The Jets 97-run win was set up by an outstanding knock from opener Peter Vardanega, whose 90 runs was the backbone in which Yenda built its imposing

first innings of 249 as the sun set at Exies No. 1.

The runs weren’t flying off the bat from ball one for Vardanega, but Jets captain Tom Spry said it was the most complete stay at the crease he had seen from Vardanega in a number of years. “It was one of the best knocks I have seen him play since we have played together, which is about five or six years now,” Spry said.

“He put away the bad balls when they came, but he kept the good ones out as well.

“But it’s really good to get another win under the belt. I couldn’t really ask for anything more.”

However, the win was soured somewhat with the news that Spry looks set to miss the next three weeks with a hamstring

tear.

The Yenda captain, who finished on 55 before leaving the ground on Saturday, was troubled with a recurring groin injury last season, and yesterday lamented more time spent on the sidelines, with Spry crucial to the Jets chances of continuing its early season purple patch.

“I just hit one out into the covers and I set off for a run and about half-way down I pulled up,” he said.

“I knew I was gone and I thought it was better to come off and put some ice on it rather than do more damage, but I’ll go to the physio and see what he says.”

The draw does help Spry get back on the paddock without missing too much action, with a scheduled bye next round and a two-day game against Yoogali likely to be the only games missed by last year’s A grade player of the year.

Matt Bruce was also handy for the Jets, chipping in with 37, while Theo Valeri was the best of the Yoogali bowlers with 2-36.

With Spry out of the bowling attack, Yoogali had its chance to go from ball one, but Justin Wade had other ideas, turning in a solid performance that Spry said was one of his best he had seen.

“I said to him he’ll have to step up now that I couldn’t bowl, and he ran in and bent his back and did the job,” Spry said.

Wade (2-33) combined well with Bryan Irvin (1-10) and Bruce (1-23) to dismiss most of the Yoogali batsmen cheaply aside from Valeri, who rounded out his excellent game with an accomplished 88.

Yoogali will get a chance to redeem itself when they again play under lights this weekend against Exies.