Rounds 6 & 7

BLUES & DEMONS ON TOP

VB Premier Cricket takes a break from the one-dayers for November and December as we move into the longer, two-day version of the game. Five rounds have been completed, with CARLTON and MELBOURNE leading the field and GEELONG not far behind.

After a month of coloured clothing, white balls and frenetic action, the cricket purists will enjoy the more laid-back approach of 100-over days, spinners and middle-order batsmen will come into play as patience and perseverance, as well as technique are rewarded. NORTH MELBOURNE and MELBOURNE UNI appear to be the big improvers so far, each having won four of their five matches, while last season's Premier finalists, DANDENONG and ST KILDA, are currently occupying eleventh and thirteenth spots respectively on the ladder and have taken some time to "get moving". Both have been severely affected by both injuries and retirements. CARLTON and MELBOURNE, as in the past two seasons, are setting the pace in the CV Club Championship.

ROUND 6

CARLTON and FITZROY DONCASTER will fight it out for the John Scholes Trophy at Schramms Reserve over the next two Saturdays. Even though this is Round 6, strangely it will be the Blues' first away match for the season, having hosted the "groundless" Tigers and Magpies in one-dayers earlier. First versus sixteenth may not sound like much of a match, but welcoming back skipper Lloyd Mash, fresh from a fine 95 against the Sri Lankans in Adelaide for the CA Chairman's XI, the Lions are desperate to get off the mark in 2007/08 and the Blues may find a change in venue difficult to cope with. Other stand-out matches include ESSENDON v GEELONG, RICHMOND v NORTH MELBOURNE and CAMBERWELL MAGPIES v DANDENONG.

ROUND 7

Two more important "Trophy matches" will be the MELBOURNE UNI v MELBOURNE clash for the Michael Sholly Cup and the RINGWOOD v PRAHRAN match for the Don Mathieson Trophy. The results of these matches could determine the direction for the remainder of the season for those clubs. The GEELONG v RICHMOND and NORTH MELBOURNE v FOOTSCRAY EDGEWATER matches also look like being crucial games for the participating sides.

PRIMARY EDGE CUP

The opening round of the Primary Edge Cup, Premier Cricket's Twenty20 competition, is not far away. On Tuesday 27 November at 5.15pm the first six matches of this season's series get under way. Watch out for the season program in the near future.

RESCHEDULING

Premier Cricket will resume at Camberwell Sports Ground, Punt Road and the Harry Trott Oval next weekend. Frankston Peninsula, Prahran and Melbourne Uni, while all progressing well, are still not ready. The Premier Cricket website will continue to provide all rescheduling details each Friday.

RIP - PHIL MONOHAN

We regret to advise the passing of another District/Premier Cricket legend in former Collingwood/Camberwell Magpies scorer Phil Monohan. Phil, who retired a few years ago and lived in Seaford, died on 25 October after suffering a fall the previous weekend. Phil devoted an incredible number of weekends to scoring for his beloved Magpies over half a century and will be sadly missed. Cricket Victoria extends deepest sympathies to the Monohan family and the Camberwell Magpies Cricket Club.

PHOTO QUIZ

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MILESTONES

Congratulations to each of the following players, umpires and scorers on achieving significant milestones. More

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