Sporties Spitfires off to winning GVBBL start after surviving Hounds attack

Sporties Spitfires wrapped up round one of Goulburn Valley Bush Bash League by doing precisely that in a two-wicket win over Hurley’s Hotel Hounds on Sunday at Dower Park Recreation Reserve.

The Hounds looked imposing early in setting the pace, led by the handiwork of Paul Newman and Joel Murphy combining for 65 runs before both exited the middle in rapid succession.

While no other partnerships down the order would be close to as fruitful, the Hounds received a huge sugar-hit courtesy of an explosive unbeaten 44 from Anthony McMahon (seven fours, one six).

Eventually setting the Spitfires 166 for victory the contest became something of a whack-a-mole game for the Hounds bowlers.

Every new hitter would arrive, mash a couple of boundaries and find themselves back in the sheds in short order as the next man up followed suit.

Far be it for bowlers to get honourable mentions in this form of the game, but Michael Archer, despite some command issues, kept the pressure high through the middle portion of the chase in taking 3-30.

The question throughout was whether the Spitfires’ kamikaze-like batting model could withstand the shower of wickets.

With the massive late helping hand of Chathura Damith ― hitting 31 out of the eight-hole with two fours and three sixes ― the Spitfires flew over the line with seven balls to spare.

Spitfires owner Travis Harling was thrilled to see the home side over the line in its inaugural entry to the league.

“It was a good day to welcome in the competition,” Harling said.

“We were in a fair bit of trouble for a while, but it was pleasing to be able to win the game after losing so many wickets.

“It wasn’t looking promising, but a couple of late partnerships got us over the line.

“The beauty of the competition is that all the teams bat quite deep, so it was great to see the tail wag, so to speak.”

The league will next make its way home to Shepparton’s Deakin Reserve on Sunday, December 10, where the winners and losers of round one will collide.

The Spitfires will meet fellow victors SRP Mud Dogs in the day’s main event, while the Hounds will kick proceedings off against Jarvis Delahey Crushers.