Week 4 Review by Mark Bercini
Mulbring and Bellbird still remain undefeated at the top of the Cessnock District Cricket first grade table after wins on Saturday to complete round four of competition.
Mulbring took on Supporters at Baddeley Park, easily accounting for the home side by 109 runs.
The Marlins won the toss and elected to bat, posting 9-233 from their forty overs, with Drew Olsen leading the way once again at the top of the order with 78. Mick Mascord (42) shared in an opening stand of 86, with Greg Sheehan (35), Cameron Ross (22), and Scott Robertson (14) all contributing to the more than competitive total. In a tough afternoon for the Supporters bowlers Paul Wright bagged 5-33 off 8 overs, with Matt McCarthy (2-28 off 8) and Tim Goldman (2-44 off 6) picking up a couple of wickets each.
In reply the Goannas’ top five batsmen were all dismissed for single figures, and at 5-33 it looked like being a fairly early afternoon. However Alan Clarke (47) and McCarthy (34) went about restoring some pride in the home side’s batting card, however their dismissals with the tail following soon after meant they were eventually all out in the 29th over for 124. Scott Robertson was outstanding for the Marlins with the new ball, collecting 5-21 off 7 very good overs of left arm swing bowling. Tony Bransdon cleaned up the Supporters tail with 3-3 off 4.
Bellbird produced their best performance of the season to date by thrashing Greta/Branxton by 130 runs at Miller Park.
Tigers skipper Andrew Howson won the toss and decided to make first use of the good batting conditions. Runs flowed at a frequent rate, and the home side were asked to chase plenty of leather as Bellbird posted 3-279 from their forty overs. Jason Orr (91) was unlucky not to notch his first top grade ton when he holed out off a half tracker just 9 runs short. Joey Main was next best with an unbeaten 72, with Matt Fairlie (67) and club president Rob Drage (27no) scoring freely. All of the Greta/Branxton bowling attack were expensive with the exception of opener Brent Watson who was easily the home side’s best with 1-32 off 10.
In reply the Blues were dismissed in the 36th over for 149. Club president Trevor Rees took on the unfamiliar roll of opener and did not disappoint with a form finding 56, while Cliff Newling (34), Eddie Fisher (23) and Joel McKenzie (13) were others to make starts in an otherwise disappointing batting card. 56-year-old left arm orthodox bowler Dave Gyler showed no signs of age with a cool 4-39 off 10. Attewell brothers Wade (2-31 off 6) and Shannon (2-2 off 1.2) were the other main wicket takers.
Jason Orr received the 3 player of the year points with a fine innings at the top of the order to set up victory for Bellbird.
In the final game of the round, winless Wine Country took on winless Peden’s Hotel at Allandale, and with both sides desperate for victory it was Wine Country who claimed the 7 competition points with a 93-run win.
In an important toss to win, Wood Ducks skipper Steve Hedger elected to bat and they continued to improve on their slow start to the season with the bat, posting 9-244 from their mandatory 40 overs. Bryce Morley and Mick Letts lead the way with 52-apiece, Nathan Wright was next best with an unbeaten 32, with Mark Anderson (31), Hedger (31) and club president Mark O’Hara (20) all finding form with the bat. Adam Williams was the pick of the Pedens’ attack with 4-47 off 10, with Shaun Robson next best with 2-48 off 7.
In reply the Piranhas were bowled out for 151, with Aaron Zechel (37), Mick James (27) and Jack Morris (24) the main contributors. For the Wood Ducks it was English import Andrew Bromhead who led the way with the new ball, claiming 4-40 off 10 in a fine spell. Mark Anderson (2-38 off 7) and youthful off-spinner Daniel Bailey (2-24 off 5) collected a couple of wickets each to complete proceedings.
Second Grade
Mulbring 4/114 (M. Murray 58, P. Robinson 36no, A. Heath 3-27 off 9) defeated Wine Country 110 (S. Morley 42, D. Carr 34, C. Wyborn 3-20 off 6.1, D. Lord 2-32 off 6, P. Field 2-26 off 5, L. MacBeth 2-18 off 5).
