WOODEND'S even spread of wicket-taking bowlers inspired two Rupertswood batting collapses to set up a 60-run win in McIntyre Cup at the weekend.
The Gisborne District Cricket Association ladder-leader successfully defended 8-210 against Rupo, leaving the defeated team outside the top four by nine points.
Riddell capitalised, thrashing Romsey to move to 39 points in fourth ahead of fifth-placed Rupertswood on 30.
Woodend (48) leads the McIntyre Cup by three points from Sunbury United (45) while third-placed Bacchus Marsh (42) remains in the mix for top spot with three rounds to go.
Josh Eastley's four wickets and two each to Chris Boyer and Elliott Massina led Woodend to victory as it bowled out Rupertswood for 150.
Rupertswood slumped to 3-19 before some middle-order resistance where Matthew Busuttil top-scored with 32.
Behind the run-rate and with the innings winding towards the 80-over cut-off, Rupertswood lost its last four wickets for three runs.
Sunbury United didn't have a big individual scorer but still built a winning total around Ryan Billinghurst (44), Lindon Dowsett (42) and Lance Watts (45).
Sunbury's 9-194 successfully chased Wallan's 167 all out made the previous weekend.
Riddell had 362 runs in the bank to defend against Romsey and needed only 46 overs to seal the points as it bowled out the home team for 109 in reply.
Chris Burkett's 45 was the only double-figure score in the top six as Ryan Hughes (3-29), Cam Clayton (2-15) and Cameron Moran (2-26) took the bulk of the wickets.
Romsey was sent in to bat again but successfully negotiated 14 overs and made 0-51 to dispel any chance of an outright loss.
Macedon and Bacchus Marsh played a one-day game after no play was possible the previous weekend, with the Bulls winning by 141 runs.
Bacchus Marsh made 4-205 off its 40 overs before rolling Macedon for just 64 in reply.
In B grade, Anthony Hibbert hit a century for St Anthony's but it wasn't enough to prevent his team losing to Sunbury United.
St Anthony's sits third on the table with 39 points, six clear of fifth-placed United (33).
But it's now six off the pace of ladder-leader Gisborne Dragons (45).
Hibbert made 115 opening the batting as St Anthony's set about chasing United's 266 made the previous weekend.
Ryan Dobbie (46) shared in an 82-run stand for the third wicket, but his departure sparked a 3-16 stumble that left St Anthony's 5-107.
Cameron Thorp (19) helped get the score to 161, but his wicket was followed by two more quick dismissals to leave St Anthony's 8-168.
Hibbert was last man out as St Anthony's was 227 all out in the 60th over.
In C grade, Diggers Rest Bulla Village got within two wickets of outright victory after successfully defending 226 against Macedon.
Macedon made 93 off 53 overs in its first innings, then finished 8-68 off 29 overs following on.
Rhys Berry finished with best match figures for the Burras, taking 4-35.
Diggers Rest Bulla Village leads C grade with 48 points from East Sunbury on 42.
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