By JARROD POTTER
TIGERS are on the march to the final DDCA weekend after the Turf 3, Turf 6 and under-17s teams booked their spots in grand finals.
The minor premiers in Turf 3, Beaconsfield had another emphatic win on the weekend weathering the worst of the overcast conditions on Saturday to post 186 before bowling out Doveton North Sunday for 140.
“After a massive week last week – having three senior sides play finals which was awesome – the boys were a little bit nervous on the Saturday and we relaxed and did what we have for the last five months,” Tigers coach Dylan Freitag said. “It’s been a massive first year (in DDCA) for the club – the whole committee and club are behind us and the Turf 6 as well and the 17s in the grand final too.
“Our first year in the DDCA and all three teams with a very good chance of taking a flag – it’s been an absolute monster year.”
Mario Perera (54) started things off well in tandem with Matt Golding (25) and Brendan Johnson (20) to set the stage for the visitors’ chase.
Beacy cleaned house on Sunday though – with captain-coach Dylan Frietag (4/32) rattling off 12 maidens from his 24 overs alongside fellow new-ball bowler Callan Tout (4/46).
The Tigers’ tandem was unstoppable, leaving Doveton North without an answer to their persistent line and accumulating pressure from all the maidens.
“Very happy with the way Callan bowled – first time he’s taken more than two wickets in the year and was saying to him his turn would come and he bowled really on Sunday morning,” Frietag said. “Just the way the boys went about it – we were more switched on and had a better warm up.”
But errors in the field could’ve hurt the Tigers badly as five catches were dropped in the slip cordon.
Facing Buckley Ridges in the final, Frietag was pleased with what had happened so far, but knows the pressure needs to be dialled up to give Beaconsfield the best chance of taking the title.
“We just need to make sure that pressure – with all those dot balls we don’t want to let up – and can’t bowl a bad over,” Frietag said.
“Got to take your chances as well, probably could’ve bowled them out for 100 as we dropped five catches in the slips.
“That hurts … we’ve got to be focused when the bowler is running in.”
The Turf 3 Tigers will play the finale at Reedy Reserve, Hampton Park from 12.30pm on Saturday and Sunday while Turf 6 will play Narre North at Parkfield Reserve, Noble Park. The under-17s will play Fountain Gate at Max Pawsey Reserve, Fountain Gate, from 8.30am over the weekend.
