Incoming threatening clouds of wet weather and COVID-19 cases were not enough to stop Penola from increasing its ladder lead as the 2021/22 Hoggies Wines Barber Shield returned in anticlimactic fashion.
Three blockbuster clashes were lined up for the A Grade competition to fire up from the Christmas break, but the two Mount Gambier based clashes were wiped out from the overnight rain, while the ever-increasing threat of COVID-19 ensured many other senior matches could not take place.
Despite the frustrating start to cricket in 2022, Penola and South Gambier managed to beat the odds and get on the pitch in a low-scoring one-day clash at McCorquindale Park.
After a winter-like build up to round 6, the Eagles were keen to bowl first on the up-and-down surface.
As players attempted to break free from the rust that surfaced over the festive season, runs proved hard to come by.
Demons openers Dan Loupos and Ryan Kuhl settled in for a long stay at the crease and applied themselves well during the first eight overs against the new-ball exponents Michael Waters and Josh Doyle – replacing the absent Lachlan Jones.
However, once Loupos and Kuhl reached the 27th delivery of their respective innings, things turned fatal.
The vicious seamers of Waters snaked through the defenses of Kuhl, while moments later the medium pace of Doyle caught the edge of Loupos’ bat.
The double strike brought the dominant Demon David Somerfield to the crease and he was desperate to make an impression.
Somerfield – a man with six centuries next to his name – appeared in ominous touch finding the boundary regularly.
He was the dominant figure in his third-wicket stand with Jed Sims scoring all-but three runs.
The introduction of leg-spin initially did not trouble Somerfield despite the loss of Sims.
Batting at the key position of number three, Somerfield looked set to take the innings to the next level with a strike rate of 72 alongside Stephen Easterbrook at 3/67.
However, the constant pressure applied from the home side finally paid off and in a big way.
Mullan’s turn drew a false stroke from Somerfield and he was caught by Dermot Moore for 26, while Conrad Slabber found the edge of the similarly dangerous Robert Drenthen for a duck in the following over.
Suddenly the Demons were struggling at 5/70 and needed their middle order to produce some magic.
A spark emerged from the bats of Easterbrook and Michael Sims.
The duo used all their 336 caps of combined experience to good use pushing the score into triple figures.
Only two boundaries were scored in the 30-run journey to reach the milestone, which was a clear indication of how challenging playing with freedom was.
Zac Zema and Paul Ellis had increased the pressure during a fine five-over spell and were eventually rewarded for their toil in the field during a highly dramatic passage of play as the death approached.
Sims (13), Easterbrook (28), Bruce Morale (0) and Jakob Opie (2) were wiped out in the space of seven deliveries.
Suddenly South slipped from a steady 5/100 to 9/105 and in desperate trouble of a poor total.
But one more twist in the innings remained as Demons’ skipper Cam Jorgensen demonstrated his leadership credentials.
Jorgensen refused to give in and led a backs-to-the-wall stand at the death alongside Ethan Sims.
A big six from the captain off Doyle was the highlight and despite the bowler getting the last laugh in the final ball of the innings, Jorgensen’s 18 slightly shifted the momentum.
After pushing his team’s total to 133, Jorgensen then went to work with the ball.
Penola opener Lewis March was gritting his teeth trying to cope with the lifting bounce from the pitch, but was trapped lbw by the South captain for 11.
But the best was yet to come as Drew Clayfield mistimed a cover drive in the direction of a diving Loupos at mid off, who snaffled the chance inches from the ground.
The classic catch could have inspired the Demons to something special, but Penola’s dangermen stood in the way.
Dashing opener Mullan was forced to endure a series of body blows after being roughed up by Opie’s short-length approach, but broke the shackles with a commanding pull shot over midwicket, while at the other end captain Mark Smith also found the boundary rope easily.
But just when the pair were racing along, Easterbrook ended Smith’s occupation on 16 with a sharp caught and bowled to keep the contest alive.
The breakthrough dried the runs up for an eight over period, but experienced heads Mullan and Waters managed to pass the examination with flying colours.
Easterbrook’s economical figures of 1/17 off 7.5 overs took a dent from his final ball thanks to a Mullan six, while Waters joined in the fun to hit consecutive boundaries to raise the 50-run partnership.
But a hat-trick of fours for Waters was denied when he was clean bowled by Somerfield as South launched a late fightback.
Mullan looked imperious for his 78-ball 50 until a loopy Loupos spinner outsmarted him, while Moore and Doyle instantly followed each other back to the pavilion.
Suddenly it was game on after Penola lost 4/17 and all the momentum was with the Demons.
However, there were no need for nerves in the home dressing room as youngster Zac Zema and Jack Schulz pulled off the rescue mission.
The duo had nerves of steel to keep the hungry South attack at bay and chase the runs down with three wickets in hand.
Schulz ended his timely knock of 31 with a grand six, while Zema struck the final ball for four to dip his 12 in red ink.
Smith lauded his team’s victory to its ability to bowl in partnerships and deliver in the key moments.
“It was good to be back at it and everyone was grateful we could play with these uncertain things around us,” he said.
“We were always confident the pitch was going to get up and we bowled a few too many four balls early on.
“But Conrad and Jack put the brakes on them and it all fell into place with everyone bowling in partnerships.
“Jack was the match winner with the bat and ball and set up the foundation for us.
“We made the run chase a bit hard for ourselves, but luckily we proved our depth to get the job done.”
