Stingrays beat rain to upset Woodville

Southern District A grade must beat XXXX Gold one-day champions Kensington and rely on East Torrens upsetting Northern Districts to gain passage to the finals. After 3 consequetive wins against Port Adelaide, East Torrens and Woodville, the Stingrays sit 5th on the premiership ladder going into the final round. Southern can finish on equal points with Glenelg if the Bays lose their final game, but the Seahorses have a superior percentage which would only change with a significant defeat.

On the weekend the Stingrays defeated back-to-back premiers Woodville to end their season. After losing Lewis Hatchett prior to the days play with a hamstring injury, and without Redback Gary Putland, the Rays Michael Delaney proved his worth with the ball collecting 5 wickets. Delaney led the attack from the front, picking up 3 vital wickets in his first spell well supported by unlikely opening partner Matthew Sugg (10 overs 0-18), and Pat Jolly (1 wicket). A partnership from Chad Sayers and Jonathon Wells swang the game back to balance after coming together at 5-50, but wickets to spinners Shaun Tanner and Simon Roberts ripped the guts out of the Woodville middle order. When Delaney clean bowled numbers 9 and 10, it appeared a Stingray victory was inevitable. However, the weather had other plans. Heavy showers forced players from the ground as players spent a frustrating 90 mins battling covers and persistant rain. When play finally recommenced at 5:30pm, Simon Roberts trapped the dangerous Wells in front for another memerable Stingray win. The game was set up the previous week by a fighting 60 from Justin Ifould, and solid 30 from Joel Garrett, but Shaun Tanners 88 swung the game back towards Southern. Tanner was at his destructive best as he built his innings early, only to flourish with the tail late in the day. Shaun was unlucky to be fired after inside edging the ball onto his pads.

In the B grade Jason Riley (64*) and Chris O'Connor (30*) saved the Stingrays from an early collapse to have the side on the cusp of victory when rain intervened. After losing openers Paul Roberts & Josh Vincent early, a steady stream on wickets reduced the Rays to 5-57. After a 110 runs partnership Riley and O'Connor had swung the game back in Southerns favour when heavy storms saw the game ending in a draw. Dean Chambers 6 wickets the previous week had set up the run chase. restricting Woodville to 210.

The C grade were also defeated by the rain after reducing Woodville to 8-189 chasing the Stringrays 269. Nick Bowen scored a timely 94 well supported by Steven Ford and Kuang Tan. Daniel Rogers survived an early onslaught on the CBHS postage stamp to claim 4 wickets.

The D grades premiership season ended with a loss to Woodville in the rain at St Clair oval. Skipper Joel Ashforth tore a hamstring in the loss and may miss this weeks vital club game against Kensington. Dave Sboro (64) and Brad Hatchett (34) were the only batters of note in a disappointing total of 190. The bowlers battled hard but could not restrict the Woodville side who passed the run 7 wickets down.

Southern go into the final round 5 points clear of Northern District on the club Championship, and 20 points ahead of 3rd place Sturt. Four wins would guarantee the club its first ever club championship, but this will be a big ask against Kensington. D grade are the only side to drop a game in the past 3 rounds, so Southern go into the round with plenty of confidence and an opportunity to write a little club history.