Richards blasted an unbeaten 172 against Wine Country at Allandale Oval in round ten of district cricket.

Striding to the crease at the fall of the first wicket, like his famous South African name-sake, Richards bludgeoned the four-piece to all parts of the arena. 

It took him just 18 overs to reach his century, and he really made the home side pay for a dropped catch on 41. 

His second top grade century since migrating to the area from the North Coast seven years ago consisted of 27 fours and three sixes, eclipsing Greg Sheehan’s stand of 163 no in the 2006-07 season.

Greta/Branxton jumped into second position on the ladder on the back of Richards’ century. 

Surprisingly sent in to bat, the Blues amassed 4-283 from their 40 overs, with former skipper Josh Dagg (69) continuing his stellar season in a 219-run second wicket stand with Richards. 

Wine Country skipper Matt Lightfoot was the pick of the attack with 3-33 off 4.

The home side got out of the traps nicely courtesy of Mark O’Hara who notched a quick 54, but when he holed out in the deep any chance of an upset was put to bed. 

The tail wagged momentarily with former skipper Stephen Hedger (24), Rob Sidebottom (17) and Matt Harrison (14), but someone had to produce a big score to pose a real threat. 

They were all out in the 29th ober for 134, with Blues skipper Brent Watson leading by example after copping a pasting earlier on with 3-48 off 7.1.

He received support from young trio Bryce Element (2-20 off 7), debutant Alex Walkling (2-10 off 3) and Martin Shearer (2-16 off 4).

Mulbring now lead the top grade ladder by 12 points following a 112-run demolition of Bellbird at Mulbring Oval.

The home side compiled 8-213, with skipper Josh Lewis leading the way with 39 and Cameron Ross (37), Drew Olsen (35), Jason Varoxis (24), Adam Sheehan (23), Darren Sutton (16no) and Chad Lewis (11no) cashing in on the top conditions.

Luke Weekes was again Bellbird’s best, collecting 3-40 off 8, with Nic Siers bowling tidily with 2-30 off 10.

The Tigers lost both openers in the first two overs and never recovered, bowled out inside 25 overs for 101.

Stef Durie timed the ball well for 41, with Ben Fairlie (14), Matt Fairlie (11) and Billy Orr (11no) making starts. Mulbring’s left-arm opener Darren Sutton was man-of-the-match after he ripped through the top order to return 6-52 off 10. 

He was backed up by Greg Sheehan who cleaned up the tail with 3-13 off 5.4.

Peden’s Hotel had the bye.

Second Grade

Wine Country 150 (L. Markwort 50no, G. Oakes 41, B. Mendyk 35, Nathan Velt 2-23 off 10) defeated Greta/Branxton 144 (Nathan Velt 58, Ben Hogan 21, Anthony Brunsden 17, Brent Mendyk 4-23 off 5.5, Josh Bower 3-28 off 6, Paul Graber 2-30 off 10).

Bellbird 5/128 (Joey Barber 63no, Pat Cagney 21no, Andrew Chalker 14, D. King 2-10 off 6, A. Zechel 2-28 off 5) defeated Mulbring 111 (Willie Watson 39no, Nathan King 33, Craig Schumacher 5-46 off 10, Pat Cagney 3-15 off 7.3, Justin Hlad 2-18 off 10).

Supporters 160 (Sam Weekes 39, Andrew Fensom 36, Luke Sweeney 34, Zac Sneesby 16, Dale Arnold 13, Ben Reed 4-28 off 10, Ryan Hindmarsh 2-37 off 10) defeated Peden’s Hotel 130 (Ryan Hindmarsh 32, Ben Reed 27, Tom Lantry 20, Luke Johnston 13, Zac Kronholm 12, Zac Sneesby 4-18 off 8.5, Ross O’Connell 4-49 off 10).

