Week 11 - 15 December 2012
The Cessnock District cricket competition completed round eleven of matches on the weekend, with once again upsets occurring a plenty in each of the grades.
Three outstanding individual performances of note were Peden’s Hotel second grade bowler Dylan Smith’s 8-27 off 10 overs against Supporters at Baddeley 1, Wine Country first grader Mick Letts’ 90no and 2-26 off 8 against Supporters at Allandale, and Greta/Branxton third grader Warwick Wells’ 51 and 5-32 off 6.5 overs against Wine Country at Kearsley.
In first grade Mulbring succumbed to their first defeat of the season by 28 runs at the hands of Greta/Branxton at Miller Park.
Blues captain Josh Dagg won a rare toss and elected to make first use of the conditions. Although the outfield was lush and slow the home side managed to compile 5-202 from their mandatory forty overs, with Dagg leading the way at the top of the order with a well-constructed 69. Mick Shelley (35), Danny Davey (32no) and Ian Shearer (13no) all got among the runs, while Greg Sheehan (2-41 off 9) and Chad Lewis (2-28 off 5) were the best of the Mulbring attack.
In reply the defending premiers looked on target for victory at 3-110 with 15 overs to play, but the loss of key batsman Greg Sheehan for 32 swung the momentum back to the home side, and with Chad Lewis run out for a well-made 66 and brother and skipper Josh Lewis falling shortly after for 18, the match was well and truly in Greta/Branxton’s grasp. The Marlins eventually ran out of overs and finished their innings at 7-174, with Brody Jones (18no), Brent Mendyk (17) and Luke Callan (12no) all making contributions. Brent Watson was the best of the Greta/Branxton attack with 2-38 off 10.
The win for Greta/Branxton sees them now just one point behind competition leaders Mulbring in a tightly contested top four.
Bellbird maintain third position on the ladder after a comfortable 95-run victory over Peden’s Hotel at the Basin.
Tigers skipper Andrew Howson won the toss and elected to bat, with the lightning fast outfield once again proving valuable for the batsmen. The visitors amassed 7-240 from their forty overs, with Joey Main top scoring with 57. Howson (47), Ben Fairlie (37), Jason Orr (30), club president Rob Drage (26) and Matt Fairlie (20) all scored freely, while Tom Cremona (2-62 off 10) and Matt Hopley (2-43 off 7) were the main wicket takers for the Piranhas in a tough afternoon for the bowlers.
The home side were bundled out inside 25 overs in reply for 145, with Aaron Zechel (45), Mark Bender (27) and Hopley (25) all making runs. Scott Miller was superb for the Tigers with the new ball, bagging 5-19 off 7 very good overs, with Elliot Gyler (2-51 off 6) and Matt Tomlinson (2-29 off 6) providing support.
In the final game of the round Supporters Club stayed in touch with the competition front runners and remain in fourth spot after a thrilling 4-wicket victory over Wine Country at Allandale.
The home side were sent in to bat first, and fine knocks from Mick Letts who ran out of partners for an unbeaten 90 and club president Mark O’Hara (54) at the top of the order saw them reach a competitive 191, although they paid the ultimate price for not batting their overs out, dismissed in the 35th over. Liam Woods was the best of the Supporters attack with 4-37 off 10. Paul Wright was next best with 2-11 off 2.
The Goannas reached the target after 39 overs in reply after losing 6 wickets, with Alan Clarke using his many years of experience with a fine 61. Skipper Nathan Stapleford was next best with 37, with Matt McCarthy (29no), Dean Elliot (24) and Bailey Bromage (18) all contributing to the victory. Andrew Bromhead (2-27 off 10) and Nathan Wright (2-61 off 9) collected a brace of wickets each, while Letts completed a fine all-round performance with 2-26 off 8.
Second Grade
Greta/Branxton 1/97 (D. Holz 42no, B. Dries 35, B. Frize 10no, D. King 1-19 off 3) defeated Criterion Hotel 92 (M. King 22, M. Hadfield 15, R. McDonald 15, M. Peace 3-19 off 6, Chris Kedwell 3-24 off 7.2, Andrew Partridge 2-28 off 10).
Supporters 98 (S. Knott 40, D. Smith 8-27 off 10, A. Sadler 2-26 off 7) defeated Peden’s Hotel 8/92 (B. Hipwell 28, J. Barry 25, D. Arnold 4-9 off 4, J. Brown 2-14 off 8, Z. Sneesby 2-21 off 7).
Mulbring 1/83 (P. Cook 42no, M. Murray 25no, C. Swan 1-29 off 8) defeated Wine Country 79 (B. Fairns 23no, D. Lord 3-27 off 10, P. Field 3-18 off 7, C. Wyborn 2-8 off 3).
Bellbird 3/65 (N. Siers 40, J. Hlad 15) defeated Paxton 60 (D. Orr 17, B. Orr 4-24 off 8, L. Weekes 3-3 off 5).
Third Grade
Greta/Branxton 143 (W. Wells 51, B. Jones 21, D. Minchin 21, A. Ernst 15, C. Benn 2-16 off 6) defeated Wine Country 65 (G. Oats 33, John Dwyer 13, B. Lantry 5-36 off 7, W. Wells 5-32 off 6.5) match was for double points (catch up game).
Supporters 6/71 (B. Cowley 17no, D. Hayes 14, S. Sullivan 4-38 off 10, J. Bailey 2-27 off 7) defeated Paxton 69 (J. Bailey 35, P. Hicks 3-12 off 6, T. Ballenden 2-13 off 5, O. Kemp 2-14 off 4, P. Walsh 2-13 off 4).
Bellbird defeated Peden’s Hotel (no details submitted).
Fourth Grade
Greta/Branxton 7/128 (C. Kirkwood 35no, B. Charnock 24, H. Spinaze 18, A. Clifton 3-20 off 9) defeated Mulbring 77 (A. Comyns 44, D. Hanson 14, C. Kirkwood 4-9 off 5, P. MacKenzie 2-2 off 2).
Supporters Gold 9/158 (Matt Brodie 39, Mick Brodie 38, A. Sweeney 20, A. Walkling 3-14 off 5, J. Galligan 2-10 off 5) defeated Greta/Branxton Blue 131 (B. Lahey 47, S. Wilkinson 30, Mick Brodie 4-11 off 7, A. Sweeney 2-27 off 8.1).
Paxton 6/123 (J. Abbott 40, B. Day 17, C. Parker 14, P. Smith 2-9 off 3) defeated Supporters 7/117 (Will Myers 19, Tyson Johnson 17, Brendan Hayes 16, Patrick Smith 14, Adam Shephers 11no, J. Abbott 3-20 off 10).
Points Tables
First Grade Mulbring 61, Greta/Branxton 60, Bellbird 57, Supporters 55, Wine Country 43, Peden’s Hotel 36.
Second Grade Greta/Branxton 68, Bellbird 63, Supporters 62, Mulbring 55, Paxton 53, Peden’s Hotel 47, Wine Country 38, Criterion 33.
Third Grade Bellbird 63, Supporters 60, Paxton 58, Peden’s Hotel 48, Greta/Branxton 46, Wine Country 40.
Fourth Grade Supporters Gold 60, Greta/Branxton Blue 58, Paxton 58,
Greta/Branxton 57, Supporters 50, Mulbring 38.
Club Championship Greta/Branxton 382.75, Supporters 368.83, Bellbird 351.75, Mulbring 300.75, Peden’s Hotel 245.20, Wine Country 238.40, Paxton 197.35, Criterion 66.
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.