Cessnock District Cricket completed round two of competition last Saturday, with results achieved in all except three matches that were abandoned due to rain and/or lightning.
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After a below par batting performance last week, Greta/Branxton improved to record their first win of the year with a comfortable six-wicket victory over Wine Country at Allandale.
Batting first, Wine Country compiled a healthy 9-180 from their 40 overs, with skipper Matt Lightfoot (54no) leading the way with a sensible half century.
Central Coast import Brad Turner looks to be a great pickup for the Wood Ducks, and he timed the ball crisply for 46. Club president Mark O’Hara was the other batsman to make an impression with 16 runs.
Martin Shearer was the pick of the Greta/Branxton attack with 4-56 off 10. He was well supported by co-skipper Nathan Holz who took 2-45 off 10.
Things did not start well for the home side defending their respectable target, with paceman Rob Sidebottom coming down awkwardly on his right knee in his delivery stride after the second ball of the innings,
This resulted in his prompt exit from the field. He is likely to miss the rest of the season pending surgery which is a big blow for the Potters Tavern-based club.
However the match appeared evenly poised with the Blues 3-46 in the 11th over in reply.
This brought 46-year-old veteran Greg Andrews to the crease, and he was on the front foot from the word go, blasting the ball to all parts of the arena to remain unbeaten on 92 from just 58 balls in an entertaining knock.
He was well supported by co-skipper Nathan Holz (32no) who was also there when the winning blow was struck in the 28th over.
Co-skipper Joey Butler (19) looked good until he went hard at the ball once too often and was castled, with opening partner Mark Bercini making a scratchy 18.
Lightfoot completed an excellent all-round game for the Wood Ducks with 2-36 off 5, with Turner (1-24 off 7) and Dean Elliot (1-35 off 7) taking the other wickets.
Bellbird did it the hard way in their 14-run victory against Peden’s Hotel East End. Batting first the Tigers were dismissed for 110, with skipper Rob Drage and Joey Main heading the run list with 23-apiece.
Joey Barber was the only other batsman to reach double figures in an otherwise dismal looking batting card. Wickets for the home side were fairly evenly distributed, with club stalwart Dane Grills (3-22 off 6), Ben Read (2-19 off 5) and newly appointed skipper Scott Bendeich (2-7 off 3) taking wickets at regular interval.
Bellbird left arm seamer Ben Troke (6-35 off 10) ripped through the home side’s top order in reply, and they were eventually all out in the 25th over for 96.
Bendeich completed a fine all-round game with his team’s high score of 27, with Michael Clark (20) and Justin Barry (17) keeping things ticking over. Nic Siers provided good support to Troke for the Tigers, finishing with 2-31 off 9.
Mulbring and Supporters had to settle for four points each when lightning intervened with Supporters in all sorts of trouble batting second at Mulbring.
The Marlins posted a healthy 9-197 from their forty overs batting first, with Scott Robertson making 60 at first drop. Skipper Cameron Ross was next best with 37, with Ben Neaves (32no) and Josh Lewis (17) making an impression.
Nathan Stapleford was easily the pick of the Supporters attack with 6-54.
The Goannas were 9-73 in reply when lightning brought the match to an abrupt halt, with Greg Brodie (25) and Pete Brennan (16) the only batsmen in double figures.
Robertson completed an exceptional all-round game with 4-22 off 7, with Ben Neaves (4- 16 off 10) equally impressive with the ball.
Second Grade
Greta/Branxton 9/141 (Logan Millard 42, Jason Haines 25, Paul Walkling 25, Scott Purser 6-30 off 10) defeated Wine Country 10/90 (Brendan Briedenhann 25, Scott Purser 20, Brodie Egan 15, Jason Varley 4-15 off 6, Jason Haines 2-10 off 5, Anthony Brunsdon 2-0 off 2.1)
Bellbird 4/126 (Ethan Rushford 56no, Luke Weekes 21no, Shaun Anderson 20, Adam Williams 3-46) defeated Peden’s Hotel 10/121 (Mick James 60, Dean Campbell 16, Craig Benson 14, Luke Weekes 5-34, Matt Schrieber 3-32).
