After a well-earned Christmas break the Cessnock District Cricket competition recommenced last Saturday in first, second and third grade, while fourth grade enjoyed the extra break and will resume play after the Australia Day long weekend.
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In first grade Mulbring succumbed to their first defeat of the season in what was a massive upset at the hands of Supporters Club at Mulbring Oval.
Batting first the Marlins were out of sorts and were restricted to 134 after being bowled out in the 36th over.
Opener Drew Olsen (64no) played an almost lone hand at the top of the order, carrying his bat until he eventually ran out of partners. Mick Mascord was next best with 26, with only one other batsman reaching double figures.
Waiting for the verdict on his recent appeal against a lengthy suspension, Paul Wright was Supporters’ best with the four-piece, bagging 4-39 off 7.3 overs.
He received good support from former skipper Nathan Stapleford (3-30 off 8) and Michael Ho (2-32 off 10).
In reply the Goannas reached the target in the 33rd over with two wickets left in the sheds. Andrew McCullum (51) looked to emulate his New Zealand batting surname sake with a well-made half century that consisted of four boundaries and as many maximums.
Jack Morris (17), Tim Goldman (17) and Michael Sneesby (11no) did enough to get the visitors across the line, while for the Marlins Greg Sheehan was as per usual very economical with 2-24 off 10, receiving good support from veteran Chad Lewis who was also very tidy with 2-16 off seven.
Greta/Branxton continued their up-and-down season and almost lost the unlosable in a cliffhanger six-run finish against Bellbird at Carmichael Park.
Not since the 2006/07 season had the Blues tasted success at this ground, and after winning the toss and batting, they scored consistently on a good deck although the outfield was fairly lush.
They were all bowled out on the last ball of the innings for 196, with Greg Andrews showing no signs of his 40-plus years catching up with him with a classy 71.
Fresh off a representative hundred, skipper Josh Dagg was next best with 26, with Dylan Lipscombe’s handy lower order contribution (25) well supported by Brent Watson (17) and Jake Goodyer (15).
Billy Orr was the home side’s best with the ball, bowling sharply to bag 3-41 off 10. Davey Gyler kept the batsmen guessing with 3-62 off 10, with Nick Siers taking 2-27 off seven.
Bellbird’s run chase started with a flurry in reply, with veteran skipper Rob Drage (51) showing shades of the late ‘90s as he ripped into the Greta/ Branxton openers to post his half century in just the ninth over.
He eventually holed out to long off, and shortly after association leading run scorer Jason Orr was run out for 20 after a brilliant piece of fielding from Blues rookie Nathan Holz.
This swung the momentum back into Greta/Branxton’s favour, but at drinks the match was very evenly poised with Bellbird at 3-98.
Four quick wickets after the interval had the home side reeling at 7-102, and shortly after it was 9-129 and the Tigers looked dead and buried.
But there was to be one more twist in this bizarre game, as Billy Orr (59no) and Dave Gyler (7no) near pulled the game out of the fire with a 61-run final wicket partnership. Orr was not going to let his younger brother get all of the accolades this season as he smashed five boundaries and five maximums in an entertaining innings to complete a fine all-round game.
Down to the last ball of the innings and six runs needed to tie the game, Orr had a rare miss at a Jake Goodyer half-tracker, ending a very entertaining game.
Brent Watson (3-38 off 10) and Craig Brook (3-41 off 10) against his former club were the Blues’ best with the ball, with Dylan Lipscombe chipping in with (2-31 off seven) to also complete a fine all-round game.
In the final game of the round Peden’s Hotel kept their finals hopes alive and went a step closer to avoiding the wooden spoon when they defeated last-placed Wine Country by 42 runs at Allandale.
Peden’s skipper Matt Hopley won the toss and elected to bat, with the Piranhas scoring freely to post 175 although they were bowled out inside 30 overs.
Mick James led the way with a well-made 57, with Daniel Olsen (40no) out of retirement and back in the top grade, Pete Brennan (37) and Zac Tyne (15) all making contributions.
