Cessnock District Cricket completed round seven of competition last Saturday, with plenty of runs once again the order of the day. Greta/Branxton third grade opener Wes Hickey became the ninth association batsman to notch a ton this season, with his 134 against Wine Country at Miller Park no. 2 the highlight of the weekend.
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Hickey smashed 22 boundaries and one maximum in what was a fine innings. In first grade Mulbring firmed as premiership favourites after disposing of Bellbird by five wickets to keep their flawless season in check at Mulbring Oval.
Bellbird skipper Rob Drage won the toss and elected to bat, but the Tigers were restricted to a modest 165 due to some tight bowling and excellent fielding from the home side. Ben Fairlie continued his recent good form with 44, as did Elliot Gyler with 35, with Pat Cagney (31) and Matt Fairlie (25) making runs. All Mulbring bowlers bowled tidily considering the favourable batting conditions, with Brad Strachan (3-44 off 10), Matt Harwood (3-47 off 10), Greg Sheehan (2-17 off 9.3) and Luke Reed (2-38 off 5.4) all sharing the wickets.
The Marlins cruised to victory in reply inside 32 overs, passing the target (5-168) with plenty of batting to come. Sheehan completed a man-of-the-match performance with a classy 78, with Scott Robertson (34 retired) out of retirement and Mick Mascord (23) doing enough to get the home side across the line. Matt Tomlinson (3-28 off 7) and Elliot Gyler (2-36 off 8) were the wicket takers for the Tigers.
Supporters Club made it two wins from their last two starts and jumped into outright fourth on the ladder with a convincing 98-run victory over Wine Country at Baddeley Park.
Batting first the Goannas compiled a healthy 8-226 from their 40 overs, with all-rounder Tim Goldman leading the way with a well-made 64. Andrew McCullum was just as impressive with 59, with Ashton Williams (26), Mike Gates (19) and skipper Alan Clarke all relishing in the warm conditions. Nathan Wright was the best of the Wine Country bowlers with an expensive 3-73 off 10, with Peter Auditore (2-27 off 10) and Dale Arnold (2-25 off 7) keeping a lid on things in the trying conditions.
The Wood Ducks were not going to die wondering in reply, dismissed in the 18th over for 128. Matt Lightfoot once again led the way with the bat with 44, association president Mark O’Hara made 22 at the top of the order, with skipper Stephen Hedger relegating himself down the order to notch 20. Paul Wright was the best of the Supporters attack with 4-17 off three, with Clarke (3-38 off 6) and McCullum (2-39 off 2) the other main strikers.
In the final game of the round Greta/Branxton got back in the winning circles following three consecutive losses when they disposed of Peden’s Hotel at East End.
Blues skipper Josh Dagg won the toss and elected to bat, with the visitors compiling what was considered only a par score 8-204 from their forty overs considering the more than favourable batting conditions. Promoted to the top of the order Mick Shelley was superb for his 91, massaging the ball to all parts of the East End arena before he edged one 9 runs short of his maiden ton. Opening partner Dagg made 27, with Jake Goodyer (26) and Cliff Newling (23) productive for the defending joint-premiers. Matt Hopley (2-51 off 10), Dale Johnston (2-30 off 7) and Gavin Kronholm (2-38 off 8) took a brace of wickets each for the home side.
In reply the Piranhas were on the back foot early when they lost run scoring machine Pete Brennan for a duck on just the third ball of the innings. Things went from bad to worse as they lost wickets on a regular basis, and they were eventually all bowled out in the 23rd over for 112. Craig Duffie led the way with 35, while Gavin Kronholm (16), Dale Johnston (14) and Ryan Hindmarsh (14no) were the other main contributors. Bellbird import Craig Brook is making every post a winner in the top grade and was Greta/Branxton’s best with 4-14 off five, with Shelley completing a man-of-the-match performance with 3-30 off five.
SECOND GRADE
Supporters 7/163 (Luke Morris 40, Brett Morris 40, Zach Sneesby 38, Mark Staib 5-31 off 10) defeated Wine Country 114 (D. Farrell 62no, L. Jeans 16, Zach Sneesby 3-23 off 10, Danny Orr 3-61 off 9, Mark Bender 2-3 off 2.4).