Chelmsford Hotel 1/54 (Andrew Wanless 23, Shawn Egan 15, Jamie Larson 1-7 off 2) defeated Supporters 10/43 (Ashton Williams 11, M. Turnbull 5-9 off 7.3, H. Ridley 2-3 off 3).
Third Grade
Greta/Branxton Blue 4/121 (Ben Lahey 54no, Ryan O’Donnell 25, Mal Hedger 22, Brendan Sharpe 1-7 off 7, Fletcher Sharpe 1-24 off 6, Tim Peace 1-0 off 1, Sam Weekes 1-23 off 7) defeated Supporters 10/113 (Fletcher Sharpe 43, John Kerr 30, Sam Weekes 17, Ayden Wilkinson 3-16 off 6, Mal Hedger 3-6 off 5).
Bellbird 5/84 (Paul Lynch 45no, Clint Starkey 19no, Matt Wood 3-8 off 8, Ben Wood 2-27 off 5) defeated Wine Country 10/79 (Ben Wood 24, Bailey Vanlaarhoven 24, Nick Hurn 4-7 off 10, W. Hurn 3-14 off 8.5).
Greta/Branxton White 9/213 (Jamie McNamara 87, Will Young 48, Jayden Miller 18, Jason Stephenson 13, Cade Bradley 12no, Tim Williams 4-58 off 10, Kevin Davson 2-42 off 9, Greg Kelso 2-69 off 9) vs Laguna 5/94 (Darren Philip 22no, Alan Taylor 15, Tim Williams 14, John Cleary 12no) match abandoned due to rain.
Mulbring Bye.
Fourth Grade
Greta/Branxton 10/123 (Blake Campbell 68, Correy Stone 23, S. Peacock 3-31 off 5.5, Wayne Ling 2-21 off 8, H. Webb 2-13 off 5) defeated Wine Country 10/58 (Wayne Ling 38, Sam Hines 6-11 off 7).
Bellbird 5/64 (Graham Stoker 32no, Ben Sillay 21, Kaiden Howson 4-23 off 5) defeated Peden’s Hotel White 10/63 (Shaun Capararo 19no, Obrien Jack 15, Nathan Davey 4-13 off 6, Heath Cameron 3-11 off 6, Callum Delaney-Dunn 2-9 off 4).
Chelmsford Hotel 10/157 (M. Knox 62, R. Surj 44, Vijay 34, Jamie Spence 5-20 off 8.3) defeated Cessnock Hotel 8/143 (Mark Smith 52no, Steve Collins 24, Colin Smith 19, Gary Pitt 14, Harrison Knox 4-18 off 4, Vijay 2-25 off 10).
Peden’s Hotel Blue 10/100 (G. O’Conner 30, E. Gunther 17, J. O’Conner 14, J. Lantry 13, Jesse Ballenden 4-10 off 10, S. Minter 2-9 off 5) vs Supporters 7/85 (Robert Bradley 34, Luke Smith 12, L. Dwyer 3-20 off 5, K. Jordan 2-17 off 5, E. Gunther 2-18 off 5) match abandoned due to lightning.
Points Tables
First Grade Bellbird 11, Mulbring 11, Greta/Branxton 10, Supporters 8, Peden’s Hotel 7, Wine Country 7.
Second Grade Bellbird 11, Chelmsford Hotel 11, Greta/Branxton 11, Peden’s Hotel 7, Supporters 7, Wine Country 7.
Third Grade Bellbird 11, Greta/Branxton Blue 11, Greta/Branxton White 8, Laguna 8, Supporters 7, Mulbring 4*, Wine Country 3*. * byes received, 0 points.
Fourth Grade Bellbird 11, Chelmsford Hotel 11, Greta/Branxton 11, Peden’s Hotel Blue 8, Supporters 8, Cessnock Hotel 7, Peden’s Hotel White 7, Wine Country 7.
Club Championship Bellbird 99.37, Greta/Branxton 95.63, Supporters 67.72, Wine Country 56.23, Peden’s Hotel 51.73, Mulbring 48.07.
Club Championship Formula:- First Grade x 3.73, Second Grade x 2.8, Third Grade x 1.75, Fourth Grade x 0.75.
NB: Only Greta/Branxton Blue third grade team and Peden’s Hotel Blue fourth grade team contribute to club championship points.
