West Warrnambool captain Ben Dobson on his way to a 50 against Allansford on Saturday.
LAST season’s grand finalist Nestles and flag fancy Allansford are winless after two rounds of the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association (WDCA) season.
Intrigue and interest surrounds the WDCA top grade just a fortnight in after another dramatic round of results.
Woodford was the big winner in round two after claiming its second major scalp.
The Jamie Harry-inspired Eels remain unbeaten after scoring a seven-wicket win against Nestles at Bushfield Recreation Reserve.
Harry posted 69 at first drop as Woodford passed the Factory’s 6-168 with just three wickets down, eventually finishing on 6-208.
Jacob McKinnon made 40 and John Houston scored 32 opening the innings as the batsmen turned a tricky run chase into maximum points.
Woodford beat Allansford the previous week.
Houston said the two early wins bode well ahead of matches against West Warrnambool, Merrivale and Wesley CBC.
“We’re looking at the first five games as being crucial,” he said.
“We play everyone that finished in the top six and we finished fifth. You can’t take what happened last year as what’s going to happen this year.
“We’ve got a plan of where we’d like to be at the end of those five and we’re tracking all right at this stage.”
Harry was the dominant batsman during his second-wicket partnership with Houston after opener Nick Butters fell cheaply.
The pair took the Eels past 100 before McKinnon and Kory Howlett guided the side to victory.
“He took them on a bit and played some very good shots and that laid a pretty good foundation,” Houston said of Harry. “It was a bit easier for me. I could pick off the ones and twos.”
Earlier, Nestles’ Geoff Williams made 48 opening the innings, while Conner Richardson took two wickets.
Elsewhere, West Warrnambool scored its first win of the season against Allansford at Allansford Recreation Reserve.
Captain Ben Dobson scored 50, opener Michael Threlfall made 29 and Ben Threlfall hit 26 not out on debut as West posted 6-168 in reply to the Gators’ 9-151.
The Panthers were 3-49 when Michael departed, but a 60-run stand between Dobson and Leigh Johnson (21) put them back in control.
Dobson heaped praise on Michael for seeing off the new ball.
“Micky Threlfall did all the hard work. Everyone chipped in around him,” he said.
Young Panther Tom Smith took 2-25 to be the pick of the bowlers.
Opener Leigh Billington and first drop Sam McCosh steered Wesley CBC to its first win of the season against Brierly-Christ Church at Allan Oval.
Billington top-scored with 72 and McCosh made 49. The Bulls made 129 batting first. The Beavers passed the total with three wickets down, before powering to 9-193.
All-rounder Kahinagalage Silva enjoyed a day out in Dennington’s big win over Russells Creek.
Silva made 59 as the Dogs posted a modest 9-139 at Mack Oval.
But he ensured the total would be enough with 3-11 opening the bowling as Creek collapsed to 4-9, before being all out for 87.
Port Fairy enjoyed its first win of the season with a convincing display against East Warrnambool YCW.
Andrew McCartney made 69 and snared 4-21 as the Pirates successfully defended 6-175 at Brierly Recreation Reserve.
East was all out for 108.
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