Sport
19 November, 2025
Clash of the Tigers
SIMPSON had a seven-wicket loss in its round five Colac-South West premier cricket match at Woorndoo on Saturday.
The visitors battled through to 7/115 before a partnership of 67 for the eighth wicket between captain Jackson Rock and Tanner Fratantaro helped raise the Simpson total to 183 all out.
Rock top scored with an unbeaten 38 from 43 balls, while Fratantaro made 25 from 45.
“It was good to spend some time in the middle with Tanner,” Rock said.
“He’s very steady and is batting very well at the moment.”
Rock felt Simpson's total was just short of where it needed to be.
“Another 20 or 30 would have been nice, it was disappointing we didn't bat out our overs.”
Woorndoo opener Tyler Schafer made 105 not out to lead Woorndoo to victory in the 42nd over.
“We bowled quite well but had a shocker in the field.
“We dropped Schafer seven times and dropped other catches, it could have been a lot different had we held onto those early chances.”
Despite the loss, Rock saw positives from the Simpson effort.
“To get 180 without a contribution from Chathura (recruit Chathura Wadu) was a good sign.
“We’ve been fielding really well so it was disappointing to let ourselves down in that department on Saturday.”
This week Simpson play Colac at Colac on Saturday, while on Sunday the Tigers start their Twenty20 campaign with matches against Apollo Bay and Irrewarra.
In division two, Simpson had a five wicket loss to Colac at CMTP Oval.
Jono Jennings top scored with 61 from 42 balls in the Tigers total of 143.
Jennings hit five fours and two sixes in his innings.
Colac passed the visitors’ score in the 30th over for the loss of five wickets.
Thomas Marshall led the Simpson attack with 2/36 from six overs.
In the division three game at Simpson, the Tigers had one wicket loss to Tomahawk Creek.
Batting first, Simpson could only manage 6/87 from 40 overs.
Veteran opener Steven Cain top scored with a patient 26 from 76 balls.
Tomahawk Creek passed the Tigers total in the 23rd over but did so with just one wicket in hand in an exciting finish.
Wayne Deppler took 4/26 from eight overs to be the best of the Simpson bowlers.
In the under 14s on Friday night, Simpson scored a big win over City United Purple at Simpson.
The visitors batted first and were restricted to 5/50 from their 30 overs.
Simpson replied with 7/159, Cooper Beecher top scoring with 34, with Archer Crole making 27 and Fin Mahoney 24.
This week sees Simpson’s division two play West Warrion at Warrion, the division three Tigers host Irrewarra at Simpson while in the under 14s Simpson play Stoneyford at Pirron Yallock.
The women’s on Sunday ended in a draw, Simpson dominating Irrewarra until the rain hit.
Batting first, Simpson made 9/126 from their 25 overs.
Shae De Francesco top scored with 33 retired from 26 balls, with Kelsey Fratantaro making 14.
“The first 10 to 15 overs of our batting was the slickest we’d been” Simpson captain Chelsea Osburn said.
“Shae’s a superstar, she's calm and collected and is fantastic for our younger and less experienced players to bat with.”
Simpson had Irrewarra 7/35 when play was called due to the heavy rain.
“Rain was not our friend.
“We tried to push through to get a result but it became too much in the end.”
De Francesco led the Simpson bowling with 3/5 from three overs.
This week second place Simpson take on top of the ladder Pomborneit Gold at Pomborneit.
“We’re happy with where we are sitting but we are only two games in.
“We got a lot of confidence from our win over Birregurra, this match against Pomborneit Gold will give us a good indication of where we are at.”
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