FOR the second round in a row, Horsham City Oval hosted a contest that went right down to the wire in Horsham Cricket Association’s A Grade.

Jung Tigers started the day knowing that the side needed someone to dig in if it was to stand a chance of chasing down a target of 282 against Rup-Minyip.

Ryan Metelmann made things difficult for the side early in the day when he claimed the wickets of opener Sam Leith and Angus Adams.

Brett Jensz then stepped up to play the steadying innings the team required to give itself a chance of chasing the runs.

The side was 3-37 before Jensz dominated a 90-run partnership with Steve Leith, 26.

Following Leith’s dismissal for 26 another 51 runs were added to the score while David Puls kept Jensz company in the middle of the ground.

Travis Hair backed up his heroics with the bat in the first week by removing both Puls, 14, and then Jensz, 120, to leave Jung at 6-179.

The depth of the Tigers batting order then started to shine through as Rup-Minyip grew more weary in the field and bowlers came back for second or third spells.

Tigers captain Tyler Neville said the game was evenly poised at tea.

“We probably then needed about six an over with 20 overs go,” he said.

Jeremy Pietsch and Marty Knight added 38 runs to the score before Knight was removed for 29.

Pietsch was the next to go after also making 29.

That left Neville and Jake McLean 41 runs to get the side over the line but it ultimately could only manage 265.

“We just didn’t get that partnership like Rup-Minyip did between Travis Hair and Adam Carter,” Neville said.

“Every time we looked like were getting one together we’d lose a wicket at an inconvenient time.”

Jensz has now scored 295 run from six innings this season.

“He’s clearly been our best bat,” Neville said.

“He was dropped twice but they were both difficult chances, in the end we just didn’t bat well enough around him.”

The results of the other two round seven games were almost forgone conclusions after the first days play.

The Horsham Saints made short work of the 55 runs they needed to get the win against Blackheath-Dimboola.

The side lost a couple of early wickets before Tony Caccaviello, 36, and Austin Smith, 41, scored quickly.

After declaring 42 runs in front the Saints could only managed one wicket before the game was called off. 

A century to Sandy Hodge and 74 to Jason Kannar were the highlights of the day at Sunnyside as Homer put Laharum to the sword.

Homers had already won going into the second day but continued to bat due to being short of numbers.

The home side reached 7-344 in its 81 overs.