EFL: North Ringwood go two from two at the Panther Pit

Max Otten (Blackburn) is pressured by his North Ringwood opponent (photo: Davis Harrigan)

Determined to prove to the 11 unfamiliar Division One teams that they were no slouches, North Ringwood pulled out a memorable victory to send Blackburn home winless after the first two rounds of season 2015.

Yet the final scoreline of 9.13.67 to 6.13.49 belied what went on for 95 percent of the game.  The seesawing first quarter, which saw just four goals, was a scrap of a game, with ball handling errors and relentless pressure from the Panthers and Saints.  Sam Banfield opened the Blackburn account, and it only took an additional two minutes before Nick Murphy’s booming left foot slotted one through for North Ringwood.

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EFL: Countdown to Season 2015: 37 days to go: Montrose

Montrose goes h2h with Vermont in the 2014 finals series (photo: Davis Harrigan)

(First seen here on the EFL website)

“Choose Tap” Countdown | Montrose Football Club

Coach Brett Johnson has belief for Montrose.  Since arriving in 2012, the club has seen great consistency with finals appearances since 2010 – with the ultimate prize coming in 2013; a Division 2 premiership and a promotion to Division 1 in the Eastern Football League.

Cricket: Matador Cup sophomore season

Victoria celebrate a wicket at Blacktown (photo: Getty Images)

We’re coming to the end of the first competition of the Australian domestic cricket season, and, after two seasons in operation, the applause has been evident.

While there are some pointed flaws, and sparse crowds, the TV audiences and quality of cricket that has been on show continues to grow.  The decision to move the competition from Fox Sports across to free-to-air channel GEM last year paid dividends.

VWFL: Vic Metro take U/21 Crown

Sarah Perkins (left) and Terri McIntosh (right) go for the ball at Whitten Oval (photo: Davis Harrigan)

Conditions at the Whitten Oval fluctuated throughout the Vic Metro v Vic Country U/21 women’s match on Saturday, but the blue Metro girls took the trophy home, 9.13.67 to 6.10.46.

With the day considered to be the pinnacle for the young talent coming through the Victorian system, it showed, as the girls physicality continued to intensify each quarter.

Southern University Games: Two months out from 2014; my experiences

RMIT & UWA, mens hockey, AUG 2013 (photo: Davis Harrigan)

Last year I was fortunate enough to be a part of the La Trobe University Uni Games team at both the regional and Australian competitions, as part of the dedicated media team.

Cricket: VWCA, January 12: Box Hill contest two close ones on a warm January day

Anna Lanning, who scored 49 v Dandenong (Photo: Davis Harrigan)

Game 1: Plenty Valley 8/109 (A Price 35, K Lamb 27, Brock 3/9) defeated by Box Hill 3/110 (A. Lanning 39, Carter 24, Brock 23*, O’Donnell 1/19) by 7 wickets

With the temperature expected to warm up, the Box Hill Mustangs took complete charge against Plenty Valley Bats on a thick and slow Ross Gregory Oval.

Cricket: Australian Domestic scene: Luke Pomersbach and Aaron Finch

Luke Pomersbach in action during the 2012/2013 season (source: ESPN Cricinfo/Getty Images)

There can be no denying that the depth of talent in Australian cricket is at an all-time high.

From the miserly all-rounders to the top order aggressors, it is hard to miss someone who racks up runs or takes lots of wickets.

Cricket: VWCA Action (Premier 1sts) Round 6 and 7: Box Hill Mustangs Report

Australian, Victorian & Box Hill superstar Meg Lanning in action in the VWCA, Nov 17, 2013 (photo mine)

Game 1: Box Hill v Melbourne

(Albert Ground)

Box Hill 5/157 (M. Lanning 54, A. Lanning 49*, S. Tatchell 2/33) defeated Melbourne 4/113 (E. Jones 46 rt no, K. Black 32) by 44 runs

A last over knee injury to Melbourne opener Evelyn Jones was the only thing that overshadowed a strong Box Hill win at the Albert Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Sunny skies and a pleasant breeze greeted players and spectators, and Meg Lanning wasted no time, letting loose on the short boundaries. 

Cricket: The Ryobi Cup: Current Rundown

Victorian Bushrangers players celebrate after a wicket in the Ryobi Cup (photo: cricket.com.au)

Talk to Australian cricket fans this season and they are well divided over the domestic structure.  However, the much more condensed one day competition has its benefits as we get ever closer to the Cricket World Cup.

Playing all 36 games over the space of the month lets two things happen; there is a sole focus on red ball cricket for the majority of the season, and this is a great advantage to those players looking for a spot in the test team.

Cricket: An interview with Greg Shipperd

Victorian Bushrangers coach Greg Shipperd (source: Google Images)

He has been the stalwart of the Victorian Bushrangers since the tragic death of then coach David Hookes in 2004.

For almost ten years, Greg Shipperd has overseen what is arguably one of the strongest lists ever seen in Australian domestic cricket.  The Victorian presence in the Australian side has substantially lifted in the last decade.