Greta/Branxton 1/59 (D. Holz 26no, B. Dries 17, M. Harwood 1-17 off 4) defeated Criterion Hotel 52 (N. King 13, D. Austin 4-22 off 8, N. Lawrence 4-1 off 3).
Supporters 7/144 (Z. Sneesby 57, A. Williams 15, B. Hipwell 3-30 off 5, J. Lindner 2-8 off 1.3) defeated Peden’s Hotel 139 (J. Lindner 53, G. Thorley 29, G. Franks 22, J. Brown 4-24 off 10, A. Solomon 4-36 off 10, A. Williams 2-36 off 9).
Paxton 8/112 (P. Kennedy 30, D. Orr 30, J. Hlad 5-38 off 9, L. Weekes 2-23 off 4) defeated Bellbird 107 (B. Rourke 30, J. Millington 15, D. Peel 6-22 off 7, M. Wyborn 4-40 off 7).
Third Grade
Supporters 6/212 (B. Cowley 81no, D. Hayes 37, A. Ramage 27, L. Morris 19, A. Cliff 15, Jamie Spence 2-30 off 7) defeated Wine Country 159 (John Dwyer 87no, C. Benn 40, K. Radford 14, A. Cliff 5-35 off 6, P. Walsh 3-16 off 6, A. Ramage 2-24 off 9).
Paxton 8/151 (K. Barnett 37, W. Kowaluk 37, D. Jackson 30, S. Sullivan 14, C. Dodds 5-26 off 10, S. Turner 2-18 off 8) defeated Peden’s Hotel 144 (S. Fisher 49, B. Hindmarsh 41, A. Litwin 15, D. Jackson 4-29 off 9, T. Williams 3-29 off 8, S. Sullivan 2-28 off 10).
Bellbird 6/132 (B. Pringle 35 ret, M. Fallon 33, K. Gogerly 26, P. Cagney 12no, A. Holmberg 3-27 off 7) defeated Greta/Branxton 121 (B. Taylor 52, S. Wilkinson 18, K. Stacey 16, B. Pringle 4-25 off 7, P. Cagney 2-9 off 5).
Fourth Grade
Supporters 9/77 (S. Hooker-Connell 27, A. Comyns 2-17 off 7, A. Clifton 2-15 off 6, James Harman 2-11 off 3) defeated Mulbring 71 (A. Kirkham 32, W. McGarry 13, P. Hirons 3-19 off 5, S. Hooker-Connell 3-2 off 5, T. Woods 2-22 off 6, G. Castle 2-8 off 1.1).
Supporters Gold 1/106 (George Brodie 46no, Matt Brodie 28no) defeated Greta/Branxton 100 (J. Shoulders snr 37no, B. Charnock 19, A. Sweeney 3-12 off 5, M. Hayes 2-6 off 2).
Paxton 4/39 (D. Wyborn 10no, J. Wilkinson 2-19 off 4) defeated Greta/Branxton Blue 29 (J. Wilkinson 9, P. Gallagher 5-5 off 9, D. Wyborn 3-15 off 9).
Points Tables
First Grade Bellbird 25, Mulbring 25, Greta/Branxton 20, Supporters 20, Wine Country 16, Peden’s Hotel 12.
Second Grade Greta/Branxton 28, Paxton 25, Bellbird 24, Supporters 24, Mulbring 20, Peden’s Hotel 12, Wine Country 12, Criterion 10.
Third Grade Bellbird 24, Paxton 24, Supporters 24, Peden’s Hotel 20, Greta/Branxton 9*, Wine Country 9*.
* Still have game in hand.
Fourth Grade Supporters 24, Supporters Gold 24, Greta/Branxton 20, Greta/Branxton Blue 20, Paxton 20, Mulbring 12.
Club Championship Bellbird 143.2, Supporters 141.8, Greta/Branxton 131.95, Mulbring 116.3, Paxton 85.7, Peden’s Hotel 78.6, Wine Country 78.25, Criterion 20.
Club Championship Formula:- First Grade x 2.8, Second Grade x 2.0, Third Grade x 1.05, Fourth Grade x 0.525.
NB: Only Greta/Branxton Blue and Supporters fourth grade teams contribute to club championship points.