Bellbird skipper and club president Rob Drage won the toss and elected to bat.The Tigers were on the back foot early at 4-41, but a face-saving 80-run sixth-wicket partnership between Fairlie brothers Matt (52) and Ben (39) swung some momentum back in the visitors’ favour.

However their downfalls saw the innings closed very soon after for a modest 145 inside 39 overs. Jason Orr was the other batsman to make a start with 21.

Greta/Branxton left-arm seamer Mick Shelley was back to his destructive best, ripping through the Bellbird top order to finish with 6-24 off 10 outstanding overs. He received good support from Craig Brook who also bowled very tidily to bag 3-22 off 10 against his former club.

The match looked evenly poised with Greta/Branxton at 3-49 in reply, but they recovered to pass the target (5/146) in the 34th over with five wickets in hand.

It was only fitting that man of the match Shelley (46no) was at the crease when the winnings runs were hit. Greg Andrews struck the ball sweetly for 40; Josh Dagg made 20, with Dylan Lipscombe (16no) lifting one over long on for maximum to bring up the important win. Jason Orr was the pick of the Tiger attack with 2-29 off 6.1.

Greta/Branxton now has to defeat minor premiers Mulbring at Miller Park this weekend in the wash-out catch-up round to secure second spot and more importantly a home semi-final. A loss will see them finish level with Bellbird, however the Tigers have a superior quotient.

With both teams trying to avoid the wooden spoon, Wine Country climbed off the bottom of the ladder with a seven-run victory over Peden’s Hotel at East End.

Wood Ducks skipper Stephen Hedger won the toss and elected to bat, but they were bowled out in the 32nd over for 97. Hedger continued his good form with 21 at the apex of the order, with Daniel Bailey (17) and Rob Sidebottom (14) the other batsmen to make an impression.

Zac Tyne was the best of the Peden’s attack with 4-36 off 10, receiving good support from Dale Johnson (2-25 off nine) and Allan Saddler (2-17 off six).

The Piranhas were skittled for 80 in reply, with Craig Duffie (23) and Daniel Olsen (16) the only batsmen to show any sort of resistance.

For the Wood Ducks it was Peter Auditore who stole the show with the four-piece, claiming 5-21 off 5.1. Nathan Wright was next best with 2-16 off six.

In the final game of the round Mulbring defeated Supporters Club in fairly comfortable fashion by five wickets at Baddeley Park. 

Supporters won the toss and elected to bat, but the loss or regular wickets early on meant that they were restricted to 8-136 from their mandatory 40 overs. Nathan Stapleford led the way with an unbeaten 53, Tim Goldman supported well with 36, with Michael Sneesby making 14.

Brad Strachan was the best of the Mulbring attack with 3-53 off 10, with Adam Sheehan (2-6 off five) snaring a brace of wickets.

The Marlins did not get it all their own way in reply but did enough to secure victory (5-138) in the 36th over with five wickets in hand.

Drew Olsen played a fine skipper’s hand at the top of the order with 51, with Strachan completing an excellent all-round game with 49. Justin Brown was the best of the Goannas attack with 2-22 off seven.

SECOND GRADE

Greta/Branxton 114 (Mark Hale 43, Andrew Bercini 30, Peter Mackenzie 20, Matt Crump 5-20 off 10, Craig Schumacher 2-41 off 10) tied with Bellbird 114 (Craig Schumacher 28, Kyle Gogerly 23, Matt Crump 15, Mark Peace 3-29 off 10, Phil Aughey 3-29 off 8.4).

Peden’s Hotel 0/60 (Heath Walker 40no, James Adamson 16no) defeated Wine Country 42 (Dan Whiting 13, Ben Morris 11, Aaron Sweeney 6-16 off 10, Brett Hindmarsh 4-19 off 7).

Mulbring 7/222 (Brent Mendyk 64, Mark Waddell 38, Ben Swift 33no, Nathan King 26, Shaun Clarke 16, Mark Bender 2-24 off 6, Brett Morris 2-38 off 7, Tyson Johnson 2-27 off 3) defeated Supporters 164 (M. Gates 49, L. Morris 28, R. O’Connell 25, W. Watson 4-26 off 8, D. Lord 2-37 off 10, Brent Mendyk 2-30 off 5).

THIRD GRADE

Greta/Branxton 7/75 (Wes Hickey 16, Bryce Osland 15no, T. Anderson 2-30 off 4, D. Stoker 2-11 off 5, L. Anderson 2-28 off 5) defeated Bellbird 72 (H. Anderson 14, J. Deck 13, Adam Holmberg 7-25 off 8.1).

Supporters 5/87 (A. Ramage 25no, T. Ballenden 17no, Brendan Hayes 3-18 off 9, Steve Russell 2-11 off 4) defeated Paxton 79 (Ben Read 19, Brendan Lee 15, Aaron Zechel 14, Brendan Hayes 12no, A. Ramage 3-37 off 7, T. Ballenden 3-13 off 4, S. Minter 2-20 off 8, T. Chalk 2-9 off 4).

