Rose proves to be a thorn for Ringwood

By David Nagel
CASEY-South Melbourne bowler Clive Rose struck a crucial blow in the last over of the day to have the Swans in a strong position at 240 heading into day two of its round-12 clash with Ringwood (3/74).
Rose’s Midas touch was just what the doctor ordered for the Swans who had earlier battled hard to put a competitive score on the board.
The Swans landed at Jubilee Park in Ringwood looking to continue its recent rich vein of form but things didn’t start well after being sent into bat. Rohan Blandford (0) was back in the sheds before him and fellow opener Jake Best (84) had a chance to meet mid-pitch but things improved rapidly from there on in.
Best backed up his match-winning 96 from last week with another polished half-century and his early season struggles are now a distant memory. He shared a consolidating 54-run partnership with Jolyon Leaver (39) before dominating an 82-run stand with Shaun Foster (22), which took the Swans to 2/136.
Foster lost his wicket and that triggered a mini-collapse by the visitors who lost Sam Hughes (5), Damien Wright (0) and then Best to be on shaky ground at 6/159. Rose (11) and Jayde Herrick (19) fell not long after and the Swans had lost 6/50 to be precariously placed at 8/186.
Earlier in the season a 200-plus score would have been highly unlikely but the Swans have a deeper talent pool now and it showed towards the end of its innings. South African born English representative Jade Dernbach (31) joined Shane Maggs (23 not out) for a crucial 50-run stand that evened up the contest.
Nathan Hibbins (1) was the last to go leaving Maggs high and dry for the second game running. The Swans scored at a good clip but occupying the crease for only 70 overs was a disappointing aspect of the innings.
With Herrick, Wright and Dernbach all capable of devastating spells the Swans started its defence expecting big things but ran into stern opposition. Dernbach (1/24) made the initial break-through with the score on 24 before Herrick (1/34) removed the experienced David King. With the score on 2/74 and only one over remaining Rose (1/4) had the ball in his hand.
With two balls remaining in the day’s play the crafty spinner trapped Ringwood’s Daniel Rawson in front, ruining his week, and giving the Swans a huge boost heading into day two.
Two of the teams standing in the Swans’ way for a finals spot, Fitzroy-Doncaster and Camberwell, are both staring down the barrel of defeat so a win could see the Swans a solitary point behind come Saturday night.
More crucial blows early this week will be just what the doctor ordered.