1ST GRADE
The 1st grade had a day to forget against Fremantle, losing by 7 wickets at Stevens Reserve.
The Dragons batted first and were bowled out for a lowly 56, with John Sanders (27 from 42 balls) the only contributor of note.
Matt Hanna (3/23 from 6 overs) created the only highlights in the Dragon’s bowling innings, including the wicket of Shaun Marsh, before the Port Boys chased down Willetton’s total in the 13th over.
2ND GRADE
The 2nd grade wrapped up the year on a positive note, claiming victory in a topsy-turvy match at Burrendah Park, winning by 54 runs.
The Dragons were on the back foot early, slumping to 5 for 58 before some important knocks from Cameron Becker (40 from 71 balls), debutant Harry Grigson (28 from 37 balls), and Declan Crowder (17 from 40 balls) gave them something to bowl at, posting 163.
The Dragons were on fire early in their bowling innings, having Fremantle 6/45 before bowling the Port Boys out for 109.
Zach Ferris (4/17 from 10 overs) showed his class with an unbelievable display of fast bowling. Zach was well supported by Cameron Becker (2/23 from 10 overs) and David Cameron (2/19 from 8 overs) before Declan Crowder and Harry Grigson took a wicket each to finish off the Fremantle batters in the 40th over.
3RD GRADE
3rd grade claimed victory in a nail-biter at Stevens Reserve, winning in the final over by 3 runs.
After reeling to 2 for 1, first-gamer Jono Crowe (36 from 42 balls) and Ikramjit Bhalla (46 from 55 balls) combined for a 79 run 3rd wicket stand.
Harry Hopwood (50 off 71 balls) ensured there wasn’t a middle-order collapse as wickets fell at the other end, before he was joined by James Scott (33 from 38 balls) and combined for an entertaining 62 run stand. The Dragons were then bowled out for 209 in the last over of their innings.
Fremantle responded strongly with the bat with an opening partnership of 98, before spin twins Jordan Hodgetts (2/28 from 9 overs) and Brayden Lee (2/25 from 9 overs) claimed Fremantle’s top four batters.
Wickets from Chris Lagana (2/52 from 7.4 overs) and Ellis Cassidy (1/30 from 4 overs) left Fremantle needing 28 runs from 30 balls with only two wickets in hand, before some lower-order hitting brought the game to the final over.
Two clutch runouts meant Willetton won by 3 runs with 2 balls to spare.
4TH GRADE
4th grade couldn’t quite get over the line against Fremantle, going down by two wickets in the final over at Burrendah Reserve.
After a lean start with the bat, Dev Singh (53 from 85 balls) combined with both Lachie Searle (46 off 71 balls) and young-gun Josh Nathan (24 from 42 balls) with partnerships of 56 and 57 respectively before the Dragons finished with a respectable 174 from their 45 overs.
The Port Boys were in the box seat with the bat at 1 for 73, before Josh Kuser (3/36 from 9 overs) pegged the visitors back to 4 for 103.
Some economical bowling from veteran Brad Kent (1/9 from 7 overs) wasn’t enough to prevent Fremantle from chasing the Dragons’ score down off the 2nd last ball of the game.
UNDER 17S
The Under 17’s fell agonisingly short in their T20 fixture at Stevens Reserve, going down to Fremantle by 1 run in the final over.
Fremantle batted first and scored a strong 129 from their 20 overs, with Ben Mitchell (4/14 from 4 overs) the star with the ball.
In reply, Blake Stephen (24 from 26 balls) and Lagan Sandhu (20 from 19 balls) were the main contributors with the bat, leaving the Dragons needing 7 runs from the final over.
After a boundary from Rajat Deshmukh (17 not out from 12 balls) gave the Dragons hope, the final wicket of Veedhi Pelopa meant the Dragons fell just 1 run short.
UNDER 15S
The Under 15s lost to Fremantle by 12 runs at Burrendah Reserve.
Luca Boden (2/17 from 4 overs) along with single wickets from Mitchell Hole, Tom Dobson, Isaak Wittkuhn and Ayneschkanna Mayurathan gave the Dragons 114 runs to chase in their last hit of 2022.
Josh Nathan was the major contributor with the bat, scoring 37 from as many deliveries, as the Dragons fell 12 runs short after their 20 overs.
COLTS LEAGUE
The Colts fell just 8 runs short of a Grand Final berth, losing to University in the semi-final after a quarter-final victory against Midland Guildford.
In the morning game, the Dragons put on an imposing 164 from their 20 overs against the Black Ducks.
Sean Boers left jaws ajar with his blistering 73 from 46 deliveries, including six sixes and five fours in an unbelievable display of clean hitting, with support coming from Brock Larance (34 from 20 balls) and Lachlan Lake (26 from 26 balls) before Willetton’s innings came to a close.
The Dragons always looked in control as they bowled out Midland Guildford for 131, with Larance (4/24 from 4 overs) and James Andrews (2/19 from 4 overs) the main contributors with the ball.
After losing the semi-final toss and bowling first, wickets from Zac Blazevich (2/18 from 4 overs), John Sanders (2/24 from 4 overs) and Sean Boers (2/8 from 2 overs) did their best to restrict the University batsmen, before the Students put on 157 from their 20 overs.
Blair Walsh (40 from 33 balls) and Larance (23 from 16 balls) proved the only rearguard as regular wickets fell, leaving the Dragons reeling at 8 for 104. A fighting 45 run partnership from James Scott (16 from 12 balls) and Andrews (28 from 19 balls) gave the hosts a sniff at victory, before falling 8 runs short.