Peden’s Hotel 235 (Mick James 75, Heath Walker 45, Steve Tyne 29, Scott Plunkett 23, Adam Tomlinson 21, Brett Hindmarsh 16no, Andrew Partridge 4-44 off 8, Cameron Carmody 2-40 off 6) defeated Greta/Branxton 65 (Trent Fuller 18, Peter MacKenzie 14, Brett Hindmarsh 5-9 off 7, Aaron Sweeney 3-22 off 8, Matt Skornia 2-11 off 4). Mulbring defeated Bellbird by forfeit.
THIRD GRADE
Supporters 7/176 (S. Minter 75, B. Cowley 54no, W. Kowaluk 3-55 off 7, K. Barnett 2-10 off 5) defeated Laguna 134 (A. Taylor 48, G. Kelso 28, K. Barnett 25, R. O’Connell 4-42 off 9, S. Minter 3-10 off 9).
Greta/Branxton 5/298 (Wes Hickey 134, Steve Wilkinson 66, Ben Lahey 47no, Josh Grant 14, Jamie Spence 2-69 off 8, Todd Apthorpe 2-42 off 6) defeated Wine Country 51 (Jamie Spence 16, Beau Lantry 6-24 off 8, Brendan Shearer 4-24 off 8).
Paxton defeated Bellbird by forfeit.
FOURTH GRADE
Peden’s Hotel 8/192 (Shaun Capararo 60, Dane Grills 33, Troy James 33, Zac McPike 3-31 off 5, Joel Sweeney 3-43 off 8) defeated Supporters Gold 6/191 (Jack Rachel 50, Quinn McPike 44, Dean Jackson 38, Nev McPike 25, Troy James 2-45 off 9, Jonah Williams 2-15 off 2).
Mulbring 9/154 (Adrian Kirkham 55, Phil Cook 38, Andrew Clifton 26, Geoff Browning 21, Kyle Ryan 5-8 off 5.3, Daniel Minchin 4-26 off 9) defeated Greta/Branxton White 110 (Blayden Gosney 18, Ben Hogan 17, Daniel Minchin 17, Jesse Minchin 14, James Shoulders jnr 14, Darren Young 3-28 off 8, Phil Cook 3-4 off 3.1, Andrew Clifton 2-50 off 6, Cody Willoughby 2-17 off 4).
Denman Hotel 9/190 (B. Bartley 63no, H. Bartley 36, J. Robertson 18, M. Slavin 18, Brayden Mortimer 2-41 off 9, W. Myers 2-41 off 8, J. Thompson 2-17 off 6, T. Weis 2-42 off 6) defeated Supporters Black 76 (J. Thompson 15, N. Robertson 2-14 off 5, B. Skelton 2-12 off 3). Greta/Branxton Blue bye. Points tables, page ...
POINTS TABLES
First Grade Mulbring 49, Bellbird 41, Greta/Branxton 37, Supporters 30, Peden’s Hotel 26, Wine Country 25.
Second Grade Mulbring 45, Greta/Branxton 37, Peden’s Hotel 37, Supporters 33, Wine Country 29, Bellbird 23.
Third Grade Greta/Branxton 47, Paxton 47, Laguna 33, Supporters 33, Wine Country 29, Bellbird 15*#.
* Lost points 18/10/14 due to second grade forfeit.
# Lost points 22/11/14 due to second grade forfeit.
Fourth Grade Peden’s Hotel 38, Greta/Branxton Blue 36, Greta/Branxton White 32,
Denman Hotel 30, Supporters Black 26, Mulbring 23, Supporters Gold 22.
Club Championship Greta/Branxton 358.43, Mulbring 349.48, Supporters 286.18, Bellbird 255.50, Peden’s Hotel 245.53, Wine Country 230.50, Paxton 70.50, Laguna 49.50, Denman Hotel 24.11.
Club Championship Formula:- First Grade x 4, Second Grade x 3, Third Grade x 1.5, Fourth Grade x 0.8035.
NB: Only Greta/Branxton Blue and Supporters Gold fourth grade teams contribute to club championship points.