Third Grade

Bellbird 175 (Matt Skornia 67, Chris Fairlie 46, Mark Stevens 35, Ayden Wilkinson 5-39 off 9.4, Jarrad Wilkinson 4-40 off 10) tied with Greta/Branxton 175 (Sean Wright 43, Ben Lahey 33, Craig Gillings 29, Will Young 22, Stewart Ison 19, Mark Stevens 4-24 off 10, Luke Meyers 2-65 off 10, Chris Fairlie 2-34 off 9).

Denman Hotel 2/75 (B. Harris 28, B. Lantry 26no, Darren Young 2-32 off 6, A. Kirkham 1-6 off 1) defeated Mulbring 68 (Darren Young 33, R. Clarke 4-2 off 3, B. Lantry 3-14 off 8).

Peden’s Hotel 9/266 (J. Gunther 51, A. Williams 49, J. Williams 37no, J. Harvey 30, J. Jones 22no, L. James 21, D. Fletcher 16, T. Ballenden 2-57 off 10, A. Field 2-44 off 6, S. Minter 2-35 off 9) defeated Supporters 159 (T. Ballenden 52, A. Field 40, J. Earl 28, C. Ramage 14, J. Gunther 4-33 off 10, D. Grills 3-41 off 5).

Laguna 7/155 (J. Bailey 63, S. Williams 34, A. Taylor 15, Peter Davis 2-53 off 7.3, Darren Read 2-13 off 5) defeated Wine Country 144 (Brad Sommerville 43, Peter Davis 27, Scott Peachman 23, Isaac Pinchin 19, Brett Stewart 16, K. Barnett 3-31 off 4, T. Williams 2-36 off 10, J. Bailey 2-57 off 10, G. Kelso 2-14 off 5).

Fourth Grade

Supporters 122 (P. Walsh 21, J. Eade 18, B. Mitchell 14, J. Walsh 14, Bailey Peel 2-7 off 5, Mick Jordan 2-8 off 2) defeated Peden’s Hotel 92 (Glen Thorley 31, Daniel Lambkin 18, Lucas Zechel 15, B. Sharpe 5-16 off 6, P. Walsh 2-20 off 6, S. Mitchell 2-4 off 6).

Paxton 2/106 (Simon Lane 60no, Jacob Garrington 25no, Wayne Harris 1-13 off 5, Gavin Musgrove 1-24 off 5) defeated Wine Country 101 (Jason McMichael 45, Wayne Harris 21no, Troy Meizes 17, Jacob Garrington 5-30 off 10, Brendan Hayes 2-32 off 10).

Denman Hotel 9/228 (Peter Robertson 73, Hayden Bartley 52no, Adam Bartley 23, David Stothard 18, Daniel Minchin 4-52 off 10, Jesse Minchin 2-35 off 8) defeated Greta/Branxton White 78 (Jesse Minchin 27, Daniel Minchin 24, David Stothard 4-1 off 3, Bailey Skelton 2-25 off 4, Adam Bartley 2-10 off 4).

Greta/Branxton Blue defeated Bellbird by forfeit.

Points Tables

First Grade  Mulbring 53**, Greta/Branxton 41**, Bellbird 38**, Wine Country 34**,  Peden’s Hotel 26**.

* byes received, 0 points.

Second Grade Bellbird 60, Greta/Branxton 48, Mulbring 48, Peden’s Hotel 44, Supporters 44, Wine Country 44.

Third Grade  Bellbird 69, Greta/Branxton 58, Laguna 56, Denman Hotel 53, Peden’s Hotel 49, Wine Country 48, Mulbring 47, Supporters 36.   

Fourth Grade  Greta/Branxton Blue 63, Paxton 63, Greta/Branxton White 59, Denman Hotel 55, Wine Country 48, Supporters 44, Bellbird 41, Peden’s Hotel 40.   

Club Championship  Bellbird 348.50, Greta/Branxton 333.80, Mulbring 333.30, Wine Country 283.40, Peden’s Hotel 252.40.

Club Championship Formula:- First Grade x 3.5, Second Grade x 2.1, Third Grade x 1, Fourth Grade x 0.5.

NB: Only Greta/Branxton Blue fourth grade team contributes to club championship points.