Laguna 3/86 (S. Williams 28, E. Smith 15 ret hurt, Todd Apthorpe 1-14 off 4, D. Coleman 1-1 off 0.2) defeated Wine Country 82 (T. Meizis 24no, Jamie Spence 13, K. Barnett 5-33 off 10, S. Patterson 2-14 off 4, G. Kelso 2-14 off 4.3). 

FOURTH GRADE

Greta/Branxton White 95 (Ben Hogan 24, Greg Minchin 21no, Andrew Clifton 6-27 off 10, Nathan Page 2-15 off 6) defeated Mulbring 60 (Geoff Browning 25, Jesse Minchin 5-38 off 10, James Shoulders snr 3-22 off 9.1).

Peden’s Hotel 7/179 (Zac Kronholm 52no, Steve Croucher 26, Craig Dodds 24, Scott Plunkett 17, Tom Lantry 13, Dean Jackson 4-35 off 9, Luke Sweeney 2-50 off 8) defeated Supporters Gold 177 (Dean Jackson 68, Tyrone Weekes 35, Paul Burgess 24, Jack Rachel 15, Matt Vitnell 3-41 off 8, Steve Croucher 3-35 off 8, Adam Williams 2-29 off 10).

Denman Hotel 180 (Tim Fitzpatrick 70, Hayden Bartley 33, Jimmy Abbott 30, J. Sweeney 2-43 off 8, M. Woodbury 2-22 off 5, P. Crocker 2-4 off 1) defeated Supporters Black 91 (J. Sweeney 25, T. Woods 22no, N. Taylor 20, M. Woodbury 15, T. Heggs 2-6 off 4, M. Sumner 2-27 off 4).

Greta/Branxton Blue bye.

Draw for this week’s catch-up games from wash outs on December 6

Note that four points was given to all teams that were washed out on this day. These points have now been taken off due to these games being caught up this weekend (refer to updated points tables).

First grade: Peden’s Hotel vs Supporters at East End, Greta/Branxton vs Mulbring at Miller 1.

Second grade: Supporters vs Peden’s Hotel at Baddeley 1; Mulbring vs Greta/Branxton at Mulbring; Wine Country vs Bellbird at Allandale.

Third grade: Supporters vs Paxton at Baddeley 2.

Fourth grade: Mulbring vs Supporters Black at Kearsley; Denman Hotel vs Supporters Gold at Turner Park; Greta/Branxton Blue vs Greta/Branxton White at Miller 2; Peden’s Hotel bye.

POINTS TABLES

First grade: Mulbring 90, Bellbird 85, Greta/Branxton 82, Supporters 63, Wine Country 57, Peden’s Hotel 51.

Second grade: Mulbring 83, Greta/Branxton 81, Peden’s Hotel 70, Bellbird 62, Supporters 62, Wine Country 54.

Third grade: Paxton 88, Greta/Branxton 84^, Laguna 81, Supporters 74, Wine Country 47^, Bellbird 40*#^.

* Lost points 18/10/14 due to second grade forfeit.

# Lost points 22/11/14 due to second grade forfeit.

^ Lost points 13/12/14 for playing unqualified players.

Fourth grade: Peden’s Hotel 76, Greta/Branxton Blue 64, Greta/Branxton White 64, Denman Hotel 54, Supporters Gold 45, Mulbring 38, Supporters Black 38.   

Club championship: Greta/Branxton 748.42, Mulbring 639.53, Bellbird 586.00, Supporters 585.16, Peden’s Hotel 475.07, Wine Country 460.50, Paxton 133.00, Laguna 121.50, Denman Hotel 43.49.

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.

WEEKEND TEAMS

SUPPORTERS CLUB

Teams for Saturday.

First grade to play Pedens at East End: Nathan Stapleford (c), Allan Clarke, Ashton Williams, Michael Ho, Justin Brown, Andrew McCallum, Tim Goldman, Michael Sneesby, Andrew Fensom, Jack Morris, Liam Weston.

Second grade to play Pedens at Baddeley 1: Zack Sneesby (c), Marc Bender, Michael Gates, Lachlan Edwards, Jay McCord, Glyn Hayes, Rosco O’Connell, Danny Orr, Brett Morris, Luke Morris, Tyson Johnson, Adrian Jones.

Third grade to play Paxton at Baddeley 2: Adam Ramage to organise team.

Fourth grade Gold to play Denman Hotel at Turner Park: Paul Burgess to organise team.

Fourth grade Black to play Mulbring at Kearsley: Adam Shepherd (c), Colin Goldman, Craig Grills, Justin Richie, Paul Crocker, Tom Weise, Pat Smith, Ben Jack, Mikayla Goldman, Steven Hooker-Connell, Nev Taylor, Troy Woods.

Under-14s continue their semi-final.

Under-15s Supporters Black to play Greta Branxton at Miller 1.

Under-15s Supporters Gold have a bye.

Anybody not available please contact Robert Stapleford on 0418 453 082.