Stunning summer under review

Another Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA) season has been run and won and News cricket reporter Marc McGowan reviews the ups and downs of the local sides
@BT Sub Sport News:TURF ONE

Berwick
Finished: First (premiers).
Highlights: The rampaging Bears won their second Turf One premiership in three seasons with a 43-run triumph over North Dandenong.
Their charge to the flag had plenty of contributors, but none as impressive as star Englishman Alex Roberts, who cracked a league-leading 713 runs to go with his 23 wickets.
Lowlights: There were few lowlights for the all-conquering Bears, but losing their season opener to Parkfield was a slight disappointment.
They were also shaky in the last two home and away rounds, losing to St Mary’s and just holding off Coomoora.
Roberts missing out on the Wookey Medal was another letdown after entering the count as a heavy favourite.
All-stars: Alex Roberts, Gavan Wills, Ash Henry.
Cranbourne
Finished: Fifth.
Highlights: Knocked off Buckley Ridges and fourth-placed Parkfield in rounds 10 and 11 respectively to only miss the finals on percentage.
Cranbourne’s finish was four spots better than 2006-07 and showed it was on track to challenge the top teams next season.
Eagles all-rounder Shane Murdoch’s cameo appearances for Casey-South Melbourne in the Victorian Premier Cricket Twenty20 competition helped their Casey Fields co-tenant reach the semi-finals.
Lowlights: Won their first match, but then lost four of their next five games to slump down the standings.
This rough patch ultimately cost the club a finals appearance.
All-stars: Shane Murdoch, Matthew Moore, Paul Ferrari-Mela.
Doveton
Finished: Seventh.
Highlights: Former captain-coach Brad Downe has been a loyal servant of the club for many years and his popular win in the Wookey Medal was clearly the pinnacle of the Doves’ season.
On the field, Doveton matched its win total from the previous season and managed to improve three spots on the ladder.
Lowlights: Had to wait until round five to post its first victory of the season and never threatened for a finals position. Heading into the final round, the Doves were still a chance of being relegated until beating lowly Dandenong West.
All-stars: Brad Downe, Nathan Wilson, Glen Lothian.
Narre Warren
Finished: Ninth.
Highlights: David Wheeler, one of two big-name recruits from Buckley Ridges to land at Sweeney Reserve, lived up to his reputation, claiming a league-best 32 wickets at an average of just 17.25.
Narre Warren had big expectations of making the Turf One finals for the first time and charged into Christmas on the back of three straight successes.
Lowlights: Won just one outing out of six in the New Year to fall four places on last season’s performance.
The Magpies’ most embarrassing effort came in round nine against North Dandenong, when they were bowled out for a pitiful 88.
All-stars: David Wheeler, John Simpson, Wendell Perumal.

@BT Sub Sport News:TURF TWO

Hallam-Kalora Park
Finished: Second (premiers).
Highlights: The club’s centenary year was one full of celebrations, with the best of those coming last as it belted HSD in the Turf Two grand final to earn the right to return to the top flight next season.
Leigh Booth’s mid-season homecoming was pivotal in Hallam-Kalora Park’s ascension to Turf One.
After a slow start, he became the hottest player in the grade, culminating in back-to-back centuries in the finals.
Lowlights: Having to play in Turf Two in its centenary year was a major disappointment for the proud club.
Outside of that, Hallam-Kalora Park’s loss to HSD in its postponed round six clash must have left some players pondering another season in Turf Two.
All-stars: Leigh Booth, Steve Chapman, Cory Booth.
HSD
Finished: First (runner-up).
Highlights: An unbeaten run to the Turf Two decider had HSD in prime position to reach the DDCA’s top grade for the first time.
The club’s aggressive approach allowed it to produce two outright victories and finish the home and away season 14 points clear of second-ranked Hallam-Kalora Park.
Lowlights: A shattering batting slump in the grand final that saw it go from 3/165 to be all out for 223 did nothing to remove its chokers’ tag.
HSD will have to start from scratch like everyone else next season despite a wonderful 2007-08 summer.
All-stars: Scott Brandon, Doug Loudon, Paul Stockdale.
Fountain Gate
Finished: Ninth
Highlights: Bounced back from a humiliating outright loss in its first match to record its first points against Maranatha Methodist in round three.
Rounds six and nine (which were played on back-to-back weekends after the former was postponed) showed Fountain Gate was capable as it snuck past semi-finalist Mordialloc before going down in a high-scoring battle the next Saturday.
Lowlights: An outright defeat in its opening encounter of the season was the worst possible start.
The match also marked the first of three times Fountain Gate was dismissed for less than 100, including a miserable 31 against Berwick in 27.4 overs.
All-stars: Nick Scanlon, Cory Wilson, Stephen White.
Hampton Park
Finished: 10th.
Highlights: Jumped out of the blocks well to register a win in round one and was successful twice in three weeks in rounds eight and nine (round six was played in between).
Captain-coach Doug Mulholland was a consistent force in his debut season in the DDCA, making a stack of runs in the middle order while chiming in with 11 wickets.
Lowlights: A humiliating 298-run loss to HSD in round four when it was bowled out for a measly 49.
The substandard performance came amid a five-game losing streak.
All-stars: Doug Mulholland, Matthew Bartlett, Tim Fathers.
Maranatha Methodist
Finished: 11th.
Highlights: There were not many memorable moments for the club, but it did manage victories in rounds two and 10.
Englishman Paul Goodchild and batsman Jeff Thom can hold their heads high after quality individual seasons.
Lowlights: Being bowled out for 74 in the opening clash of the season in front of the home fans did not bode well, and Maranatha Methodist continued to struggle throughout the summer.
All-stars: Paul Goodchild, Jeff Thom, Darryl Turner.