Left-armer Ash Perera fires one down during Casey-South Melbourne’s five-wicket loss to Frankston-Peninsula at Casey Fields last Saturday.By Marc McGowan
CLOSE enough is no longer good enough for Casey-South Melbourne.
Swans coach Mark Ridgway has grown tired of his team getting into winning positions, only to blow them time and time again.
Frankston-Peninsula’s five-wicket defeat of Casey-South Melbourne at Casey Fields on Saturday was comfortable enough, but the Swans had their chances.
A mediocre batting display that reaped just 209 the previous weekend did not help Casey-South Melbourne’s determination to end its losing run.
But the hosts’ bowling attack, with Jayde Herrick (2/72) leading the way, restricted the Heat to 3/59 to give the Swans a glimmer of hope.
Enter skipper Nick Jewell.
The former state opener cracked 10 fours in a 60-run innings that lasted 113 balls.
Ben Clements shared in a 53-run stand with Jewell before departing with the score on 112.
Casey-South Melbourne still had a chance when left-arm orthodox spinner Clive Rose’s dismissal of Jewell left the visitors at 5/159.
But Jewell’s experienced team-mates Luke Walker (42 not out off 86 balls) and James Miller (31 not out off 55) picked up the slack to ensure an early conclusion to the contest.
Ridgway was hoping star fast bowler Damien Wright would be available for the second day of the match.
But Victoria’s win in last Wednesday’s Twenty20 game against Queensland booked the Bushrangers – and Wright – a spot in last Saturday night’s final against New South Wales.
Ridgway continues to be pleased with the development of his younger players, but conceded there were few positives in the Swans’ winless season.
“The kids we’ve brought into the club are proving very valuable and it has been a good experience for them,” the former Tasmanian representative said.
“But we haven’t got a point. It’s been the most disappointing year in my whole cricket career.”
Ridgway pointed to the departures of the Wakefield twins, Reuben and Max, opener Ben Stallworthy, all-rounder Luke van Raay and hard-hitting left-hander Luke Chapple as a major reason for the sub-par performances.
There could be more tough times ahead with a brutal final three games against heavyweights Carlton, St Kilda and Dandenong.
“We’re trying to stay upbeat, but that’s getting a little bit harder to do than what it was three months ago,” Ridgway said.
“But I need to do that as coach and keep flying the flag.
“When we sit down to analyse the season, we should have won five games and we shouldn’t be in this position.
“We’ve cracked at critical moments due to a lack of experience from our young kids, but we need to keep buttering up.”
Casey-South Melbourne faces Carlton in a two-dayer at Princes Park from 11am on Saturday.
Meanwhile, 26-year-old recruit Stacy Brown (167 off 177, 14 fours and seven sixes) and captain Robbie Elston (99 off 205, 10 fours) almost led the Swans to a remarkable victory over Frankston-Peninsula in the seconds.
Casey-South Melbourne ultimately fell 14 runs short of the Heat’s mammoth tally of 387.
