Last week it was all about the batsmen with four centuries scored, this week it was the bowlers’ turn to shine, with Greta/Branxton second grade left arm seamer Mark Peace and Supporters Club bowler Andrew Solomon both picking up the rare feat of a hat-trick to set up victories for their respective sides.

 

Peace came on at second change and achieved his hat-trick with wickets on the third, fourth and fifth deliveries of his fourth over, finishing the day with the very tidy figures of 4-18 off 5 overs. Meanwhile Solomon cleaned up the Mulbring tail and achieved his hat-trick with the fourth, fifth and sixth deliveries of his very first over, finishing his spell with 4-2 off just 1.5 overs. In a memorable day for the youngster who was the leading wicket-taker in the Maitland U/16’s competition with Supporters Club last year, he capped off an excellent all round game with an unbeaten 29 with the bat, which ironically included a hat-trick of sixes in three consecutive balls.

 

Supporters Club continued their impressive start to the first grade competition with another convincing victory, this time over Peden’s Hotel at Baddelely Park.

 

Pedens’ skipper Pete Brennan won the toss and elected to bat, with the Piranhas posting a competitive 169 in the reduced 38 overs per side game. Brennan led the way at the top of the order with 38, Mick James found the fence regularly in his 37, with Matt Hopley (22), and Adam Williams (16) making starts. Paul Wright was the best of the Supporters attack with 4-24 off 7, with Tim Goldman (3-15 off 5) and Nathan Stapleford (2-38 off 9) also taking wickets.

 

In reply the Goannas were looking a little shaky at 6-135 but recovered to cruise past the target without further loss and still 7 overs to spare. Dean Elliot wasted no time in his first hit-out with the club since moving South from Forster with 45, with Andrew Fensom (36no), Bailey Bromage (25), Greg Brodie (23) and Alan Clarke (20) all contributing to the victory. Hopley completed a fine all-round game with 4-47 off 9 with the new pill for the Piranhas.

 

Greta/Branxton picked up the much needed points with a very comfortable 8-wicket victory over Wine Country at Allandale.

 

Losing the all important toss, the home side were sent in to bat on a wet wicket, and their batting woes continued, dismissed inside 20 overs for 86. Club president Mark O’Hara showed some resistance at the top of the order with 17, with N. Davey (13no) and Will McClure (13) making starts in what was again a fairly ordinary looking batting card. Brent Watson was the best of the Blues’ attack, bowling with great rhythm to collect 5-27 off his 10 overs, with Dylan Lipscombe (3-17 off 9) and Joel McKenzie (2-33 off 9.1) also picking up wickets.

 

Greta/Branxton lost just the two wickets in the run chase, passing the target in the 21^st over. Skipper Josh Dagg carried his bat with an unbeaten 31, with Eddie Fisher getting things over with in a hurry with an unbeaten 26. McClure bowled tidily for the home side and was their best with 2-25 off 7.

 

The much anticipated grand final rematch between Mulbring and Bellbird was scheduled to be played at Mulbring but was washed out.    

 

 

Supporters 9/198 (S. Woods 72, A. Solomon 29no, O. Kemp 17, J. Brown 14, A. Williams 14, L. MacBeth 4-41 off 10, P. Field 2-20 off 5, J. Porter 2-39 off 7) defeated Mulbring 93 (P. Field 27no, A. Sheehan 27, M. Plumridge 15, A. Solomon 4-2 off 1.5 including hat trick, J. Brown 2-13 off 6).

 

Greta/Branxton 8/62 (M. Hunter 16, B. Dries 12, S. Burgess 4-31 off 8, D. Smith 2-19 off 8) defeated Peden’s Hotel 49 (G. Thorley 10, M. Peace 4-18 off 5 including hat trick, D. Austin 2-10 off 7).

 

Bellbird defeated Wine Country (no details submitted).

 

Paxton vs Criterion washed out.

 

 

Peden’s Hotel 9/176 (A. Moyle 79, D. Fletcher 26, M. Smith 23no, Z. Tyne 15, A. Ramage 3-39 off 10, A. Walsh 3-55 off 9) defeated Supporters 44 (B. Cowley 16, R. Hindmarsh 4-16 off 10, Z. Tyne 4-15 off 10, B. Hindmarsh 2-11 off 2.4).

 

Paxton 4/185 (W. Kowaluk 44, D. Jackson 41, G. Kelso 31no, J. Bailey 12no) defeated Greta/Branxton 8/176 (W. Wells 55, J. Bartlett 32no, S. Peace 27, B. Jones 23, T. Williams 3-49 off 9, G. Kelso 2-59 off 10).

 

Bellbird 5/86 (M. Skornia 59no, J. Barber 10, L. Benn 2-31 off 6) defeated Wine Country 73 (John Dwyer 21, K. Bradford 15, Josh Dwyer 12no, H. Fallon 4-31 off 8).

 

 

Supporters Gold 9/157 (P. Burgess 57no, T. Weekes 26no, M. Brodie 31, M. King 2-32 off 11, A. Clifton 2-14 off 8) defeated Mulbring 146 (W. McGarry 48, D. Hansen 31, L. Sweeney 2-11 off 3).

 

Paxton 4/81 (M. Barnes 30no, M. Watson 23, D. Wyborn 14, A. Stephenson 3-28 off 6) defeated Greta/Branxton 74 (C. Chan 12no, D. Minchin 12, P. Gallagher 4-17 off 8, D. Wyborn 3-18 off 8).

 

Supporters 7/157 (D. Arnold 77, S. Hooker-Connell 29, J. Richie 17, A. Wilkinson 3-22 off 8, B. Lahey 2-21 off 4.4) defeated Greta/Branxton Blue 8/150 (K. Wilkinson 35, J. Wilkinson 27no, J. Galligan 24, C. Gillings 18, D. Arnold 4-15 off 8, S. Hooker-Connell 2-16 off 4).

 

 

First Grade Supporters 14, Bellbird 11, Mulbring 11, Greta/Branxton 10, Peden’s Hotel 6, Wine Country 6.

 

Second Grade Bellbird 14, Greta/Branxton 14, Supporters 14, Paxton 11, Mulbring 6, Peden’s Hotel 6, Wine Country 6, Criterion 4.

 

Third Grade Bellbird 14, Paxton 10, Peden’s Hotel 10, Supporters 10, Greta/Branxton 3*, Wine Country 3*.

* Still have game in hand.

 

Fourth Grade Supporters 14, Greta/Branxton 10, Greta/Branxton Blue 10, Paxton 10, Supporters Gold 10, Mulbring 6.