Seconds on way to grand final

In the Second-grade qualifying final held at Memorial Oval last Saturday and Sunday, the Bulldogs bowlers bared their teeth and ferociously decimated the Sharks’ batting.
Winning the toss and batting first, captain Mitch Hinds’ men took full advantage of the beautifully prepared wicket courtesy of Nick Mamolis and his team from Canterbury Bankstown City Council.
Opener Joel Brockley showed tremendous concentration and determination to provide the backbone for the Dogs’ innings. With both a stoic and sometimes flamboyant 83 runs, he mixed a heads-down approach with the occasional ball hammered into the fence as he occupied the crease for much of the day’s play.
Brockley was well supported by Hinds, who also reached 50 before being caught.
With most other players contributing runs, the Dogs continued to bat on Sunday morning before being dismissed for 289. Normally, this total would have been considered insufficient at Bankstown Oval, but every run is difficult to obtain in a final.
When the Sharks hit the crease they crumbled to be all out for just 71 runs.
Bankstown Spinner Justin Felsch was the pick with four wickets for just 10, while Mitch Constantinou took 3 for 15 and Ayden Brown 2 for 10.
Bankstown take on Northern District at Bankstown Oval at 9.45am.
At Mike Pawley Oval, the Bulldogs’ Fourth grade batsmen failed to stand up after being sent in by Manly-Warringah. Only Matthew Fitzgerald (31) scored over 30, and the Dogs’ batsmen failed to adapt to the conditions. The Dogs were all out for 111 and with Manly at 5 for 238, the match was called with the Dogs’ season over.