No luck for hard working Dogs

Sydney Uni batted first on Sunday at Bankstown Oval in the 50 overs semi- final. The Students performed well to amass 289 in great conditions. The Bulldogs looked to be cruising at 1-134 but a vital over which cost the wickets of Brendan Smith (59) and Daniel Solway (53) turned the game around. Smith was at his aggressive best and he mixed savage straight hits with precision late cuts. His stunning six back over the bowler’s head brought the crowd to its feet. Solway peppered the onside and thumped a towering six over mid-wicket. He was unlucky to be dismissed when he chopped a ball onto his stumps. Jake Cormack kept the Bulldogs hopes alive with 5 boundaries and a savagely struck six. However, when he fell for a fighting 55 the Bankstown resistance ended. Lively allrounder Mitch Brown finished with a determined 28 but Bankstown was rolled for 250. The Bankstown Sports Bulldogs lost to the Campbelltown Ghosts last Saturday at Raby Oval. The home side were chasing 233 for victory which posed no problems as the Ghosts surged to 4-289. The Bulldogs bowlers tried valiantly but had nowhere near enough runs to defend. Kyle Brockley was his usual enthusiastic self and when he removed both openers the ‘Dogs looked a chance. Rhys Williams claimed the prized scalp of Phil Wells and the Ghosts were dispirited at 3-74. However, they quickly took control and batted the Bulldogs out of the game. Life does not get any easier for the Bankstown boys as next Saturday they take on arch enemies Sydney Uni at University Oval. It is a two-day fixture starting at 10.30 and a must win for the locals. Second Grade

After quite a few nervous moments Bankstown eventually clinched first innings points at Bankstown Memorial Oval last Saturday. Chasing 194 it looked like a cakewalk when Bankstown cruised to 3-140. Two of the most promising youngsters in the Bulldogs kennel Matt Simpson and Peter Dignam looked like reaching the total on their own. Ironically, they both scored 62 and kept the Dion Bourne scoreboard ticking over relentlessly. However, when the pair were dismissed panic stations set in as the Doggies collapsed to 7-185. Luke Docherty with a dashing 31 and Liam Marshall with a delightful cameo of 38 not out got Bankstown home. Marshall exploded into action with two spectacular sixes and showed his all-round ability. Earlier Ethan Leten had scored 28 at a run a ball with 5 boundaries. It was a sound win and Peter Dignam certainly enjoyed his second-grade debut. He is an elegant 18-year-old lefthander whose 62 mixed classy drives with leg glances and deft late cuts. Simpson’s score was a delight to behold with 10 scorching boundaries and two superb sixes. Third grade Dayne Heward was in devastating form with the ball and blasted through the Ghosts batting taking 4-29 as he haunted the home side. Heward dispensed with both openers caught behind and LBW then shattered the stumps of skipper Passlow. The dispirited Ghosts never recovered and were unceremoniously bundled out for a paltry 83. Niran Wijewardene claimed 3-12 in his eventful 3 overs and Daniel Slane burst through the middle order with 2-11. In the second innings, the Ghosts scored 0-69 in quite a decent turnaround. Fourth grade The Bankstown Bulldogs bowlers performed well to dismiss the Ghosts for just 197. Alas the Bankstown batsmen failed to capitalise and totalled a meagre 105. Only two Bankstown players seriously challenged the Ghosts. Skipper Mat Kelly scored a fighting 34 whilst Chris Stefanish held on tenaciously for a defiant 33 not out. It was a great match for the talented all-rounder with his 4-55 in the Ghosts innings. In their second dig Campbelltown were 2-41 and skipper Kelly was again to the fore claiming 2-15. Fifth grade In a thriller at Raby 3 Bankstown scored 147 but were edged out by the Ghosts' 152. The Bulldogs scored 7-135 with skipper Alex Kouventaris compiling a fighting 44 of 35 balls. He plundered 9 sparkling boundaries in his dashing knock. Isaac Schipp smashed 7 boundaries in his forceful knock of 36. Bilal Ali was very entertaining in a delightful cameo with 5 boundaries in his 23 from just 10 deliveries. In a thriller the Ghosts were 9-107 in the second innings after Daniel Carr made a valiant attempt with 5-25 to inspire the Dogs. It was a stunning bowling performance from Carr who could not have been more devastating. The skipper again chipped in with 2-30 and added to the drama.