Nathan Wright (3-58 off 10), skipper Steve Hedger (3-23 off five) and Peter Auditore (2-58 off seven) were the wicket-takers for the home side.
The Wood Ducks were all out for 133 in reply, with Wright capping a fine all-round game with a well-timed 45.
Bryce Morley (31) and Hedger (21) offered support, while for the Piranhas Ryan Hindmarsh kept a lid on things with 4-44 off 10. Dale Johnson (2-22 off four) and Hopley (2-14 off 5.4) also bowled tidily.
SECOND GRADE
Mulbring 3/89 (Shaun Clarke 46no, Willie Watson 23, Anthony Chalk 3-16 off 6) defeated Supporters 81 (Greg Brodie 27, Zach Sneesby 17, Dave Lord 2-31 off 5, Matt Gough 2-18 off 5, Matt Harwood 2-11 off 5
Greta/Branxton 9/129 (Brock Charnock 48, Mike Element 25, Sam Dagg 13, Wade Attewell 4-23 off 10, Craig Schumacher 3-45 off 10) defeated Bellbird 122 (Brendan Clarke 57, Craig Schumacher 22, Pat Cagney 12, Phil Aughey 5-50 off 10, Andrew Partridge 3-2 off 5.3).
Wine Country 5/93 (Jason McMichael 37no, Mark Staib 30no, Aaron Sweeney 3-23 off 8, Brett Hindmarsh 2-30 off 8) defeated Peden’s Hotel 9/87 (Glen Thorley 35no, Heath Walker 17, Nick Hurn 4-22 off 10, Luke Jeans 3-9 off 10, Nathan Radnidge 2-19 off 10).
THIRD GRADE
Supporters 193 (C. Gray 71, A. Ramage 48, S. Minter 19, Jamie Spence 3-46 off 10, Peter Davis 2-58 off 10, E. Hodson 2-35 off 5) defeated Wine Country 55 (Jamie Spence 19, T. Ballenden 3-15 off 5, S. Minter 3-0 off 3, A. Ramage 2-16 off 5, A. Field 2-20 off 2.2).
Paxton 94 (Ben Hipwell 27, Simon Lane 19, Brendan Lee 17, Brendan Shearer 4-18 off 10, Adam Holmberg 3-31 off 10) defeated Greta/Branxton 44 (Bryce Element 16, Ben Read 5-13 off 7, Steve Burgess 4-4 off 3).
Laguna 7/179 (E. Smith 25, G. Kelso 20, D. Muras 19no, S. William 18, W. Kowaluk 16, A. Taylor 14, K. Piper 2-29 off 6, G. Stoker 2-32 off 6) defeated Bellbird 174 (S. Anderson 60no, L. Anderson 35, D. Stoker 34, S. Sullivan 4-54 off 10, G. Kelso 3-5 off 3)
First grade: Mulbring 63, Bellbird 58, Greta/Branxton 55, Supporters 44, Peden’s Hotel 40, Wine Country 34.
Second grade: Mulbring 59, Greta/Branxton 55, Peden’s Hotel 51, Supporters 47, Wine Country 43, Bellbird 33.
Third grade: Paxton 65, Greta/Branxton 60, Supporters 51, Laguna 50, Wine Country 42, Bellbird 24*#.
* Lost points 18/10/14 due to second grade forfeit.
# Lost points 22/11/14 due to second grade forfeit.
Fourth grade: Greta/Branxton Blue 47, Peden’s Hotel 45, Greta/Branxton White 43, Denman Hotel 34, Supporters Black 33, Mulbring 30, Supporters Gold 29.
Club championship: Greta/Branxton 512.76, Mulbring 453.11, Supporters 416.80, Bellbird 367.00, Peden’s Hotel 349.16, Wine Country 328.00, Paxton 97.50, Laguna 75.00, Denman Hotel 27.32.
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.