brenton Hodges to thank for giving it a commanding total at the end of day one.
From there, Williamstown looked the better side as it took a one-game lead on top of the table.
But it was the Cats who started the better on Saturday, with Greg Kennedy (2-50) grabbing two early wickets and Brett Smith chiming in with one of his own to have the Seagulls in early trouble.
When Mitchell Streiff and Matthew Twentyman both fell cheaply, the visitors – at 5-46 – were staring down the barrel of a paltry total, but Dervan and Hodges dug deep to rescue the day.
They were watchful against the good balls and slowly built the total. Both fell late in the day – but the damage had been done.
Dervan was the first to go for 83. Hodges was run out in the shadows of stumps for 94 as Williamstown finished on 7-251.
Hoppers Crossing was always going to find the chase tough on a wearing pitch, but openers Jack Rhodes (32) and Cameron Nicol (24) frustrated the Williamstown attack with a patient 53-run stand to start the day.
But when Nicol fell to Fraser Hay, a mini-collapse ensued, with the Cats slipping to 3-68. From there, the hosts struggled to maintain momentum. Despite handy contributions from Nick Keast (37) and Smith (30), the Cats were bowled out for 188.
Photo Gallery: Hoppers Crossing vs Williamstown
Elsewhere, Werribee got back on the winners’ list after an unbeaten century from Matthew Dean guided it home in an impressive chase against Elsternwick.
Bradley Apps (4-36) grabbed early wickets on Saturday as Elsternwick’s top order floundered, but 123 from William Long saw it get to a competitive 202.
Tim Gage (3-40) and Tim O’Brien (3-28) were also impressive, so when the chase began on Sunday, the Tigers were well placed.
A strong opening stand from Dean and Andrew Ford (23) saw 73 runs wiped from the target, but once that partnership was broken regular wickets fell throughout the afternoon.
But while wickets fell at one end, Dean was a constant throughout the chase.
He finished on 113 not out when Werribee reached the target with just two wickets in hand.
The win has Werribee on the brink of the top six with a 3-2 record.
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