Catani is the big loser of Saturday’s rain in the Warragul District Cricket Association.
A surprise packet early in the 2025-26 season, the undefeated Cats were 0/51 at stumps on day one, in pursuit of premiership favourite Western Park’s 134.
It’s the second consecutive game Western Park has shown signs of vulnerability – though round four was played on a tricky pitch – which should provide rivals with belief that they are gettable.
Catani and Western Park will take on Ellinbank and Hallora respectively, both sides which qualified for finals last season but have just one win so far in 2025-26.
The other side which will be left disappointed by the rain is Ellinbank, which was well in control of its match against Trafalgar, bowling the hosts out for 99 and sitting 1/36 in pursuit.
Drouin had taken the edge in the other match, with Longwarry 3/23 pursuing 179.
The Hawks have shown positive signs spasmodically this season, but through five games have just one victory.
Coach Norm Berry told this masthead last week that his team is much more suited to two-day cricket and they will be favoured to get back on the winner’s list against Iona, while Hallora also shapes as a winnable game before a litmus test against Western Park.
In Division 2, Buln Buln was defending 187 before its match against Garfield-Tynong was called off.
The chase would have been an intriguing one for both clubs; Buln Buln has been hard to get a read on so far in 2024-25, while Garfield-Tynong was keen to bounce back from a surprise loss against Warragul.
The rain would have frustrated Division 3 club Jindivick, which reduced Garfield-Tynong’s Second XI to 3/12 chasing 147.
Round 6 Fixtures: Division 1: Catani v Ellinbank, Longwarry v Trafalgar, Hallora v Western Park, Iona v Drouin. Division 2: Buln Buln v Warragul, Drouin 2nd XI v Yarragon, Garfield-Tynong v bye. Division 3: Western Park 3rd XI v Neerim District, Ellinbank 2nd XI v Jindivick.
