Mulbring and Bellbird to meet again in Cessnock cricket grand final

After it was deemed too wet to play on the Saturday, the match at Carmichael Park between Bellbird and Greta/Branxton was played on the Sunday, with the Tigers thrashing an out-of-sorts Blues outfit by 10 wickets.

Bellbird skipper Rob Drage won the toss and with a touch of moisture in the pitch and the air, sent the opposition in to bat.

The Blues were on the back foot from the first over, and turned in their worst batting display this decade to be all out inside 22 overs for a dismal 56. Greg Andrews was the only batsman to reach double figures with 15.

A treble of wickets each were taken by Bellbird seamers Matt Tomlinson (3-22 off 7.1), Elliot Gyler (3-24 off nine) and Billy Orr (3-7 off five).

Although play was interrupted by a passing shower Bellbird rubbed a ton of salt into the Blues’ wounds by passing the target in the eighth over without losing a wicket. Jason Orr (37no) and Drage (23no) looked more than comfortable in the tricky conditions.

Mulbring were scheduled to play Supporters Club at Mulbring Oval, but they too were washed out on the Saturday. Both teams returned to play on the Sunday, only to see the match washed out after just 10 overs of play.

Supporters were sent in to bat and were 4-31 between three rain delays before umpires decided to call the game to a halt. Minor premiers Mulbring therefore won through to the grand final.

GRAND FINAL PREVIEW

Mulbring vs Bellbird at Miller Park, Branxton; Saturday, March 21 at 12.30pm.

Head to head this season: Played 3, Mulbring 3, Bellbird 0. 

Mulbring

Last Season: 2nd, beaten semi-finalists. 

Captain: Drew Olsen

Premierships: Nine (1971-72, 1992-93, 1994-95, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2005-06, 2010-11, 2011-12, joint 2012-13).

Key Three: Drew Olsen, Josh Lewis, Brad Strachan

X-Factor: Greg Sheehan

Bellbird

Last Season: 3rd, Joint Premiers.

Captain: Rob Drage

Premierships: Ten (1930-31, joint 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98, 1998-99, 2001-02,           2006-07, 2009-10, joint 2012-13, joint 2013-14).

Key Three: Jason Orr, Matt Tomlinson, Matt Fairlie

X-Factor: Rob Drage  

Bottom Line:  These two great rivals will go head to head for premiership glory this Saturday for the fourth time in the past five years.

One will never forget the epic tied 2012-13 decider in front of a packed house at Mulbring Oval, where the home side looked to have the game in the bag with two wickets in hand leading into the final over with the scores all locked up.

Enter veteran left-arm orthodox spin champion Dave Gyler to the bowling crease and he was able to affect a run out and pick up a wicket on the final ball to snatch a joint premiership for his side.

Therefore one feels that both of these teams will believe they have some unfinished business to attend to. Branxton’s picturesque Miller Park will be the venue for the big game, and barring a wash out (as was the case in last year’s scheduled grand final), this will be the first time a first grade decider will be played out at this ground.

Both teams boast strong and lengthy batting lineups, so on a Chris Charnock belter and fast outfield 200 should be the target for the side batting first.

The Marlins will look to Drew Olsen, Josh Lewis, Andy Carmichael and Greg Sheehan to lead the way with the bat, with Sheehan and Brad Strachan spear-heading their attack.

For the Tigers look to Jason Orr, Rob Drage and Matt Fairlie to lead the way with the timber, while Matt Tomlinson, Elliot Gyler and Dave Gyler will lead their attack with the four-piece.

Should be a cracking game once again, but I just think the mental edge Mulbring have over Bellbird having beaten them fairly convincingly three times this season might just be enough to get them over the line.

Prediction: Mulbring.

SECOND GRADE

Greta/Branxton 5/142 (Leigh Knight 40no, Nathan Holz 29, Allen Beh 21, Brock Charnock 17, Zac Sneesby 3-30 off 10) defeated Supporters 141 (Zac Sneesby 45, Rosco O’Connell 36, Andrew Fensom 12, Brett Morris 12, Mark Peace 2-37 off 8, Andrew Bercini 2-14 off 7). 

Mulbring 135 (Matt Harwood 31, N. King 26, Shaun Clarke 24, B. Swift 15, M. Murray 14, Craig Dodds 4-44 off 9.2, Brett Hindmarsh 3-24 off 10) defeated Peden’s Hotel 59 (Brett Hindmarsh 16, Matt Skornia 14, Dave Lord 5-26 off 10, Matt Harwood 4-24 off 10).

THIRD GRADE

Paxton 6/109 (Brendan Hayes 28no, Aaron Zechel 22, Alan Orr 22no, Simon Lane 16, M. Williams 4-25 off 10) defeated Supporters 67 (S. Minter 22, A. Ramage 13no, Steve Burgess 6-15 off 10, Brendan Hayes 2-22 off 9, Aaron Zechel 2-12 off 10).

Greta/Branxton vs Laguna (result in dispute due to scoring discrepancy).

FOURTH GRADE

Greta/Branxton Blue 4/96 (Andrew Wright 42no, Rod Hines 15, James Shoulders snr 3-24 off 10) defeated Greta/Branxton White 89 (Jesse Minchin 54, James Shoulders snr 20, Ayden Wilkinson 3-45 off 8, Alex Walkling 3-14 off 6, Jarrad Wilkinson 2-24 off 4).

Peden’s Hotel vs Denman Hotel washed out, therefore minor premiers Peden’s Hotel through to grand final.

GRAND FINAL FIXTURES

First grade: Mulbring (1st) vs Bellbird (2nd) at Miller 1, 12.30pm start Saturday.

Second grade: Greta/Branxton (1st) vs Mulbring (2nd) at Carmichael 1, 12.30pm start Saturday.

Third grade: Paxton (1st) vs TBA at Baddeley 1, 12.30pm start Saturday.

Fourth grade: Peden’s Hotel (1st) vs Greta/Branxton Blue (2nd) vs at Miller 2, 12.30pm start Saturday.

Good luck to all teams competing in this weekend’s grand finals, make sure all players are aware of the start times as per the CDCA constitution.

FINAL STANDINGS

First grade: Mulbring 97, Bellbird 85*, Greta/Branxton 85*, Supporters 70, Wine Country 57, Peden’s Hotel 54.

* Bellbird quotient 1.66, Greta/Branxton 1.35.

Second grade: Greta/Branxton 88, Mulbring 86, Peden’s Hotel 77, Supporters 65, Bellbird 62*, Wine Country 57.

* Lost points 7/3/15 for playing unqualified player.

Third grade: Paxton 95, Greta/Branxton 84^, Laguna 81, Supporters 77, 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 White 71, Greta/Branxton Blue 67,

Denman Hotel 61, Mulbring 45, Supporters Gold 45, Supporters Black 38.   

Club championship: Greta/Branxton 783.83, Mulbring 682.16, Supporters 626.66, Bellbird 586.00, Peden’s Hotel 508.07, Wine Country 469.50, Paxton 142.50, Laguna 121.50, Denman Hotel 49.01.

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.